Election Announced for West Ward Cheadle Town Council Seat
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
An election has been called for the West Ward of Cheadle, according to the Cheadle Town Council meeting yesterday. The date is provisionally booked for the 16th of April, and polling is likely to be in two of our three primary schools. The Town Council has voted not to use polling cards, and at this time, does not plan to inform members of the public how they might go about standing for the election.
Democratic Services at SMDC told COGNEWS that nominations for candidates will open on the 11th of March and close at 4 p.m. on the 18th of March. Anyone interested in standing can call the electoral team on 01538 395500 for an application and visit: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-parish-council-elections-england/what-you-need-know-you-stand-a-candidate for more information on how to become a candidate and why you might want to.
Staffordshire Parish Council Association kindly sent us this link to help potential candidates decide if council life is for them: https://www.nalc.gov.uk/campaigns/becoming-a-councillor/what-parish-and-town-councils-and-councillors-do.html
If there is only one candidate, then the person who applies will become a councillor automatically.
This election follows 10 co-options to the Cheadle Town Council in less than two years. This might seem unimportant, but a high turnover of councillors means new councillors coming in will need to take some time to learn this important role. Meanwhile, the work the council does can be jeopardized by inexperience and over-reliance on an undemocratic number of people. In effect, the council may be run by just a small group with a very specific voice, and co-option rather than election means that general powers of competence cannot be used, a valuable method of working if a council wishes to evoke change, which is certainly coming with devolution, a new school, further housing developments, and playing fields refurbishments planned.
It is undemocratic for councillors to suggest that holding an election is a misuse of funds, as you will hear in the recording below. The funds are kept specifically for this service.
SMDC will confirm to us the date for the election when it is known. We will update you on progress as it happens.
You can hear the debate at the town council from our recording of the meeting here:
Election Announced for West Ward Cheadle Town Council Seat - created 3rd March 2026
