§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what authority and for what reason dispensation was granted to the deputy mayor of Hemel Hempstead to vote for his own election as mayor, in view of the existing provisions regarding pecuniary benefit.
§ Mr. Graham PageSubsection (8) of Section 76 of the Local Government Act, 1933, enables the Minister by dispensation to remove any disability on a member of a local authority imposed by the Section when it appears to him to be in the interests of the inhabitants of the area to do so. It appeared to the Secretary of State to be in the interests of the inhabitants of the area to give a248W dispensation in this case since not to do so could have resulted in a voting deadlock, which could have been resolved only by the election to mayor of a nominee from outside the council. The disability was removed not only for the deputy mayor but also for a prospective candidate sitting on the opposite side of the council.