Cllr Sam Townend (Prince's, Kennington) still receiving councillor money?
- Thread starter Voroni
- Start date
Yes he has been selected as Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for a constituency in Bristol - see http://www.samtownend.com/ - he is still representing Princes ward on Lambeth Council and attending meetings as far as I know so is entitled to claim his allowances
According to his website he lives in Henleaze, Bristol - http://www.samtownend.com/13b3c1a4-f1ce-80a4-f9fa-7b0f11cfe75d.
Doing a bit more poking around it seems he is still a barrister in London http://www.keatingchambers.co.uk/profiles/barristers/samuel_townend.aspx so thats a rather long commute, I wonder how he has time for Lambeth too?
As far as I know there arent any rules about having to live in the area you represent as long as you attend the main council meetings (monthly?) but I imagine his mind isnt always on Lambeth matters!
There is some talk about this on the web, eg see http://thebristolblogger.wordpress.com/2007/07/03/the-lambeth-wank/ and the local Tories arent very happy: http://www.vauxhallconservatives.com/KenningtonCampaigner_Winter08.pdf
Doing a bit more poking around it seems he is still a barrister in London http://www.keatingchambers.co.uk/profiles/barristers/samuel_townend.aspx so thats a rather long commute, I wonder how he has time for Lambeth too?
As far as I know there arent any rules about having to live in the area you represent as long as you attend the main council meetings (monthly?) but I imagine his mind isnt always on Lambeth matters!
There is some talk about this on the web, eg see http://thebristolblogger.wordpress.com/2007/07/03/the-lambeth-wank/ and the local Tories arent very happy: http://www.vauxhallconservatives.com/KenningtonCampaigner_Winter08.pdf
you do have to live in and be on the electoral roll of the borough/district that you are standing for election to, not sure if there's any requirement to resign your seat if you move. Serious parliamentary candidate from outside the area generally move there before the campaign, but you'd be perfectly entitled to stand in Orkney and Shetland even if you live in the Scilly Isles
lang rabbie
Je ne regrette les gazebos
Does that mean that Mr.Townend is only attending one meeting every six months? Or is he doing more than that?
How much money is he receiving?
its probably better to ask him these questions yourself: have you tried contacting him ? His contact details will be on the Council website as will details of his attendance at council meetings. Councillor Townend is entitled to the basic councillors' allowance of £10,212 (paid to all councillors) which I assume he claims.
OK, email sent today. I will let you know if I receive a response.
His email address is listed here: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/moderngov/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=252
Correspondence Address:
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton
London
SW2 1RW
Bus. Phone: 020 7820 9002
Email: stownend@lambeth.gov.uk
Email as follows:
Dear Mr.Townend,
I understand that you are currently a councillor in Prince's ward but also a prospective MP in Bristol. How is it possible for you to combine both roles? What are the rules on combining both roles? How much money do you receive as a councillor and what are your duties and responsibilities?
Regards, etc.
His email address is listed here: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/moderngov/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=252
Correspondence Address:
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton
London
SW2 1RW
Bus. Phone: 020 7820 9002
Email: stownend@lambeth.gov.uk
Email as follows:
Dear Mr.Townend,
I understand that you are currently a councillor in Prince's ward but also a prospective MP in Bristol. How is it possible for you to combine both roles? What are the rules on combining both roles? How much money do you receive as a councillor and what are your duties and responsibilities?
Regards, etc.
Cloo
Banana for scale
I believe that the leader of Barnet council is standing as Tory candidate for Finchley, so it's not exceptional for a counsellor to stand as MP. I think things may only change if they get elected.
For the last few months of his council 'career' my dad was actually living and working in Kaliningrad, Russia, but made it back for some meetings (he'd given up all his frontbench stuff by then, though). So Bristol's not a long stretch in comparison!
For the last few months of his council 'career' my dad was actually living and working in Kaliningrad, Russia, but made it back for some meetings (he'd given up all his frontbench stuff by then, though). So Bristol's not a long stretch in comparison!
Its been going on all the time and its something that local papers like to highlight -
eg like these Merton councillors - http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/...cillors_criticised_for_living_outside_london/
Of course in the olden (pre internet) days people often didnt used to know about it so much as long as councillors turned up for surgeries and full council meetings no-one need ever know but now you can search google and find all sorts of interesting things!
You could argue that the internet, mobile phones, blackberries etc mean that a councillor doesnt actually have to live in the area he/she is representing as they can do it all remotely.
eg like these Merton councillors - http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/...cillors_criticised_for_living_outside_london/
Of course in the olden (pre internet) days people often didnt used to know about it so much as long as councillors turned up for surgeries and full council meetings no-one need ever know but now you can search google and find all sorts of interesting things!
You could argue that the internet, mobile phones, blackberries etc mean that a councillor doesnt actually have to live in the area he/she is representing as they can do it all remotely.
lang rabbie
Je ne regrette les gazebos
I've also heard those rumours. But I don't think that the Lambeth Labour party will let him go if they think they might lose the resulting by-election.
[You would have thought an overall of thirteen would be enough, or even eleven if they did lose a by-election, but I also hear the Labour whips are sometimes finding it difficult to get a number of other backbenchers enthused to turn up to vote for cuts and housing rent rises etc.]
Well he has been candidate in Bristol for two years. So it's presumably not on grounds of principle.
badnewswade
freak-out wierdo
My ears are burning! I'm from Bristol...
Bristol's a classic MP-parachuting rotten burough so I wouldn't be surprised if they were gonna drop him into a seat in our town, who gives a crap about what he knows about the area or local people, this is Nu Labour, right? New "show me the money" Labour. Yeah.
Hey, look at it this way, he's our problem now!
Bristol's a classic MP-parachuting rotten burough so I wouldn't be surprised if they were gonna drop him into a seat in our town, who gives a crap about what he knows about the area or local people, this is Nu Labour, right? New "show me the money" Labour. Yeah.
Hey, look at it this way, he's our problem now!
Bristol Boy
New Member
SE1 said: According to his website he lives in Henleaze, Bristol
his second home is actually in Westbury-on-Trym ward. Maybe if he spent a bit more time there he might get to know his new constituency a bit better!
his second home is actually in Westbury-on-Trym ward. Maybe if he spent a bit more time there he might get to know his new constituency a bit better!
It seems its better to email him in Bristol - I dropped a line to sam@samtownend.com highlighting the discussion here and suggesting that he might like to reply. today I got back the reponse:
Thank you.
I will gladly try to assist with case work, lobbying etc. in Bristol North West and in Princes Ward. Let me know if there is anything of substance that I can help with.
Kind Regards,
Sam Townend
So thats alright then!
Thank you.
I will gladly try to assist with case work, lobbying etc. in Bristol North West and in Princes Ward. Let me know if there is anything of substance that I can help with.
Kind Regards,
Sam Townend
So thats alright then!
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