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Vicar resigns from parish council seat
Peter Devinep1/10/2008
AN Offerton vicar who allegedly broke election rules has resigned his seat on Offerton Parish Council - forcing another by-election.
The vicar Rev Jim Bates, the vicar at St Alban’s and St John, was threatened with police action after he was elected in May, and allegations emerged that he had failed to meet the 12 month ward residency criteria before standing.
Councillor Keith Ryan, the chairman of Offerton Parish Council, read out a statement at a meeting on Monday confirming the by-election on November 6, costing a further £2,000.
In his letter of resignation Rev Bates said: "The reason that I stood as a parish councillor was to serve all the people of Offerton Park parish to the best of my ability, and to work with my colleagues to try to make life better for families in the area. Sadly this will not be as a parish councillor, as given the doubts expressed, I feel it is my duty to resign."
Rev Bates said he was a registered elector and had acted in good faith throughout.
Rev Bates attended his church inauguration last October after arriving from Winchester. In the May 29 election he took the seat against his only other challenger, the British National Party’s Stephen Maher.
Coun Ryan, who in July raised concerns about Rev Bates eligibility, after complaints were made to him by members of the public, said at the time he would be failing in his duty if he didn’t report it to police.
He explained this week: "I do not doubt Rev Bates acted in good faith in allowing himself to be put forward as a candidate in May. I am however, critical of those who persuaded him to do so for what I believe to be was their own political agenda. The whole thing is an absolute shambles and the latest by-election costing £2,000 is going to put yet a further strain on the already depleted 2008/2009 budget."
The Stockport Express contacted Stockport Council, to put questions to chief executive John Schultz, who acted as the returning officer in the May by-election, to discover why Rev Bates’ residency issue had not been picked up at that stage.
A Stockport Council spokesman said: "A returning officer has to check that the questions on a nomination paper have been answered. However, it is not the job of the returning officer to check the accuracy of those answers. In fact, a returning officer is not even allowed to reject a nomination form in cases where s/he knows the candidate is not eligible. The returning officer has no duty to vet a candidate for the election. If a candidate declares that they are eligible to stand on their application the elections office must accept that application on behalf of the returning officer."
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2/10/2008 at 12:32