Councils now run by Reform - end of the beginning or beginning of the end?

I know. There’s no reference to by elections because it doesn’t apply.

This is the LGA guidance @blossomtoes- https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/communications-and-community-engagement/pre-election-period/frequently-asked-questions - scroll down to the bottom picture, I tried to take a photo of it but for some reason Mumsnet decided it was sensitive 😂.

Although in theory it only applies to the particular ward, my experience working in a local authority is that it actually affects things more widely than that, especially when it’s a town (or city) with multiple wards where you can’t separate out issues easily.

It says,

The whole council must take care that its actions and communications in relation to those wards comply with the pre-election period restrictions. This means that the council should not make statements about candidates in those wards or make statements on controversial issues that are identified with the views of individual candidates or parties in those wards, or which may influence the voters in those wards. Council publications about other wards where there is no election will not be affected unless they bear directly on political issues in those wards where there is an election.

Purdah applies for local elections like those held last week and for general elections, it doesn’t apply to by elections. As someone whose job required close observation of purdah, I know this.

Purdah might be more limited in area or topics but it’s certainly applied in by elections IME and as advised by democratic services @BIossomtoes@boys3- and there is suggestion in our are that there may be more complaints if councils aren’t careful.

@boys3 Yes. 1 short. Although the Cons not having control was unthinkable until recently.

I think brokering a coalition or confidence and supply deal depends how Independents have positioned themselves. Anti Con or just mavericks! I don’t have any near me so I’m just not sure.

Also, all the Reform wards have 2 or 3 councillors. Two share with 2 Cons and the other with a Lib Dem! That ward is nearly all new developments! Split opinions there.

It will be interesting to see what trading goes on but Bucks doesn’t have any fat to trim! Lots of the Reform nonsense didn’t hit home here and they really won’t find money in imaginary “DEI services” to divert to potholes!

I do not want 'Reform-heavy' but it might be what is required to show some of the more moderate R voters what the policies look like in real terms. Some will be fine with it, of course.

I'll preface this post by saying that I cannot stand Reform.

I'm worried that this is a missed opportunity. They won't really be able to change anything meaningful (to them), thanks to councils already being cut beyond the bone, with only obligatory services left running and our employment / equality laws putting the brakes on. It will be Reform-Lite Therefore, the electorate won't get the opportunity see and feel the true effects of their policy. This 'give them an inch' could end up backfiring and being a "give us a better chance to show us what we can do when we're not being strangled by the Elites! Let us flex our muscles in Westminster" scenario.

Obviously that the utter incompetence and inexperience of the new incumbents is likely to cause issues, even if they make no changes and just attempt to keep the ship afloat. This would be true of any party, or any organisation.

It seems unbelievable that they could fail at a local level (or actively wreck things) but It's very likely that people will give them the benefit of the doubt and find excuses to give them a second chance.

There’s no purdah for by elections.

And each time we have a by-election, it causes a frustrating cancellation of all sorts of things already in progress. So lots of hidden costs to the council and to other organisations who also can’t get on with things, because of the period of purdah.

Looking at the Reform seats in Bucks, 2 are representing new estates. I was surprised at this. They are absolutely not left behind old industrial areas. Far from it. There’s a surprising number of independents and I would think one or more of these could work with the Cons. Although a couple represent pretty Con areas so the independents could be protest votes. Four independents represent very very expensive areas! So we shall see.

I dont think the Cons have messed up here. They don’t have the money they would like and obviously services are not what they would like them to be. A big issue for nearly every council and Reform won’t find savings. The Cons have definitely made them here.

Shame he can’t be given the bill for the cost of the by election.

Residing in a council now controlled by reform, it’s worrying how little experience any of them actually have. Where we are there is a current very real issue with a new build development which the local , very experienced councillor was giving a lot of support to resolving and ensuring positive outcomes, he’s now gone, the case officer responsible for the development has basically said she had no idea what will now happen a it’s already clear the reform councillor doesn’t know what to do

Reform are busy doing the pick me dance in Northumberland

Reform demand 'extremely high price' for coalition agreement in Northumberland

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/reform-demand-extremely-high-price-31601050#ICID=Android_ChronicleNewsApp_AppShare

His Ward is a tiny turquoise spot on the East in a sea of Conservatives, maybe too much for a new boy. £25,000 it will cost the Council. Shame it can't be passed down to the runner up.

What's their obsession with flags? Is it the Make Britain Great Again by focusing on the Union Jack?

"If I need to remove a flag to refocus our council on what it's there to do then that's what I will do."

Yes, that will magically solve everything. 😂

Do you mean the bins won't be collected, the streets will be full of potholes, and the library will be closed?

How will anyone tell the difference?

I don't think they are big on details......

They won't have any more money than the previous councillors

https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/bins-potholes-asylum-this-time-farage-is-serious-crxtbbrw6

I hope they do a good job. Certainly in my area (previously Labour run) they can't possibly be any worse!

I'm prepared to give them a chance, and see what they can do. But then, I said that about Starmer and look how that turned out...