A by-election is set to be held for the Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council seat of former councillor Ed Doveton.

Hertsmere borough councillor Morris Bright, a Conservative ward councillor for Elstree, which Mr Doveton also represented, said, early this week, that the Hertsmere Conservative Party would announce a candidate to contest the seat within a few days.

Mr Doveton resigned his seat in September and was understood to have moved to the United States.

Town council clerk, John Rheam, confirmed this week that Mr Doveton had resigned after disqualifying himself by not attending council or committee meetings. He had not attended the necessary minimum of at least one meeting in six months.

Mr Rheam added that the vacancy was being advertised in a notice on the council's notice-board, which also informed the public that a by-election would be held if at least ten electors from the ward requested it, in writing within 14 working days.

If the public do not demand a by-election, the seat will be filled by co-option, whereby the Labour group, which dominates the town council, will nominate one or more successors from any political group, and the whole council will vote to decide.

Councillor Bright said: "The Labour councillor who represented Elstree appears no longer to be able to do so, and it is only right and fair that the people who have elected him now have a chance to elect someone else.

"It would not be right to co-opt someone that would not be the democratic way in this country. Councillors should be elected by local residents not by an existing group of councillors.

"There will be a by-election in Elstree, which will give the local people an opportunity to pick someone they believe can do good for the area."

Hertsmere Borough Council's Labour group leader, Councillor Frank Ward, said of Mr Doveton: "He was an excellent member of the council. He was very competent, committed and dedicated, but he decided that his fortunes lay in the United States of America.

"He is a big loss. Without doubt, he was destined to become a member of Hertsmere Borough Council."

He added that, as far as he knew, Mr Doveton had moved to the United States, with his American wife.

Mr Doveton was one of two Elstree councillors on the town council and, when he held his seat, there were 12 Labour councillors and one Conservative. Labour town councillor Stuart Perkins is understood to be working temporarily in Russia, but attends meetings when he is on leave.

November 7, 2001 14:07

By LORNA McVICARS