Blue weekend (2), Babergh turns blue!

They said it could never happen but Babergh District Council now has a Conservative majority.

The council was formed some 40 years ago, in 1974, and until this weekend was one of the very few councils in the country that has never been controlled by one political party or grouping.  The council has included a strong contingent of popular independent members which effectively prevented any political group from being in the majority and coalitions did not seem to fit the bill either.

All this has now changed.  Some of the independents have recently stood down, and this, combined with the poor showing nationally and locally of the Liberal Democrats and Greens, has resulted in the Conservative Group returning over 30 members.  22 would have been enough for a majority.

Until recently I think that the council probably benefitted from political diversity.   Debate was always lively, and all members seemed to have the good of the District at heart.  Since the link up with Mid Suffolk however I think that this has been more of a problem. Officers appear to have seized the initiative, the level of debate has been supressed and, in my opinion,  the council’s reputation has suffered as a result.  I am sure that the council will benefit from a greater degree of political direction.

I have stood down from Babergh this time since I do not believe that it is desireable to sit on two councils at the same time.  I am very happy to say that in Waldingfield both Frank Lawrenson and Margaret Maybury, pictured recently on this site with James Cartlidge,  now our new Member of Parliament, were returned with a high share of the vote. (See the entry for April 26th for photograph)

From the perspective of the county council,  I will miss working with District councillors, Jack Norman in Lavenham  (Independent)  and Robert Lindsay (Green)  in South Cosford, both of whom always put getting things done ahead of any political differences.  However it is comforting that three out of the four Wards in my County Division are now represented by Conservatives.  So congratulations to Mike Creffield (Brett Vale), who takes over from Desmond Keane, Will Shropshire (Lavenham) and Alan Ferguson (South Cosford).

Now, all we need to do is to persuade Clive Arthey (Independent, North Cosford) to return to the Conservative fold, and Cosford will be completely blue.