Saves The Taxpayer Thousands
The Electoral Services of Durham County Council made a serious error on the Town Council Ward Boundaries. Luckily this was spotted by prospective Town Councillor Arun Chandran and corrected within a day – to the credit of the Council.
They had failed to note a change to the boundary between West Ward and the Byerley Park, Horndale and Cobblers Hall Ward, three streets: Silverdale Place, Langdale Place and Eskdale Place, a total of 436 electors had been misplaced!
Had this not been corrected in time then 2 of the 8 Town Council wards affecting 12 Council seats could have been nullified at the Election time. This would have been immensely costly to the Council taxpayer. A single By-Election costs over £8000.
Arun Chandran Secretary of the Great Aycliffe Resident’s Association had personally drafted the electoral boundaries for Great Aycliffe both for Unitary (County) and Town Council.His proposals were approved by Great Aycliffe Residents’ Association and submitted to the Local Government Boundary Commission which adopted them in full last year.
Arun was also the first to spot that the Boundary Commission had missed out an entire ward previously.
Well done to Arun who saved the blushes of a number of officials. He should receive official thanks for spotting the errors, but is still waiting!
