The main business of last Tuesday’s town council meeting was undoubtedly the deliberation about and co-option of new councillors. There were two vacancies and three candidates: Jane Conlin, Jonathan Dellar and Sue Learoyd-Smith. Each of them was given three minutes to speak to their application, after which they had to answer three questions.
Following an informal vote by the 13 councillors present, the result was announced: Sue Learoyd-Smith gained seven votes in the first round ballot, a clear winner. The two remaining candidates were entered in the second round, from which Jane Conlin emerged victorious. These two were duly elected, subject to formal ratification at the mayor-making ceremony which is to take place on Monday, May 2.
Each candidate had shown examples of their service to the community in diverse ways. Then each framed their response to the three questions:
- How would you go about regularly engaging with the electorate in order to represent their views to the council?
- What powers or influence would you like to see the council make use of in order to serve the electorate?
- If you had one wish or aspiration for Rye, what would it be?
The responses to the second and third question were varied. One candidate wished to see greater autonomy from the district council and the encouragement of local businesses. Other issues identified ranged from the greater provision of social housing, and the more frequent emptying of street litter bins. All were agreed that tourism was vital to the life of the town and that maintaining its beauty was a high priority.
Image Credits: Kenneth Bird .
This article really did not tell the reader much about the three candidates or what they will bring to the Rye Town Council. Indeed who they are , just their names.
One must agree with Judith Gibsons observation, Jonathan Dellar is the only one I can associate with being a local person, and businessman in town,the other two candidates,I’ve never heard of.
I am afraid I need to correct a few inaccuracies! The voting to fill the two Council vacancies was undertaken formally (in accordance with local government law and the Town Council’s Co-option procedure) – not informally. There was one round of voting for each of the two vacancies. The outcome of both – ie the co-option of Jane and Sue is not subject to ratification at Mayor Making. They both signed their Declaration of Acceptance of Office just before the Council meeting on 19 April closed.
Following the Council meeting there was an informal meeting to appoint a Deputy Mayor Elect for 2022-23. There were two candidates: Chris Hoggart and Andy Stuart – with the latter securing the majority of the votes cast. The formal vote to appoint the Deputy Mayor will take place after the election of a Mayor on 2 May.
Anyone wishing to read the written supporting statements of the candidates for co-option should visiit http://www.ryetowncouncil.gov.uk to access the Council meeting papers for 19 April.
I have never written to Rye News before but the recent co-option vote has left me wondering what criteria were used to exclude Jonathan Dellar. Jonathan is an experienced, successful and intelligent local business man living full time in Rye and with many interesting ideas for the town. I’d like to know whether the other two candidates live full time in Rye and whether their CVs bear comparison with Jonathan’s?
Sue Learoyd Smith certainly does live permanently and full time in Rye and has done for about ten years. In my view Rye Town Council are most fortunate to gain a member with Sue’s experience, skills and motivation. Sue has a fine record of voluntary service for varied sectors in local society and is the current visitor centre manager at Hastings Country Park. Sue is
Hear, hear. Well said
For those wishing to find the supporting statements of the applicants, while recognising that the decision is complete and included a formal process of answering questions delivered live at the meeting, these direct links may be more convenient –
Jane Conlin – https://ryetowncouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/C9-Item-73-ii-19-April-2022.pdf
Jonathan Dellar – https://ryetowncouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/C9-Item-73-iii-19-April-2022.pdf
Sue Learoyd-Smith – https://ryetowncouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/C9-Item-73-iv-19-April-2022.pdf
Congratulations to the successful candidates, as well as to our future Deputy Mayor, Andy Stuart.
Yes, I know Sue lives full time in Rye and has for many years. She could-ordinates the Bale House visitor’s centre at Fairlight country park and has previously done amazing work on young women’s employment locally and the conservation of Rye Harbour & wildfowl centre. CharlesNeal
Congratulations to Sue and Jane !
I will be back for the next Public Elections next year and will leave it to the Public vote rather than the Councillors.
