Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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Local elections

Posted by Joseph on 8/5/2026, 12:37 pm

What we're the southtynside results,anyone know.

Re: Local elections for Joseph

Posted by Mac C on 8/5/2026, 5:20 pm, in reply to "Local elections "

Here is the state of play thus far today
https://portal.southtyneside.info/elections/LocalGovernment.aspx?id=47

Re: Local elections for Joseph

Posted by Mac Cummings on 8/5/2026, 6:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph"

It was working about an hour ago but voting still going on a Reform in the lead.
I suspect that updating is taking place

Re: Local elections for Joseph

Posted by Thomas Buglass on 8/5/2026, 10:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph"

Labour got what they deserved.

Re: Local elections for Joseph

Posted by Mac Hardy on 9/5/2026, 10:13 am, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph"

As expected Labour got hammered, great news !

Re: Local elections for Joseph

Posted by Brian on 9/5/2026, 11:38 am, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph"

Labour got voted out in the North East because of complacency and arrogance. We never saw anyone from Labour in our area, the only party doing door knocking were the Green Party. Nationwide both the Labour Party and the Conservative Party lost considerable numbers of councillors. The big worry is will the incoming winners be able to run their respective local authority. Reform have not done well in the councils they've taken over and have already list a fair few councillors via defection, expulsion, resignation amongst various reasons.
Its certainly going to be different and we can only wait and see. Some councils will do better than others, some will succeed, others will be trainwrecks. Let's hope we see some improvement at local level for all of us.

Re: Local elections for Joseph

Posted by David Henley on 9/5/2026, 12:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph"

What would be number of seats if this result were in a general election.

Re: Local elections for Joseph

Posted by Malcolm on 9/5/2026, 12:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph"

I heard speculation on the BBC this morning, that if this translated in the same numbers in a General Election (but they rarely do) then Reform, having taken about 1400 council seats (they started with 2..) Then Reform would be the future government....

Re: Local elections for Joseph

Posted by Liz Dance on 9/5/2026, 1:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph"

If these elections were translated into a GE apparently Reform wouldn’t quite have a majority so would have to do a deal with another Party probably the Tories.

I hope that the popularity of the Greens diminishes as I think we have had enough of nutters being in charge we most certainly do not need someone even worse.

Re: Local elections RESULT

Posted by Malcolm on 9/5/2026, 6:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph"

I've just looked at the results of your local election: Labour well & truly dumped, with only ONE councillor, and Reform UK with 41, a massive majority.
Hopefully, there may be some improvement down there.
We will have to wait & see...

Re: Local elections RESULT

Posted by Joseph on 9/5/2026, 8:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections RESULT"

Be interesting to see what the new party finds when they get a scrutiny of the books, bet the labour luvvies never thought it would come to them getting the proverbial boot. ( Sweating comes to mind.)

Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time

Posted by Mac C on 9/5/2026, 8:36 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph"
Edited by administrator MalC 9/5/2026, 8:36 pm

It will take new Councillors quite a time to work out which of the permanent officials who run the show "day to day" they can trust to deliver.
My experience is that they are not keen on being challenged and asked to explain decisions.
And when they do there are shades of Sir Humphrey in the answers.
Don't expect much to change in the first 6-9 Months.

Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time

Posted by Brian on 10/5/2026, 11:06 am, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time"

Its nothing new Mac, officers have been pulling strings for years. I think your 6-9 months is incredibly optimistic. In central government the estimate is usually around 5 years.
The one thing council officers rarely are is business minded, the money isn't theirs, so much like the BBC they just see figures on a piece of paper. Only when councils realise they need people with a business head in positions of influence will we see an efficient council that serve the whole community not just the flavour of the month.

Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time

Posted by Mac Hardy on 10/5/2026, 11:27 am, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time"

Hopefully the new Councillors will sort out The Highways Department, only good at putting down speed humps, I have had an issue for 4 years which has yet to be addressed despite numerous letters, e mails, phone calls and Councillors Surgeries !

Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time for BRIAN

Posted by Mac C on 10/5/2026, 12:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time"

I broadly agree.
I am dealing with both my District and County authorities in Derbyshire on almost a daily basis from my Parish Level.
County isn't brilliant yet but since Reform took control last year I have seen progress at a number of levels. Hence my hope of 9 mths elsewhere.
District officials are still somnambulant under the Labour majority so little hope there. Having said that we have one independent Councillor who nags and sits on desks until things are done. She is also County Councillor, takes the same approach but with Reform members also weighing in, it all helps. WE also have one Labour member who puts common sense before party!
LGR will make it worse and I guarantee will not produce the savings that the geniuses in Government predict. It will be the same staff too, just working from different offices and receiving relocation allowances....and working at the same supersonic speeds

Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time for BRIAN

Posted by Brian on 10/5/2026, 12:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time for BRIAN"

I honestly think you've been extremely lucky to see progress after such a short time. We don't have a Parish Council level where I live, just ward councillors all who've just lost their seats. Newcastle now has lib dems as overall lead with greens and reform each being one seat behind. We are obviously looking at a coalition in the city so interesting times for us. Labour councillors with a few exceptions were useless, arrogant and complacent. Trying to get a reply to a query was like plaiting sawdust. I reported ours for total lack of communication with the ward electorate to the Council services dept, suddenly I was contacted with various excuses. It happens elsewhere with various councils but a party that in power too long becomes lackadaisical, and in their mind untouchable. Thursday proved its not the case.

for Brian

Posted by Mac C on 10/5/2026, 7:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time for BRIAN"

Parish Councils have few powers but the greatest is the power to be a nuisance. So it isn't just luck. We harry officials and work with useful Clls at the higher levels! We do that constantly and get results from time to time.
Is it enough? Not a chance!! Never!!
We are not political either which is a status I guard religiously as Chairman.
Politics does not usually equal common sense.

Re: for Brian -for Mac

Posted by Brian on 11/5/2026, 11:15 am, in reply to "for Brian"

Its great that you're chairing a non political body, I know from experience how hard it is to keep it that way when people can't leave their political affiliations at the door. One of things I put in place at the organisations I have been involved in was a skills audit for all board/committee members as it was a good way to realise the knowledge and skills you possess as a body and will also highlight any skill lacking and can be addressed.
It made us more prepared when engaging with local authorities and official bodies and gave us quite a an advantage as we weren't putting square pegs in round holes.
Keep at it I'm sure the community you represent appreciate your efforts both individually and collectively to making a positive difference to their daily lives .

Re: for Brian -for Mac

Posted by Mac C on 11/5/2026, 1:01 pm, in reply to "Re: for Brian -for Mac"

I am afraid to say that only a handful of the Community ever know the efforts being put in by elected Parish Councillors.
There is little understanding of its role.
In our case those who have stepped forward to give their time have come from a number of useful areas and give us a pretty broad wealth of experience from which to draw!

Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time

Posted by Liz Dance on 10/5/2026, 6:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time"

What people must understand when a Council changes hands the incumbent inherits Contracts that are ongoing, if these Contracts were ignored then the Council could be sued, the Contracts will need to run term of commitment until new Contracts can be secured, so a bit of patience will be needed.

For Liz

Posted by Mac C on 10/5/2026, 7:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time"

Absolutely. Many people don't appreciate that!

Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time - correction

Posted by Liz Dance on 10/5/2026, 9:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time"

Correction it isn’t the incumbent who inherits the contracts it is the incoming councillors.

For Liz

Posted by Mac C on 11/5/2026, 12:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Local elections for Joseph. Change will take time - correction"

Not the Councillors Liz.
When a local authority changes hands (i.e., control passes from one political party to another following an election), the existing contracts are not affected; the authority itself remains the legal entity and retains all obligations.
It is also usual for the CEO to be the RFO (Responsible Financial Officer)

Re: For Liz - Mac

Posted by Liz Dance on 11/5/2026, 1:27 pm, in reply to "For Liz"

Thanks for that info Mac.

Re: For Liz - Mac

Posted by Mac C on 11/5/2026, 2:07 pm, in reply to "Re: For Liz - Mac"

I am a mine of useless stuff Liz!!

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No bad language or derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.