Chiseldon and Lawn The election this year in Chiseldon & Lawn is a by-election, caused by the death of sitting councillor and deputy mayor of Swindon Brian Mattock. Coun Mattock was elected for his seat in 2018 and the four-year term runs out next year, so the winning candidate in this ward in May will only serve for a year before having to stand for election again. Although polls last year were delayed for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic, future elections will be held according to the original cycle, rather than moving everything on a year. Chiseldon & Lawn is a ‘sister’ ward to next door Ridgeway.
Swindon Local Elections 2018. Pictured Andy Spry.03/05/18 Thomas Kelsey. The death of two sitting councillors, the resignation of another, and a year’s delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic have transformed what would have been routine local elections into something quite unusual. The 57 borough councillors in 20 wards are elected in thirds and 19 seats are up for grabs every year for three years, with no elections every fourth year. The successful candidates serve a four-year term. But this year’s elections, delayed for a year will see major changes. Councillors who are standing again for election and those who are stepping down have served a five-year term. It means means those elected this year, whether veterans or new councillors, will only serve a three-year term.
Robert Buckland - UK Parliament official portraits 2017. For far too long, our justice system has been beset by complex and confusing laws, which the public often feel fail in their most essential aims – to keep them safe and properly punish offenders. In my role as Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, I have set out a plan for a radical sentencing overhaul to crack down on crime and protect the public by ensuring that dangerous criminals are kept in prison for longer. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill seeks to equip the police with the powers and tools they need to protect themselves and the public, while overhauling sentencing laws to keep serious sexual and violent offenders behind bars for longer, and placing greater emphasis on rehabilitation to better help offenders to turn their lives around and prevent further crimes.
Tributes have been paid from across the council chamber to Swindon’s deputy mayor and Brian Mattock, who died at the weekend. Coun Mattock was a long-serving Conservative councillor. A former deputy leader, he had held cabinet posts and chaired committees after first working as a council officer. He was due to step up to succeed Garry Perkins as mayor in May – and was active in council and in committees until very recently despite managing a serious medical condition for some years.
Swindon Borough Council leader David Renard was saddened by the news. He said: “Brian was really one of the good guys.