A delayed by-election to fill the council vacancy created by the Westminster election of Coatbridge’s MP is now set to take place later this month, depending on the coronavirus restrictions by then in place.
North Lanarkshire Council will hold polls in both its Thorniewood and Fortissat wards on Thursday, November 19, “subject to any changes in the level of Covid restrictions from the government”.
Planned safety measures include giving each voter a new pencil and regularly cleaning polling booths, while self-isolating with coronavirus or its symptoms has been added to the list of reasons for granting an emergency proxy vote.
The local authority area is currently in level three of Scotland’s tiered system, with the first review of assigned levels due to take place on Tuesday and come into effect the following Friday.
Steven Bonnar previously held the Thorniewood seat, and stood down from the local authority in January after regaining the Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill constituency for the SNP at the previous month’s general election.
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His replacement for the Bellshill ward was originally due to be elected in May but the planned polling date was cancelled due to lockdown; while this month’s election in Fortissat, which includes the village of Salsburgh, follows the resignation of independent Tommy Cochrane to concentrate on his work as a planning consultant.
Council officials say: “Safety measures will be in place at the polling places, including physical distancing, a limit on how many people are allowed inside at one time, and regular cleaning of polling booths.
“Hand sanitiser will be available and voters must wear a face covering. New pencils will be available for each voter or they can bring their own.”
Polls close at 10pm and both sets of votes will be counted the following day at Ravenscraig sports centre.
North Lanarkshire Council currently has 30 Labour members and 29 from the SNP, along with eight Conservatives and a further eight independent representatives.
