Make your mark plea

Apr 28 2008 By Leda Reynolds

VOTERS across Solihull were today urged to make their mark at this week's council elections.

Solihull Council leader, Coun Ken Meeson, urged people to turn up at the ballot boxes and make their vote count on Thursday.

"Most of the services in the borough are provided by the local authority and not central government so people should have a say in those services and vote," he said.

Last year, barely more than a third of Solihull voters could be bothered to turn out.

Just 36.5 per cent voted, down from 38.4 per cent in 2006.

Coun Meeson said: "One of the most disturbing things in recent years has been the decline in the number of people voting.

"Generally in Solihull we have between 30 and 40 per cent of the population voting but that's still less than half of the residents and in some wards the turnout is very, very low.

"The council provides a tremendous range of services from ensuring there are good schools to the bins being emptied.

"People will more readily vote in a general election but I would like to see the same numbers voting at the local elections. They can make their vote count." Although the elections will be held on Thursday, the cash-strapped council will not be counting the votes until the following day at North Solihull Sports Centre in Conway Road, Chelmsley Wood.

For the second year running, the council has ordered a daytime count to save £8,000 in a bid to claw back cash following a Government funding shortfall which this year stands at £4 million.

The borough council is currently made up of 26 Conservatives, 18 Liberal Democrats, seven Labour and one Independent, with one seat held by the British National Party.