A new councillor has been co-opted to Calne Town Council to represent the Chilvester & Abberd ward, following the resignation of Cllr Orrey Pike in November.
The co-option took place at the council’s meeting on Monday evening (26th January), with three candidates put forward for the vacancy: Liberal Democrats Rose Cooper and Sophie Myers, and Conservative Paul Stains.
An initial vote saw both Mr Stains and Ms Myers receive eight votes each, triggering a second round of voting. In the revote, Ms Myers secured the seat by nine votes to eight.
In her statement to councillors ahead of the vote, Ms Myers said she was a Calne resident with a strong commitment to the community and a desire to ensure residents’ voices are heard and acted upon.
She highlighted her experience as a mother of two and her professional background as a caseworker, which she said had given her insight into issues including housing, managing agents, and adult social care. Ms Myers added that she hoped to bring strong problem-solving skills, empathy and local knowledge to the role, and to help ensure Calne remains a supportive, inclusive and thriving place to live.
Under council rules, co-option is used to fill a vacant seat when no by-election is called. Eligible candidates put themselves forward and are considered by existing councillors, who vote to appoint a new member to serve until the next election.
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