Long Sutton set for another election

Long Sutton could be set for another election just two months after its last because one member failed to sign a form.

The election for the parish council was only held alongside district elections on May 4 at a cost of nearly £6,000 to the town’s tax payers.
But now it’s to be held again for one seat as one of the elected members didn’t sign the acceptance of office form before the expiry date, council chairman John Clarey told The Voice.
It means there’s a vacant seat and the required ten people came forward to request an election.
“The election in May cost the parish council just under £6,000,” Coun Clarey said. “We hope this one is a lot less.”
An election may still not happen if only one candidate comes forward.
In May, Claire Broughton, David Cawthorn, John Clarey, Hayden Feetham, Graham Garrett, Nadine Reeve, Melanie Tennant, David Thompson and Jack Tyrrell were elected, as was Debbie Rose, though she’s no longer listed as a councillor on the parish council’s website.
Four people missed out in the May election. They were Kim Davies, Frank Heinrich-Tiller, Teresa Watts and Leah White.
The turn out for the vote was 30.2 per cent.
The election for the vacant position is due to take place on September 21 with the Notice of Election to be published on Wednesday, August 16.
l At its latest meeting, Long Sutton Parish Council agreed to try and combat anti-social behaviour by removing a teen shelter.
The authority hopes that getting rid of it will stop people loitering around who then cause issues such as a fire.
A spokesman for the council said: “We were advised of several incidents of anti-social behaviour in the town, including the burning out of a new bin in Winfrey Park by a group of 13 or so young people.
“Due to this behaviour the council agreed not to replace the bin and to remove the teen shelter due to its misuse.”
The council is looking to invest in other areas.
Two Monkey Challenge ten-metre climbing walls will be purchased and erected, with one in Winfrey Park and the other in Cinder Ash Park.
It is also looking to relocate the toddler’s slide from under a tree in Winfrey Park to “somewhere more suitable”, the spokesman continued and quotes are to be sourced for the cost of the refurbishment of the park’s gates.
Meanwhile, a grant of £500 was agreed for Long Sutton Cricket Club which was the victim of a recent burglary.