Current casual vacancies

Herefordshire Council casual vacancies

A Herefordshire Council vacancy may arise for a number of reasons, such as a councillor's resignation or extended non-attendance at meetings.

When a vacancy occurs, and we are notified of the vacancy, we arrange to advertise the vacancy until an election is requested.

The table below lists all current casual vacancies on Herefordshire Council, with the most recent at the top. A copy of the Notice of vacancy will be on display in the local area.

Ward Name of
outgoing councillor
Casual vacancy
reason
NOV published Outcome
         

Parish councils casual vacancies

The table below lists all current casual vacancies on parish councils, with the most recent at the top. A copy of the Notice of vacancy will be on display in the local area.

Parish/parish ward and council Name of outgoing councillor Casual vacancy
reason
NOV published Last date to request an election Last date to hold an election Outcome
Hope-under-Dinmore Parish/Hope-under-Dinmore Group Parish Council Katrina Rocke Death 14 July 2025 1 August 2025 6 October 2025  
Yarkhill Parish/Yarkhill Parish Council Jeffrey Hughes Resignation 11 July 2025 31 July 2025 3 October 2025  
Yarkhill Parish/Yarkhill Parish Council Peter Durnan Resignation 11 July 2025 31 July 2025 3 October 2025  
Yarkhill Parish/Yarkhill Parish Council Christine Dobson Resignation 11 July 2025 31 July 2025 3 October 2025  
Yarkhill Parish/Yarkhill Parish Council Sarah Daw Resignation 11 July 2025 31 July 2025 3 October 2025  
Lower Bullingham Parish Council/Withy Brook Parish Ward Gillian Bastin Resignation 7 July 2025 25 July 2025 29 September 2025  
Sutton Parish/Sutton St Nicholas Parish Council Ian Nicholas Resignation 7 July 2025 25 July 2025 29 September 2025  
Walford Parish/Walford Parish Council Neil Robinson Failure to attend meetings 4 July 2025 24 July 2025 26 September 2025  
Tarrington Parish/Tarrington Parish Council Jacqueline Cunningham Resignation 3 July 2025 23 July 2025 25 September 2025  
Stoke Lacy Parish/Stoke Lacy Parish Council Jason Lines Resignation 3 July 2025 23 July 2025 25 September 2025  
Cradley & Storridge Parish/Cradley & Storridge Parish Council Mary Allmark Failure to attend meetings 2 July 2025 22 July 2025 24 September 2025  
Richards Castle Parish/Richards Castle Parish Council Gillian Margaret Harding Resignation 1 July 2025 21 July 2025 23 September 2025  
Birley with Upper Hill Parish/Birley with Upper Hill Parish Council John Gough Resignation 1 July 2025 21 July 2025 23 September 2025  
Leominster West Parish Ward/Leominster Town Council Clive Thomas Resignation 30 June 2025 18 July 2025 22 September 2025  
Peterchurch Parish/Peterchurch Parish Council Sandra Salter Resignation 30 June 2025 18 July 2025 22 September 2025  
Wolferlow Parish Council/North Bromyard Group Parish Council Stephen Lewis Tomkins Resignation 24 June 2025 14 July 2025 16 September 2025  
Eye, Moreton and Ashton Parish / Luston Group Parish Council Alan Capell Resignation 9 June 2025 27 June 2025 1 September 2025 Co-option
Bromyard West Parish Ward / Bromyard and Winslow Town Council Mary Deirdre Dunne-Thomas Resignation 4 June 2025 24 June 2025 27 August 2025 Co-option
Bromyard East Parish Ward / Bromyard and Winslow Town Council Naomi Brookes Resignation 4 June 2025 24 June 2025 27 August 2025 Co-option
Dilwyn Parish / Dilwyn Parish Council Jason Stokes Resignation 2 June 2025 20 June 2025 22 August 2025 Co-option
Hampton Bishop Parish / Hampton Bishop Parish Council Alexandra Kitchener Resignation 30 May 2025 19 June 2025 21 August 2025 Co-option
Peterstow Parish / Peterstow Parish Council Jonathan Straker Death 30 May 2025 19 June 2025 21 August 2025 Co-option
