Teignmouth Town Council is looking for a new councillor following the resignation of Steve Walsh.
Councillor Walsh, who represented the Teignmouth Central Ward, tendered his resignation on Sunday December 22.
‘Essentially, I believe my time and skills would be more useful and better served elsewhere,’ Councillor Walsh said. ‘Local government is a behemoth and, although I tried, I failed to make any change,’ he added. ‘I would like to thank the people who voted for me and I apologise that, in good faith, I could not continue to serve them.’
Mr Walsh is the second councillor to resign from Teignmouth Town Council since the May 2023 elections.
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Teignmouth Town Council published a notice of vacancy on Monday (January 6). ‘This gives the electors of Teignmouth 14 days to demand a by-election,’ explained Teignmouth Town Clerk Iain Wedlake.
The notice requires ten people, who are eligible to vote in Teignmouth town council elections, to request an election by writing to the ‘Proper Officer’ at Forde House in Newton Abbot. If ten people do not come forward then the town council will advertise for people willing to be co-opted to the vacant councillor role. These will be formally appointed at a public, full council meeting.
Last summer, Councillor Walsh launched informal walking surgeries in a bid to provide the townspeople with a more informal and friendlier way to chat and air their concerns. ‘Being out walking in the fresh air is a much nicer way of connecting with people and being more visible in the town,’ Councillor Walsh said at the time. ‘It’s a different way of doing things,’ he added.
Councillor Walsh also participated in beach cleans and other community projects. However, he was reluctant to be involved in checking the town council’s bank reconciliations because he was concerned about liability ramifications.