I was encouraged very much by some of the Councillors who voted for me or said they voted for me (?)
My supporting document is a brief summary of some pertinent subjects and my own history and background (my Parents now also live in Rye (was Cambridge) and my sister has now retired from the Met and resides far far away in Pett (was St Albans)).
I include some of the points I support below and will continue to lobby the Council on these areas –
I believe that the visitrye.co.uk website domain name and the Marketing of Rye (Royal) should belong to Rye. Rye should have an independent plan for the Town’s Marketing Vision. (The domain name was given to Rother District Council by Rye Partnership a number of years ago).
The visitrye.co.uk domain name is the most successful landing page for 1066 Marketing.
I would like to see RTC reinstate the economic and development working Group, which was formerly “Rye Bay Marketing Group” and originally driven by Lorna Hall, who continues to do great work for Rye.
I support an electric shuttle bus / park and ride for Rye and possibly Camber, which I have commented on today ahead of the discussion on parking in Camber with Sally-Ann on the 27/4 – virtual meeting (RDC have details)
I believe that we should be embracing and promoting the 450th Anniversary of the visit of Queen Elisabeth the First next year – “Rye Royal” was bestowed upon Rye by QE1 – let’s use and market it.
In the same vein as the Rye Website I think Rye Town Council should also take back control of the Rye Allotments, Rye Toliets and Rye Landgate Arch – they were all apparently handed over to Rother District Council many years ago.
Where would we be if we hadn’t got the Library (now the Kino) back from Hastings Borough Council ?
Litter is an issue in the Town and the Chamber of Commerce has been liasing with Sue Proichak and Caroline Bayliss at RDC to find solutions.
The Chamber of Commerce in liaison with the Police is also trying to maintain, improve and increase the CCTV service, which is currently installed covertly in the Town.
Finally, I feel that one of the most important areas we need to dovetail into the Local Town Plan is to ensure that any local Residential development plans at whatever level will also include an affordable and plentiful supply of new housing for young local people, who then have an opportunity to live and work locally and not be pushed into the “supply and demand” trap of second homes and Air B&B Investors taking over the Town of Beautiful Rye.
This is not goodbye, this is Au Reservoir !
Jonathan Dellar
Well said Jonathan Dellar, especially about park and ride for Rye and Camber, something turned down by former Rye councillors many years ago, when it was offered by previous owners of Salts Farm, this is posotive thinking from Jonathan,who was unfortunately not to get the nod from other councillors, whatever the cost of an election its time the people of this town were given the chance to vote on who they wish to represent us, and not back door tactics, who are flavour to certain councillors.
Interesting comments on the co-opting candidates on to the Rye Town Council – “ I’ve never heard of them” “ they’re not Ryers” etc. Perhaps they know all the other 14 councillors? Probably not.
Same old moaning and whinging from the same old replies who do nothing in the town.
I welcome Rye Town Council’s decision to co-opt decent people through proper procedures and process, maybe not Ryers, on to the Town Council and not hold an expensive election.
This isn’t about whingeing, it’s about democracy, just like the referendum that we had, 2 places available on our town council, and it’s up to the people of Rye to have their say, not councillors that will always have their preferences, as for cost with the money coming into Rye Town Council from rents of property and hiring out the town hall,I am sure there was enough money in the coffers, for a proper election.
Rye Town Council has the same power as a village Parish Council, let’s get things in perspective. We don’t need a costly election costs an estimated £2000 that could be spent on the Heritage Centre, now a charity.
I think the RTC do a great job in holding up traditions and as a pressure group for our town. The introduction of Town Steward has been a great initiative doing some excellent work on maintaining our patch.
I’m not about to comment on the referendum, it was only advisory?
Ref: Jonnathan Dellars comment :- Litter is an issue in the Town and the Chamber of Commerce has been liasing with Sue Proichak and Caroline Bayliss at RDC to find solutions.
Litter was bad in the Town but not now that we have a litter picker who does a very good job. I have seen him working along the Rye Harbour Road, Military Road, as well as round the town.
It makes such a difference