Referendum Update


This page will be updated on a regular basis as information
is made available by members of the 'Yes' for elected Mayor campaign.

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Update - Background

Update

Date	Timelines - Information
22 March 2003	Sources state that Rob Hearne, Leader of CBC has been interviewed by the police.
March 2003	Reply to 'Yes' group from Northamptonshire Police on the complaint.
February 2003	Complaint to the Northamptonshire Police on the handling of the original complaint.
February 2003	Meeting of the 'Yes' group, solicitor and the police at corby police station. Police unable/unwilling to disclose any documentary proof of their investigation, if indeed there actually was one.
January 2003	Further Information received from a Secretary of State at  the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister which details the legal requirements. Confirms the 'yes' groups belief that a criminal offence had been committed.
	Solicitor instructed to act for the 'yes' group Obtain legal advice from a Barrister
October 2002	complaint made to police to investigate illegal leaflet
September 2002	'no' group continue to distribute their illegal leaflets for 3 to 4 days, committing a criminal offence.
September 2002	'No' group asked to withdraw their illegal leaflet
September 2002	'No' Group produce their illegal leaflet

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Background

In March 2002 Corby Borough Council implemented a series of savage cuts to
our leisure and community services.
At the same time we suffered a swinging increase in Council Tax of 15%.

Arising from this a pressure group was formed to protest the cuts,
C.A.S.L.E. (Corby Arts Swimming Leisure and Entertainment).
During their investigations into the council, members of CASLE found evidence of the ruling Labour groups
attempts to deny the people of Corby a free choice on how they were governed.

The Local Government Act 2000 required that the council consult members of the public on
how they were governed. The options being:

Leader and Cabinet
Elected Mayor and Cabinet
Elected Mayor and Council Manager
Alternative Arrangements (A.K.A. Streamlined Committee System)

The council carried out a 'consultation process'.
As part of this process the council paid thousands of pounds of taxpayers money
 to the well respected MORI organization to conduct an opinion poll.  
This poll was carried out and resulted in a majority interest
for the elected Mayor options, with between 200-300 people showing their preference
out of  over 1000 people questioned.

As part of the process the council decided to hold 13 meetings around the Borough.
At these meetings they had attendance's of  7 at one, 5 at another, no-one turned up at another.
There is evidence to suggest that others simply never took place.

When the council submitted their recommendations to Government they stated that
'there was initial favourable response to an elected mayor option
which drifted away as the meeting continued.

The council members/officers submitted a proposal for the 'Streamlined committee' option.
A proposal that totally ignored the opinions of the greater number questioned in the MORI poll.
A poll which cost many thousands of pounds to conduct.

Subsequently CASLE campaigned for a referendum for elected Mayor and collected over 2000 signatures to trigger a referendum. The signatures were collected within 3 weeks, mostly over two weekends with a break for Easter!

The referendum was held in October 2002 by postal ballot.

The result was

Yes - 46%          No - 53%

However, during the campaign,  much was made of fictitious figures issued by the
'No' campaign regarding the costs of an elected Mayor.

Also, the 'No' campaign issued a leaflet to put their case forward.

One member of the 'Yes' campaign
 (experienced in campaigning through a previous link with the Labour Party)
immediately saw that the leaflet was in breach of election law.
This law states that it is a criminal offence to produce such a leaflet,
with a fine of up to £5000 for committing the offence.

The council were informed who, in turn, informed Cllr Rob Hearne
Leader of CBC and Leader of the 'No' campaign.

Despite being told of their criminal acts, the 'No' campaign continued to
distribute their illegal leaflet for another 3-4 days
until, finally, agreeing to withdraw it.

The 'Yes' campaign complained to the police about this criminal offence and asked for an investigation.
Also, the 'Yes' group contacted a solicitor to represent them.
Advice was sought from a barrister and other advice was sought
from the Electoral Commission and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
(who oversee Local Government).

The investigations continue..............................
              
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