Peterstow Parish / Peterstow Parish Council Rebecca Fletcher Resignation 30 May 2025 19 June 2025 21 August 2025 Co-option
Almeley Parish / Almeley Parish Council Jonathan Argent Resignation 28 May 2025 17 June 2025 19 August 2025 Election on 14 August 2025
Almeley Parish / Almeley Parish Council  Vanessa Faulkner Resignation 28 May 2025 17 June 2025 19 August 2025 Election on 14 August 2025
Kilpeck Parish / Kilpeck Parish Council David Roden Resignation 23 May 2025 13 June 2025 15 August 2025 Co-option
Ross West Parish Ward / Ross-on-Wye Town Council Robert Taylor Resignation 23 May 2025 13 June 2025 15 August 2025 Election on 14 August 2025
Ross East Parish Ward / Ross-on-Wye Town Council Corina Lodea Resignation 23 May 2025 13 June 2025 15 August 2025 Election on 14 August 2025
Withington Parish / Withington Parish Council Kevin Hewson Resignation 23 May 2025 13 June 2025 15 August 2025 Co-option
Linton Parish Peter Lane Resignation 16 May 2025 6 June 2025 8 August 2025 Co-option
Lyonshall Parish/Lyonshall Parish Council Andrew Turner Resignation 15 May 2025 5 June 2025 7 August 2025 Co-option
Walford Parish Council Sandra Cole Resignation 12 May 2025 2 June 2025 4 August 2025 Co-option
Walford Parish Council Chris Field Resignation 12 May 2025 2 June 2025 4 August 2025 Co-option
Vowchurch of Vowchurch and District GPC Graeme Deas Resignation 12 May 2025 2 June 2025 4 August 2025 Co-option
St Margarets of Vowchurch and District GPC John Andrews Resignation 12 May 2025 2 June 2025 4 August 2025 Co-option
Credenhill Parish Council Deanna Pennington Resignation 9 May 2025 30 May 2025 1 August 2025 Co-option
Bodenham Parish Council Ronald Pearce Resignation 8 May 2025 29 May 2025 31 July 2025 Co-option
Lea Parish Council John Roworth Resignation 8 May 2025 29 May 2025 31 July 2025 Co-option
Bosbury Parish of Bosbury and Coddington GPC Patrick Whitehead Resignation 6 May 2025 27 May 2025 29 July 2025 Co-option
Cusop Parish / Cusop Parish Council David John Evans Resignation 6 May 2025 27 May 2025 29 July 2025 Co-option
Kington Parish / Kington Town Council Kim Greig Resignation 30 April 2025 21 May 2025 24 July 2025 Co-option
Holme Lacy Parish/Holme Lacy Parish Council Trevor Ralph Williams Resignation 24 April 2025 15 May 2025 18 July 2025 Co-option
How Caple Parish Council/How Caple, Sollershope and Yatton Group Parish Council Brendan Beal Resignation 22 April 2025 13 May 2025 16 July 2025 Co-option
Brimfield Parish Council/Brimfield and Little Hereford Group Parish Council Peter Clements Resignation 16 April 2025 9 May 2025 14 July 2025 Co-option
Wellington Parish/Wellington Parish Council Andy Spittle Death 15 April 2025 8 May 2025 11 July 2025 Co-option
Moreton-on-Lugg Parish of Moreton-on-Lugg Parish Council Sian Meinir Davies Resignation 14 April 2025 7 May 2025 10 July 2025 Co-option
Linton Parish of Linton Parish Council Jeremy Parkes Resignation 8 April 2025 30 April 2025 4 July 2025 Co-option
Croft and Yarpole Parish of Yarpole Group Parish Council Jane Praill Resignation 1 April 2025 23 April 2025 27 June 2025 Co-option

There may be older vacancies not listed above that have been referred back to the parish or town council for co-option. For more information, please email elections@herefordshire.gov.uk

Why casual vacancies arise

A vacancy arises if the councillor:

  • Resigns
  • Dies
  • Does not attend a parish council meeting for six months
  • Does not sign their declaration of acceptance of office
  • Ceases to be qualified or
  • Is disqualified

The council or clerk of the parish or town council must tell Electoral Services as soon as possible if a vacancy occurs.

