Hadleigh Together will put up candidates for the town councils by-elections to be held next month.

Confusion arose last year when the political party were deregistered after an administrative oversight, but party chiefs have subsequently re-registered Hadleigh Together.

Former town mayor Frank Minns remains the party's nominating officer and has confirmed Hadleigh Together will support any candidates wishing to stand for them.

Mr Minns added: "If people want to stand under that banner, that's all to the good, but the most important thing for the council's future is to find candidates who can commit the time and effort and patience being a councillor requires."

It is understood there are likely to be more people wanting to stand as Independents in this election, although no candidate has yet been confirmed.

Political parties and groups are discouraged at town and parish council level, and section four of Hadleigh's protocol states:

'National Association of Local Councils policy is that party politics should have no place in town councils. Councillors are there to serve their community as members of the community and should not be side-tracked by party political issues.

Party politics within a town council can pose particular difficulties in terms of the impartiality of the town council manager and other employees, and the relationship between councillors and the staff generally.'

Hadleigh Together was formed to directly oppose the former administration in the 2019 elections and swept to victory.

However, a number of resignations have subsequently followed and the latest by election was called after Headlight Together members Mr Minns, Carl Beer, Ben Dixon and James Bayliss all resigned earlier this year.

Whatever happened to Hadleigh Together?

There are three vacancies in Hadleigh South ward, and one in Hadleigh North and all will be voted on in an election to be held on Thursday March 31.

Town councillors will tonight vote at their monthly meeting at the town hall to agree to the issuing of polling cards for the upcoming by-election at an approximate cost of £2,200 plus VAT.

Candidates can hand in completed nomination papers must be delivered to Babergh's Returning Officer, from today, during normal office hours but not later than 4pm on Friday, 4 March 2022.

Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by midnight on Thursday, 15 March 2022.

Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal and postal proxy votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday, 16 March 2022.

Applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday, 23 March 2022.

Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Thursday, 31 March 2022.

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