Latest news with #Benfieldside
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Durham County Council by-election date after Reform UK resignation
A by-election to decide the final vacant seat on Durham County Council is set to take place in July, following the resignation of a Reform UK Kilburn, who was elected to the Benfieldside ward in May's local elections, was forced to stand down after a week for failing to declare he worked for the local was elected with 1,007 votes, alongside Reform's Sandra Grindle, which saw the party gain seats from Labour and the by-election on 3 July will cost Durham County Council £22,800, a figure described as a "gross waste of taxpayers' money" by former council leader, Liberal Democrat Amanda Hopgood. National legislation means council employees are disqualified from standing as councillors simultaneously. Landslide victory Hopgood sent a petition to residents in Benfieldside calling for Reform UK to cover the cost of the election, according to the Local Democracy Reporting said: "Reform have made a huge issue of reducing council 'waste', but there can be few things more wasteful for the taxpayer than calling a by-election because they could not get their paperwork in order."Despite the setback, Reform UK said it hoped to retain its stronghold on the ward, which also covers Blackhill and Shotley Bridge. The party secured a landslide victory just weeks ago to control the council, with its 65 councillors officially inducted earlier this month.A Reform UK spokesman said: "We understand that Mr Kilburn did not declare his employment to the returning officer as expected and is now required to resign his seat."We look forward to contesting the upcoming by-election to give the people of Benfieldside a strong voice in Durham County Council."A full list of candidates for the July by-election will be released following the nomination deadline on Friday, 6 June. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Durham Reform councillor resigns after one week
A Reform UK councillor elected just over a week ago has resigned after failing to declare that he worked for the Kilburn will no longer take up his role as a Durham county councillor for was elected with 1,007 votes alongside fellow Reform candidate Sandra Grindle as the party gained both seats in the Benfieldside ward – one from Labour and one from an independent.A spokesperson for the party said it looked forward to contesting the upcoming by-election. Mr Kilburn's profile on the council website has been removed, and a by-election will be held to elect a new councillor for the ward. The date and further information on the election will be confirmed in due the setback, Reform said it hoped to retain its stronghold on the ward, which also covers Blackhill and Shotley Bridge.A Reform UK spokesman said: "We understand that Mr Kilburn did not declare his employment to the returning officer as expected and is now required to resign his seat."We look forward to contesting the upcoming by-election to give the people of Benfieldside a strong voice in Durham County Council." Last week, Durham County Council addressed reports that several newly elected Reform councillors will not be able to continue their roles. The Local Democracy Reporting Service was told several councillors' futures were in doubt due to their current employment within the legislation means employees are disqualified from standing as councillors at the same time.A council spokesperson said: "We are aware of a small number of allegations that newly elected councillors are unable to take their seats because they are council employees."As part of the process of standing in an election, each candidate must sign a declaration that they meet all the necessary statutory requirements to be able to stand. This is the candidate's responsibility."If an employee was elected, they are not automatically disqualified from taking their seat, however, they must resign from their employment in order to continue to be a councillor." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
