Torridge councillor keeps parish going

Rosemary Lock joins temporarily

A Torridge councillor is temporarily joining a nearby parish council so it can function legally.

Alverdiscott & Huntshaw Parish Council is currently inquorate, meaning it does not have enough councillors and therefore can’t make any decisions.

Nearby district member Rosemary Lock has agreed to be appointed as a temporary parish councillor, which will enable Alverdiscott & Huntshaw to hold meetings again.

The move, agreed by Torridge District Council at a full meeting on Monday [31 October], allows the parish to ‘co-opt’ new councillors – whereby it chooses to fill a vacancy if insufficient candidates are proposed for an election.

District councils like Torridge are able to step in and temporarily appoint parish councillors if they have become inquorate.

Councillor Lock (Conservative, Two Rivers & Three Moors) said: “I am happy to be appointed as a temporary parish councillor to Alverdiscott & Huntshaw Parish Council to allow the council to become quorate and carry out co-options at the next parish council meeting.

“Over the past four years I have travelled many times to either Alverdiscott or Huntshaw – 30 minutes each way – only to find they are inquorate.

“They have had many varied problems over the years and now with people expressing interests to join the council the co-option process must start as soon as possible to enable this deserving community the chance to move forward in the correct fashion.”