"It costs more if we don’t have elections" - candidate defends holding Warndon Parish Council election

The by-election was held on December 13 and the £10,000 cost even comes after a decision not to send out poll cards to save money.

Residents and Councillor Stephen Hodgson, who represents Warndon Parish North on Worcester City Council, criticised the election as “unnecessary” especially as winner Andrew Cross will have to contest his seat again at another election in just five months’ time in May.

Cllr Hodgson told us the £10,000 “should have been spent on other things in Warndon.”

But Andy Graham, one of the unsuccessful candidates who stood against Mr Cross, said: “It costs to put on an election sure, it does but in the end it costs more if we don’t have elections.

“The costs are disconnected electorates, decisions made that potentially are not representative and an increasing lack of transparency and accountability. And whilst some might say that it’s only a parish council what does it matter, my response would be that as we have a council with an annual spend of £100k - we need to have open and transparent and democratic selections to that council.

“We have a council where the majority of its councillors were either elected unopposed or co-opted – I say this mitigates against a vibrant, inclusive and engaging parish council. This is a real shame, we need more people to get engaged not fewer.”

Mr Graham said instead of querying why the election - triggered after the resignation of Councillor Les Morris - was held, the “bigger question” was why polling cards were not sent out meaning local people were “disenfranchised.”

“The effect of this was that very few people who had the right to vote were even aware that there was an election,” he added.

“Let’s review what happened and learn lessons for the next time.”

Nick Fielden, chairman of Warndon Parish Council, has previously declined to comment on the issue when contacted by the Worcester News.