Each ward in Herefordshire has one seat. To find out the number of seats on each parish council see our parish council's directory.

How a ward vacancy is advertised

When any ward vacancy occurs, Electoral Services will be notified by Herefordshire Council.

Electoral Services will then publish a Notice of Vacancy which will be advertised in the local area.

Ward vacancies must be filled via an election and the vacancy will remain open until an election is requested.

How a parish vacancy is advertised

When any vacancy occurs, the parish clerk must notify Electoral Services at Herefordshire Council by completing our short online form:

Notify us of a casual vacancy

Electoral Services will check the information provided and send a Notice of Vacancy template to the parish clerk for completion. The parish or town council must then advertise this notice on parish noticeboards and their parish website (if they have one) for 14 working days. That period excludes bank holidays and weekends.

During that 14 working day period, electors can request an election.

How to request an election

Requests can either be recorded on the same document or can come separately. They can be made in writing, by phone or sent by email to elections@herefordshire.gov.uk

Written requests should be sent to Electoral Services Office, Blueschool House, Blueschool Street, Hereford, HR1 2LX or emailed to elections@herefordshire.gov.uk

You must include the full name and address of the elector making the request so that their registration can be checked. If you request an election by phone or email please provide your full name and address. Only those people who are registered as local government electors within the relevant electoral area can request an election.

All requests are open to inspection by the public.

Requests cannot be submitted during the six month ruling.

Requesting a ward election

TWO registered electors must request a ward election. For convenience, electors can download and print the request for an election form to request an election for any ward casual vacancy listed in the table above.

If a request is submitted an election will be held within 35 days. The process will begin when the notice of election is published.

For more information on elections see the forthcoming elections page.

Requesting a parish election

TEN registered electors must request a parish election, and electors must contact the electoral services office within 14 working days of the date of the notice of vacancy. For convenience, electors can download and print the request for an election form to request an election for any parish casual vacancy listed in the table above.

If a request is submitted we will notify the parish clerk of the election date and the process will begin when the notice of election is published.

What happens if a parish election is not requested?

A parish election is only held if 10 people who are registered as local government electors in the relevant parish (or parish ward if applicable) ask for an election to be held.

If there are fewer than 10 electors or no one asks for an election then the council must co-opt a new member as soon as practicable.

There is no set way that a parish council must choose (co-opt) a new member but it is advisable for it to advertise for, interview and then vote a new member on to the council. Whatever the parish council does, it must use an open and transparent process.

Become a parish or town councillor

To become a parish or town councillor you will need to meet certain criteria, whether you are standing for election or putting yourself forward for co-option.

If you meet the criteria and a vacancy is available for co-option, please contact your parish or town clerk to express your interest. Details of these can be found on our parish council's directory.

If you meet the criteria and a vacancy is up for election, you can find all information, including how to request a nomination pack, on our forthcoming elections page.

Co-option paperwork (for parish clerks and parish councillors' use)

Parish Clerks and Councillors can download the Declaration of acceptance of office form.  If you require a Register of interests form please email GovernanceSupportTeam@herefordshire.gov.uk and they will be able to supply you with one.

The six month ruling

If a casual vacancy arises in the six months before the date existing councillors retire (four days after polling day for the next scheduled Local Government Elections), there will not be a separate election and the election for the vacancy is combined with the scheduled election. The council may co-opt someone to fill the seat for the months before the scheduled elections.

Herefordshire's next scheduled Local Government Elections will be held on Thursday 6 May 2027.