THERE are upcoming elections this May, and here’s everything you need to know:
Somerset County Council and the four district councils (Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton, and South Somerset) will be replaced by the new Somerset Council in April 2023.
For the first ‘transition’ year (May 2022 to end of March 2023), those elected will sit as county councillors and will oversee the process to unitary.
On 1st April 2023, the county council and four district councils will be disbanded and will become a new Somerset Council. Those councillors who were voted-in at the May 2022 elections will then sit on the new council as unitary councillors, where they will serve for the normal term of four years (having overseen the transition year).
For the first year, the newly elected councillors will be responsible for existing Somerset County Council services and will oversee the creation of a new single Somerset Council. Then from 1 April 2023, when the new Somerset Council comes into being, they will assume responsibility for all council services in Somerset.
Who and what will I be voting for?
You will be voting for candidates who have been nominated as Somerset County Councillors. Voters will be able to elect two candidates in each of the 55 divisions – the areas that they represent.
Their role will change to being members of the new Somerset Council on 1 April 2023 when Somerset becomes a unitary council.
This means that all the services delivered by Somerset County Council and the four district councils – Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton, and South Somerset – will be delivered by the new Somerset Council.
You will also be voting for town councillors who represent you in your neighbourhood.
The key dates:
21st March, notice of election published. 22nd March, nominations accepted from this date. 5th April, deadline for candidates’ nominations. 6th April, statement of persons nominated published. 14th April, deadline to register to vote. 19th April, close of postal vote applications. Thursday 5th May, polling day. 6th May, count of votes and declarations of results for 110 councillors to the County of Somerset. 7th May, count of votes and declarations of results for city, town and parish councils.
There is a wealth of information on Mendip District Council’s website, which provides lots of details about the forthcoming elections on 5th May. This will be helpful for voters, for those standing for election at county level who will, if elected, oversee the transition to a new unitary council, and also for those candidates standing for election at city, town and parish level across the Mendip district.
You can register to vote by visiting the website (https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote) before midnight on Thursday 14th April or you can also call Mendip District Council on 0300 303 8588.
