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
Eye, Moreton and Ashton Parish / Luston Group Parish Council Alan Capell Resignation 9 June 2025 27 June 2025 1 September 2025  

Bromyard West Parish Ward / Bromyard and Winslow Town Council

Mary Deirdre Dunne-Thomas

Resignation

4 June 2025

24 June 2025

27 August 2025

 

Bromyard East Parish Ward / Bromyard and Winslow Town Council

Naomi Brookes

Resignation

4 June 2025

24 June 2025

27 August 2025

 

Dilwyn Parish / Dilwyn Parish Council Jason Stokes Resignation 2 June 2025 20 June 2025 22 August 2025  

Hampton Bishop Parish / Hampton Bishop Parish Council

Alexandra Kitchener

Resignation

30 May 2025

19 June 2025

21 August 2025

 

Peterstow Parish / Peterstow Parish Council

Jonathan Straker

Death

30 May 2025

19 June 2025

21 August 2025

 

Peterstow Parish / Peterstow Parish Council

Rebecca Fletcher

Resignation

30 May 2025

19 June 2025

21 August 2025

 

Almeley Parish / Almeley Parish Council

Jonathan Argent

Resignation

28 May 2025

17 June 2025

19 August 2025

Election on the 14th August 2025

Almeley Parish / Almeley Parish Council 

Vanessa Faulkner

Resignation

28 May 2025

17 June 2025

19 August 2025

Election on the 14th August 2025

Kilpeck Parish / Kilpeck Parish Council

David Roden

Resignation

23 May 2025

13 June 2025

15 August 2025

 

Ross West Parish Ward / Ross-on-Wye Town Council

Robert Taylor

Resignation

23 May 2025

13 June 2025

15 August 2025

Election on the 14th 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 the 14th August 2025

Withington Parish / Withington Parish Council

Kevin Hewson

Resignation

23 May 2025

13 June 2025

15 August 2025

 

Linton Parish

Peter Lane

Resignation

16 May 2025

6 June 2025

8 August 2025

 

Lyonshall Parish/Lyonshall Parish Council

Andrew Turner

Resignation

15 May 2025

5 June 2025

7 August 2025

 

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

Mordiford Parish of Dormington and Mordiford Group Parish Council

Derek Hughes

Resignation

31 March 2025

22 April 2025

26 June 2025

Co-option

Lower Bullingham Parish Council

Fiona Barrington

Resignation

28 March 2025

17 April 2025

25 June 2025

Co-option

Kinsham of Stapleton Group Parish Council

Myra Chilman

Death

24 March 2025

11 April 2025

19 June 2025

Co-option

Weobley Parish Council

Colin N Mills

Resignation

20 March 2025

9 April 2025

17 June 2025

Co-option

Linton Parish of Brockhampton Group Parish Council

Karen Rock

Resignation

14 March 2025

3 April 2025

11 June 2025

Co-option

Orcop Parish of Orcop Parish Council

David Temple

Resignation

14 March 2025

3 April 2025

11 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.