PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 3 March 2025 Swaffham Town Council
A vacancy for a Town Councillor on Swaffham Town Council arose due to a councillor failing to attend meetings for six consecutive months.
As more than ten electors of the town contested the vacancy, Breckland District Council had to call an Election and so issued a Notice of Election. Nomination papers were received by Breckland for three candidates.
Breckland has a statutory duty to organise and conduct local elections (county, district, town and parish), Police and Crime Commissioner elections, national elections (UK Parliamentary), and referendums.
Breckland Electoral Services is responsible for compiling and maintaining the annual Register of Electors, which records all eligible voters residing within the local authority’s boundaries. Breckland DC also manages the list of absent voters—those who vote by post or appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf.
Breckland issued and publicised the necessary election notices, which Swaffham Town Council displayed on the town noticeboard by Costa, at all play areas and open spaces, on streetlights around the market, as well as on social media and the Town Council website.
Breckland asked the Town Council whether they wished to issue Poll Cards to all eligible electors. However, as the cost of Poll Cards was estimated at £7,000 on top of the estimated administration cost of £6,000-£7,000, the Town Council unanimously decided not to proceed with them. These costs are met by residents of Swaffham in the form of the Town Council precept.
Breckland DC and Swaffham Town Council received complaints regarding the lack of information on the candidates. It was clarified that providing such information is at the discretion of the candidates themselves, and both councils must remain impartial. The only details available were the candidates’ names and addresses, which confirmed their eligibility to stand for election.
Paul Darby Mayor [email protected]