Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council: Election postponement request explained

The Labour-run borough is one of the councils set to be abolished and replaced by unitary authorities by April 2028 as part of local government reorganisation.

All councils in that position and due to hold elections this year have been asked by the national government for their views on whether holding the ballots would affect the work they are having to do ahead of the changeover.

It is also argued electing councillors to serve a maximum of two years, one of which partly subservient to the new authority, would be a waste of money.

Two of Warwickshire’s five districts and boroughs are due for elections this year and while the other – Rugby – is taking the decision on what to do through a public meeting, Nuneaton & Bedworth’s intentions have been set out in a letter that includes the view of each party represented on the borough council and that of chief executive Tom Shardlow as opposed to through a debate in the chamber.

The practicalities

Mr Shardlow’s contribution confirms the council is in a position to hold the ballots. Estimating between £150,000 and £200,000 could be saved by scrapping them, he noted that “several members had historically indicated that they only wished to serve until May 2026” – if any stand aside, by-elections would need to be held in those areas anyway, reducing the potential savings.

He also explained that “no public engagement has been undertaken”, meaning views from the public or other parties – including upwardly-mobile Reform UK who won power at Warwickshire County Council in May 2025 with a near wipe out across Nuneaton, Bedworth and North Warwickshire – were not represented in the council’s letter.

However, in Nuneaton & Bedworth’s case, cancellation would not lead to councillors serving beyond a typical tenure.

The redrawing of ward boundaries saw 38 council seats fought for in the last borough election in 2024 with two representatives for 19 separate wards.

To create a half-and-half system, where half of the seats are voted for every two years, those who finished second were given a two-year term while those with the most votes in for the standard four years.

While scrapping the ballots would move away from this, current incumbents would still only serve four years whereas other areas could see councillors serve six-year terms.

The political views

Leader Councillor Chris Watkins (Lab, Stockingford West) opened his letter acknowledged the “unprecedented” manner in which the call has been made, stating it “has not been possible” to convene a full council meeting due to “the limited timeframe set by government” – Rugby’s call is set to be taken by the cabinet on Thursday.

Cllr Watkins’s call to scrap the ballots relied on the main two arguments, stating his group “felt that holding elections for a local authority that is shortly to be abolished is not a prudent use of resources”.

“Concern was expressed about the considerable effort required to properly prepare for local government reform and that some of the money saved could be put towards this important preparatory work,” his contribution added.

However, the Conservative opposition, two Green Party and one Liberal Democrat councillor all objected.

Tory leader Councillor Kris Wilson (Whitestone) argued it was “unlikely” that Warwickshire, in the second tranche of regions to go through local government reform as it is, would have changed to unitary status by 2028, opening up the “unacceptable” prospect of those up for election this year serving three years longer than the two anticipated.

“Democracy delayed is democracy denied, and the Conservative group here in Nuneaton cannot in all conscience condone the removal of such a fundamental right to our residents,” he concluded.

Green leader Councillor Michele Kondakor (Weddington) argued any such postponement “should have been part of the plan/timetable for local government reform” if it was a concern, “not considered as an afterthought”. She also said its emergence just before Christmas was “unacceptable”, making it impossible to be debated formally by all councillors.

Sole Lib Dem Councillor Rob Roze (Heath) insisted the entire reorganisation process “is damaging the trust in the council and councillors”.

He added: “Quite clearly the elections should go ahead as planned. If there are any changes to be done on how councils operate in Nuneaton, Bedworth and Bulkington, it needs to be done locally.”

What about Reform?

Reform UK did not contest any borough seats in 2024 but won 11 – effectively 12 with independent Luke Shingler (Galley Common) initially standing for Reform before work commitments precluded him from representing any political party – out of 13 seats in those 2025 county council elections. The return of Keith Kondakor (Green, Weddington) was their only setback.

Nuneaton & Bedworth is also under no overall control with Labour now running a minority administration having seen its slim majority wiped out by defections since taking control.

Labour held 20 seats out of 38 borough seats but Councillor Will Markham (Heath) crossed the floor and joined the Conservatives – the party of his wife Councillor Sue Markham (Slough), herself a former cabinet member at county level – in December 2024.

Cllr Roze then quit Labour and later switched to the Lib Dems, leaving Labour with 18 seats with the Tories on 17 and the Green Party on two.

If they go ahead, this year’s elections would see nine Labour, eight Conservative, one Green and the Lib Dem seats fought over.

With 19 available and the political balance as it is, Reform would have the chance to become the biggest party and when it was announced, Warwickshire County Council leader Councillor George Finch (Reform UK, Bedworth Central) argued elections should still happen.

“Reform UK are the favourites to win those elections,” he said.

“If the Labour government allows local councils that are scared of losing their seats, losing their allowances, if they allow this to happen, they are complicit in stopping elections.

“We must all stand together now and tell this Labour government that we want to vote.”