Forthcoming elections and referendums

The table below lists all current casual vacancies on parish councils, with the most recent at the top. You can download the notice of vacancy (NOV) by selecting the link.

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

There are usually three ways in which a vacancy arises. This is when the councillor either:

• Resigns
• Dies, or
• Does not attend a parish council meeting for six months

It is also possible but less common for a vacancy to arise when a councillor decides not to accept their appointment, ceases to be qualified or is disqualified.

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

To find out the number of seats on each parish council see our parish council's directory.

How a vacancy is advertised

When any vacancy occurs, the parish clerk must notify Electoral Services at Herefordshire Council. This should be by email to elections@herefordshire.gov.uk

The clerk should provide the name of the councillor who has caused the vacancy and the date they ceased to be a member of that parish council.

Electoral Services will then send a Notice of Vacancy to the parish clerk. 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 dies-non (bank holidays and weekends).

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

How to request an election

To request an election you must contact the electoral services office within 14 working days of the date of the notice of vacancy. Requests can either be recorded on the same document or can come separately. They can be made in writing, by phone or sent via email. For convenience, electors can download and print the request for an election form to request an election for any casual vacancy listed in the table above.

Written requests should be sent to Electoral Services, Town Hall, St Owen Street, Hereford, HR1 2PJ 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.

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. All requests are open to inspection by the public.

Requests cannot be submitted during the six month ruling.

What happens if an election is not requested?

An 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)

• Declaration of acceptance of office form
• Declaration of interest forms - 2012 version
• Declaration of interest forms - 2017 version
• Declaration of interest forms - 2018 version

There are three different versions of the declaration of interest form because different councils are signed up to different codes of conduct.

The six month ruling

If a casual vacancy arises in the six months before the date existing councillors retire (four days after polling day), 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 4 May 2023.