By-election bill revealed after rivals' cost row
LDRSThe cost of a by-election, triggered by the resignation of a newly-elected councillor, amounted to more than £17,000, it has been revealed.
Voters in South Tyneside Council's Harton ward returned to the polls on 6 August, just three months after electing Alex Clarke on a night which saw Reform UK take control of the borough.
Clarke resigned claiming the role had been mis-sold to him, but he was also accused of making a number of derogatory comments which were condemned by local party leader Paul Mackings.
Following a Freedom of Information request made after rival parties questioned the cost of the by-election, the council calculated the bill to be £17,557.
Reform UK's Katie Groom won the by-election, maintaining the party's majority on South Tyneside following the 7 May all-council election where Reform took 41 of the authority's 54 seats.
'Democratic process'
Concerns over the cost of holding the by-election were raised by rival parties during campaigning, prompting a Freedom of Information request by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
In response, a South Tyneside Council spokesperson said: "Elections are a key part of the democratic process and the law requires councils to organise by-elections in certain circumstances when a vacancy arises.
"The cost of any election can vary depending on a range of factors, including the number of polling stations required, staffing levels, printing and postage costs, and voter turnout."
The turnout in Harton ward on 6 August was 28.3%, with 1,780 votes cast out of a total electorate of 6,288.
Groom defeated six other candidates, taking 35.3% of the votes.
The largest costs detailed by the council were:
- Staffing - £7,668
- Postal voting - £5,702*
- Printing - £2,741
- Venue hire and equipment transport - £1,300
*The council is awaiting final invoices for costs associated with postal voting.
