The airwaves have been hot recently regarding the Parish Councillor Daniel Carr, a Tory from the Town of Blyth in Northumberland.
Members of the public have been asking questions regarding his ability to hold office on Blyth Town Council, whether he fulfils the eligibility criteria to the letter or whether like one of his County Councillor colleagues, has a prime address outside of the eligible circle.
In the opposite end of the County of Northumberland, a very vocal war has erupted between the Northern Tories and the public ever since the Tory Councillor from Norham and the Islelandshire division, situated up against the Border with Scotland ‘disappeared, https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/councillor-where-have-they-gone-1-9490581 .
On 11th May 2017 just after his election into office he decided to use County Hall, Morpeth as his eligible address,
Lawrie, Roderick Malcolm Gordon - Northumberland County Council
committee.northumberland.gov.uk/Councillor.aspx?cllrID=254
11 May 2017 - Councillor Roderick Malcolm Gordon Lawrie; Address: C/O County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF
His declaration of interest form list him as a gun dealer, wine consultant and Director of a tobacco company, maybe the former is why he likes to hide his identity a bit? He’s a resident of the Isle of Man and told the top Blog site ‘Voice of the North’ in February this year that he would have to resign http://www.voiceofthenorth.net/riddle-roderick-lawrie-part-3/ In true Northumberland Conservative style, he hasn’t bothered.
But back to Daniel Carr of South Ward in Blyth, although we have not seen his declaration of interest form, were moderately sure he doesn’t deal in arms and his social media doesn’t seem to indicate he’s anything but an opportunist, so why hide one’s address?
11 May 2017 - Councillor Roderick Malcolm Gordon Lawrie; Address: C/O County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF
His declaration of interest form list him as a gun dealer, wine consultant and Director of a tobacco company, maybe the former is why he likes to hide his identity a bit? He’s a resident of the Isle of Man and told the top Blog site ‘Voice of the North’ in February this year that he would have to resign http://www.voiceofthenorth.net/riddle-roderick-lawrie-part-3/ In true Northumberland Conservative style, he hasn’t bothered.
But back to Daniel Carr of South Ward in Blyth, although we have not seen his declaration of interest form, were moderately sure he doesn’t deal in arms and his social media doesn’t seem to indicate he’s anything but an opportunist, so why hide one’s address?
The eligibility to be accepted as a Parish Councillor is as follows:
Eligibility criteria
Candidates must be qualified to stand for election. The Local
Government Act 1972, Section 79, sets out the qualifications for standing as a
candidate and the grounds for disqualification of a candidate.
On the day of nomination and the day of poll, you must:
On the day of nomination and the day of poll, you must:
- be at least 18 years old
- be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any other member state of the European Union, and
- meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
a) Your name must appear on the register of local government
electors for the parish/community at the time of your nomination and throughout
your term of office should you be elected.
b) You have occupied any land or other premises as owner or tenant in the parish/community during 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
c) Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the parish/community area. You do not have to have paid employment to qualify, as long as your main or only place of work is in the parish/community area. For example, Councillors who’s main or only job is being a councillor would be able to use this qualification, if their council office is within the parish/community.
d) You have lived in the parish/community area or within three miles of it during 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
You may be disqualified as a candidate if:
b) You have occupied any land or other premises as owner or tenant in the parish/community during 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
c) Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the parish/community area. You do not have to have paid employment to qualify, as long as your main or only place of work is in the parish/community area. For example, Councillors who’s main or only job is being a councillor would be able to use this qualification, if their council office is within the parish/community.
d) You have lived in the parish/community area or within three miles of it during 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
You may be disqualified as a candidate if:
- You are employed by the parish/community council or hold a paid office under the parish/community council (including joint boards or committees).
- You have been declared bankrupt in the last five years and has not repaid your debts.
- You have been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to at least three months imprisonment (including any suspended sentence) within the previous five years.
- You are disqualified due to corrupt practices under the Representation of the People Act 1983 or the Audit Commission Act.
As Laypeople we have no idea why Daniel Carr hides his eligibility
criteria from the residents of his area or under what element of the criteria
he qualified under in May 2017.
Does he house share with Roderick Lawrie? Or jet in from the Isle of Man for his meetings in Blyth?
In order that people and residents can gain an understanding why a Councillor for one of Britain’s safest wards hides or feels the necessity to hide his identity the Local Secretariat of the National Association of Parish Councillors needs to make Parish Councillors declarations of interest forms available for all to see on their web-site to ensure the public can self scrutinise those who represent them, and with Blyth Town Council harvesting one of the highest precepts in Britain its essential they do.
Does he house share with Roderick Lawrie? Or jet in from the Isle of Man for his meetings in Blyth?
In order that people and residents can gain an understanding why a Councillor for one of Britain’s safest wards hides or feels the necessity to hide his identity the Local Secretariat of the National Association of Parish Councillors needs to make Parish Councillors declarations of interest forms available for all to see on their web-site to ensure the public can self scrutinise those who represent them, and with Blyth Town Council harvesting one of the highest precepts in Britain its essential they do.
