AN ATTEMPT to get councillors to back a pledge to ensure they serve their four-year term of office has failed.
At a meeting of the full council on Tuesday, councillors voted against a motion put forward by Cllr George Blackwell.
It stated: “It urges all political parties and all candidates who aspire to become a borough councillor to recognise that being a councillor is a serious responsibility which requires a minimum commitment of four years.
“Resigning in a shorter timescale causes unnecessary waste of public money and instability in governance.
“It also brings the role of a councillor into disrespect and contempt.”
The idea was first raised in the Herald & Post in May by the Labour leader of the opposition, Cllr Shashi Dholakia.
Before the meeting he said: “As a council we can’t carry on having people leaving and having a bi-election every two to four months.”
Cllr Dholakia does not want taxpayers’ money wasted on bi-elections.
