Minister challenged on biomass Biomass preferendum hurdle
Southampton’s “preferendum” on the proposed biomass plant may still go ahead alongside the police commissioner poll in November, despite legal hurdles.
Different polls – such as council and European elections – have been previously combined to save administration costs. Southampton City Council has pledged to use public voting on key issues to set local priorities, of which biomass would be the first.
A legal complication has come to light, which means the police commissioner poll has not been set up in the same way as other elections. This election is to be run specifically under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2010, and not under electoral legislation.
Council leader Richard Williams has called upon local government minister Grant Shapps to revise Section 15 of the Representation of the People Act 1985, which would allow the two votes to be run side-by-side. He said:
“I am calling on the minister to personally secure his commitment to this course of action which will clearly not only benefit Southampton but the wider local authority community, both in relation to this year’s forthcoming election and police and crime commissioner elections in the future.”
The council’s head of legal services, Richard Ivory added: “My understanding is that this could be achieved by the passing of secondary legislation or by derogation order, but I am conscious that time is against us unless this is undertaken by the Government very shortly.”
The letter to Grant Shapps was sent on 25 July. The council awaits his response.
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