Upholding local democracy in the age of Covid

Northam Council elects new councillor by online secret ballot

Northam Town Council held an extraordinary full council meeting online last Thursday (1 October) to elect a new councillor to replace Daniel Bell, who resigned this summer. Of the four candidates who put themselves forward for co-option, Northam resident Sam Newman-McKie was elected by nine votes to four on the second ballot. Voting took place secretly in an innovative electoral and verification process via the Zoom online platform.

Councillor Newman-McKie was previously a city councillor in Winchester and her skills and interests were seen to be a good match with the aims set out in Northam's recent vision statement to build a more sustainable, self-reliant community post-Covid and improve the quality of life for everyone.

Speaking after the vote, Councillor Newman-McKie said:

'I have been sitting in on Town Council meetings for quite a while now and it strikes me that there are three main challenges we need to address. In the light of the Government's latest free-for-all planning proposals, we need to fight for a proper balance between good quality, appropriate housing and solid protection for our countryside and green spaces. We need to find ways of bringing jobs and opportunities to the people of Northam to boost the local economy and, above all, we need to show leadership in the way we tackle the climate crisis. I am honoured to have been elected to serve as councillor and want to empower residents to question for themselves if they need more information about a policy or a decision.'

Councillor Newman-McKie is married with grown up children and works part-time locally. She brings a wealth of experience from her former work as a legal compliance officer and as an MP's assistant as well as from her previous time as a councillor.

Stephen Middleton, Chair of Torridge and West Devon Lib Dems, said:

'This is good news. The people of Northam will find that Sam, along with our Mayor, David Chalmers, will be a tireless advocate for practical policies which serve the public, protect our environment, and give local people a voice. With the county council elections coming up next year, this is an opportu

nity to demonstrate how Lib Dems can provide leadership for a progressive agenda, working in close alliance with other groups which share our values.'

Northam Town Council has invited residents to comment on its vision for what it wants to achieve in the next three years which is published at: https://www.northamtowncouncil.gov.uk/our-vision/