01/05/13…..Thame Neighbourhood Plan – Clarification of arrangements for the count

DEAR Editor, There is so much scaremongering going on that the residents of Thame must be confused as to what is fact and what is fiction. Below are the true facts about the arrangements for The Count.

1. The request for the Count to be held in Thame was made by the Town Council
? not town councillors – because it was of the opinion that local people may be interested in the outcome of this two year process

2. The arrangements for the Referendum are the responsibility of the Counting Officer who in this instance is David Buckle, CEO of the district council.

3. The ballot boxes for the referendum will be subject to the same controls as the ballot boxes for the County Council elections

4. The votes that are cast will be verified under the scrutiny of the Returning Officer and his staff

5. The verification and count process is the responsibility of the Counting Officer

6. The counting assistants will actually be staff employed by the Town Council and not Town Councillors

7. The accuracy and authenticity of their counting skills will be subject to the scrutiny of the Counting Officer and his staff

8. The count has been advertised as being open to the public for some weeks

9. The only restriction that will apply in being able to watch the count will be the capacity the room is legally able to hold

There are some extremely passionate opinions being promoted and the fallout is resulting in aspersions that do not help anyone. If over the next day or two any final lobbying can be done legally, with integrity and respect then the residents of Thame will be able to make a decision they consider is the right one for the future of the town and not made on doubts and fears.

Helen Stewart
Town Clerk – Thame