Cllr Fred Neale
A new mayor of Christchurch is to be chosen due to the original mayor-elect not being available to take up his duties because of a delay in the election in his ward.
Nick Geary had been chosen to take up the role of mayor in 2015-16 on condition that he was elected in the vote on 7 May.
However, due to the sad death of a candidate in Nick Geary’s ward of North Highcliffe & Walkford, the election in that ward has been suspended until 18 June.
As the mayor for 2015-16 needs to take office at the annual council meeting on 19 May, Nick Geary is not eligible to take up the post.
An Extraordinary General Meeting will now be held immediately before the annual meeting and the proposal on the table will be for Cllr Fred Neale, who was deputy mayor-elect, to take up the role of mayor this year and for Cllr Trish Jamieson to be his deputy.
A vote will be taken at the EGM and, as long as the proposals are carried, Cllr Fred Neale will be invested as mayor for 2015-16.
David McIntosh, Chief Executive of Christchurch Borough Council, said: “This has been a very unusual, and very sad, situation. We all understand the reasons for delay in the election in Nick Geary’s ward but I am very grateful to our members for coming up with a solution to the problem so swiftly. So long as the proposal on the table is accepted, I look forward to Cllr Fred Neale taking up office.”
