A SERVING Bournemouth councillor is standing for election for a seat on Manchester City Council in next month's local elections.
Conservative councillor Norman Decent, who represents the Kinson ward, said he will resign from his position as a member of BCP Council if he is elected when residents in the north west go to the polls on May 5.
He is standing for the Brooklands ward, with just one of the three seats up for grabs.
Councillor Decent told the Daily Echo if he is successfully elected to Manchester City Council, he will resign from his BCP Council position immediately.
However, if he does not secure a seat in Manchester, he intends to continue as a councillor for Kinson.
"I am still a councillor in Bournemouth for the Kinson ward," said Cllr Decent.
"If I do get elected when the results are announced on May 6, I will be resigning from Bournemouth.
"If I am not successful, I will stay on as a councillor for Bournemouth until 2023."
He added: "I am obliged to still continue my work in Bournemouth at present, which I do.
"The minute I get elected for Brooklands, Manchester, I will resign from my Bournemouth role."
Councillor Decent told the Daily Echo last summer he was splitting his time between Bournemouth and Manchester after he "found love again" with his ex-wife.
He said he had kept the BCP Conservative Group's leadership informed of his intention to stand for election in Manchester.
"The leader of the council Drew Mellor is very aware and what I am currently doing is not breaking any rules whatsoever," said Cllr Decent.
"I am being a gentleman by carrying on for the Bournemouth ward and giving my services and I always have been.
"I have not let down my ward at all. I get calls some nights at 9pm about issues. I have a passion still for Bournemouth.
"I have been in Manchester now for 18 months and I am getting the same passion here."
Electoral law would not require Cllr Decent to relieve his Bournemouth seat if he was elected in Manchester.
The Bournemouth Labour Party has said Cllr Decent should resign from BCP Council immediately, with group leader Cllr George Farquhar adding: "Cllr Decent has become known as 'the member for Manchester' since he moved there some months ago.
"However to see that he is now an official candidate there is an insult to the voters in Kinson."
All councillors must legally attend one meeting every six months unless the full council approves a period of absence, typically on grounds of ill-health. Cllr Decent has followed this requirement since his move to Manchester.
BCP Council's attendance records show the most recent Cllr Decent was present for was as a substitute for an overview and scrutiny committee meeting on February 28. Prior to this his most recent appearance was for full council on September 14, 2021.
In the 12 months to April 7, he was present at eight of the 25 meetings he was expected for.
A Bournemouth West Conservative Association group officer said: “As announced a few months ago, Norman reconnected with his ex-wife during lockdown and found love again, and they now share their time between Bournemouth and her home in Manchester.
"Norman continues to serve his residents in Kinson as he has done for seven years, and remains committed to his ward work and council meetings.
"We will continue to support him and his family as they make the long term decision of where to finally settle.”
Stay up to date with all the latest community news in Bournemouth with our dedicated Facebook group. Click here to find out more and join.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel