Post by David J. Glanfield on Jul 29, 2020 10:59:04 GMT
As in the First World War, the outbreak of the Second World War led to the passing of the Local Elections and Register of Electors (Temporary Provisions) Act in 1939 by which the period of office of those Aldermen and Councillors due to retire after the end of November 9th, 1939 was extended until December 31st, 1940. This was further extended until June 30th, 1942, and then until the end of the war. Once again candidates for by-elections were selected by members of the Council's Selection Committee under the terms of the Local Election Act for approval by the Chamber.
The Representation of the People Act in 1945 stipulated that the ordinary election of Councillors should be resumed on November 1st, 1945, and the election of Aldermen on November 9th, 1945; the order of the retirement of those Councillors elected in 1945 was also stipulated in the Act:
1. If one Councillor was to be elected for a ward in 1945, the Councillor so elected should retire in 1948. Of the two existing Councillors, the one with the longer term of office will retire in 1946, and the other in 1947.
2. If two Councillors were to be elected for a ward in 1945, then the Councillor not required to retire in 1945 will retire in 1946. The Councillor elected in 1945 with the smaller number of votes will retire in 1947, and the other in 1948.
3. If three Councillors were elected, the one with the smallest number of votes will retire in 1946, the Councillor with the next smallest will retire in 1947, with the remaining Councillor retiring in 1948.
Under this legislation, all surviving Councillors who had been elected in 1936, and whose three year term of office would have terminated in November 1939, faced immediate elections in 1945. Thereafter, the electoral sequence was re-established. The term of office of those elected in 1937 and 1938 terminated in 1946 and 1947 respectively. The Representation of the People Act in 1948 introduced further changes. As has been already noted, not only did the Act bring the municipal franchise into line with the parliamentary franchise, but the timing of local elections was changed from the first week in November to a day in the week beginning with the Sunday before May 9th at the Secretary of State's discretion. The election and retirement of Councillors, Aldermen and the Mayor in 1948 was postponed until full local elections in May 1949, and any vacancy occurring within six months of the 9th May, 1949 was not to be filled before the election.
The Representation of the People Act in 1945 stipulated that the ordinary election of Councillors should be resumed on November 1st, 1945, and the election of Aldermen on November 9th, 1945; the order of the retirement of those Councillors elected in 1945 was also stipulated in the Act:
1. If one Councillor was to be elected for a ward in 1945, the Councillor so elected should retire in 1948. Of the two existing Councillors, the one with the longer term of office will retire in 1946, and the other in 1947.
2. If two Councillors were to be elected for a ward in 1945, then the Councillor not required to retire in 1945 will retire in 1946. The Councillor elected in 1945 with the smaller number of votes will retire in 1947, and the other in 1948.
3. If three Councillors were elected, the one with the smallest number of votes will retire in 1946, the Councillor with the next smallest will retire in 1947, with the remaining Councillor retiring in 1948.
Under this legislation, all surviving Councillors who had been elected in 1936, and whose three year term of office would have terminated in November 1939, faced immediate elections in 1945. Thereafter, the electoral sequence was re-established. The term of office of those elected in 1937 and 1938 terminated in 1946 and 1947 respectively. The Representation of the People Act in 1948 introduced further changes. As has been already noted, not only did the Act bring the municipal franchise into line with the parliamentary franchise, but the timing of local elections was changed from the first week in November to a day in the week beginning with the Sunday before May 9th at the Secretary of State's discretion. The election and retirement of Councillors, Aldermen and the Mayor in 1948 was postponed until full local elections in May 1949, and any vacancy occurring within six months of the 9th May, 1949 was not to be filled before the election.