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
Bishops Frome and Cradley Ward Eleanor Elizabeth Chowns Resignation 12 September 2024 Election on 7 November 2024
Credenhill Ward Robert I Matthews Death 17 July 2024 Election on 26 September 2024

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
Garway Parish council  Rosemary Sparey Resignation 7 October 2024 25 October 2024 2 January 2025  

Aymestrey Parish Council 

Dan Hurcomb

Resignation

27 September 2024

17 October 2024

19 December 2024

 
Orleton Parish of Orleton Parish Council Colin Mitchell Resignation 25 September 2024 15 October 2024 17 December 2024  
Dinedor Parish / Dinedor Parish Council Joe Davey Resignation 23 September 2024 11 October 2024 13 December 2024  
Leintwardine Parish of Leintwardine Parish Council Lucy Anne Gimlik Resignation 23 September 2024 11 October 2024 13 December 2024  
Cusop Parish / Cusop Parish Council Paul Bennett Elkington Resignation 20 September 2024 10 October 2024 12 December 2024  
Stretton Sugwas Parish of Stretton Sugwas Parish Council Corinthia Rose Smissen Non-attendance 19 September 2024 9 October 2024 11 December 2024  
St Weonards Parish of St Weonards Parish Council Eloisa McCarthy Resignation 18 September 2024 8 October 2024 10 December 2024  

Cradley Parish

David Harries

Resignation

13 September 2024

3 October 2024

6 December 2024

Co-option

Goodrich Parish of Goodrich & Welsh Bicknor GPC

Samuel Davies

Resigned

13 September 2024

03 October 2024

6 December 2024

Co-option
Much Birch Parish of Much Birch Parish Council Andrew Desmond Crum Resignation 13 September 2024 3 October 2024 6 December 2024 Co-option
Bredwardine Parish of Wyeside Group Parish Council Hamnish Light Resignation 12 September 2024 2 October 2024 5 December 2024

Co-option

Moreton-on-Lugg Parish / Moreton-on-Lugg Parish Council Janine Carol Tyler Resignation 9 September 2024 27 September 2024 29 November 2024  
Moreton-on-Lugg Parish / Moreton-on-Lugg Parish Council Thomas Morrell Resignation 9 September 2024 27 September 2024 29 November 2024  
Ross North Parish Ward / Ross-on-Wye Parish Council Shelley Ann Foreman Resignation 29 August 2024 18 September 2024 20 November 2024 Election on 7 November 2024
Hampton Bishop Parish / Hampton Bishop Parish Council James Edward Latham White Failure to attend meetings 19 August 2024 9 September 2024 11 November 2024 Co-option
Wigmore Parish / Wigmore Group Parish Council David Jones Resignation 16 August 2024 6 September 2024 8 November 2024 Co-option
Kington Town Parish / Kington Town Council Ruth Margaret Warne Resignation 12 August 2024 2 September 2024 4 November 2024 Co-option
Llangarron Parish / Llangarron Parish Council Barbara Ann Fisher Resignation 12 August 2024 2 September 2024 4 November 2024 Co-option
Colwall Parish / Colwall Parish Council Andrew John Boughton Resignation 6 August 2024 27 August 2024 29 October 2024 Co-option
Colwall Parish / Colwall Parish Council Marc Francis Lazarus Resignation 6 August 2024 27 August 2024 29 October 2024 Co-option
Colwall Parish / Colwall Parish Council Christopher Stephens Resignation 6 August 2024 27 August 2024 29 October 2024 Co-option
Longtown Parish / Longtown Group Parish Council Robert Ian Arthur Resignation 6 August 2024 27 August 2024 29 October 2024 Co-option
Hope Mansell Parish / Hope Mansell Parish Council Jonathan Charles Billings Resignation 7 August 2024 28 August 2024 30 October 2024 Co-option
Withington Parish / Withington Group Parish Council John Bennett Resignation 1 August 2024 21 August 2024 24 October 2024 Co-option
Pembridge Parish / Pembridge Parish Council Andrew John Faviell Pace Death 30 July 2024 19 August 2024 22 October 2024 Co-option
Kentchurch Parish / Kentchurch Parish Council Heather Jayne Adams Resignation 29 July 2024 16 August 2024 21 October 2024 Co-option
Brimfield Parish / Brimfield and Little Hereford Group Parish Council Duncan Pound Failure to attend meetings 26 July 2024 15 August 2024 18 October 2024 Co-option
Orcop Parish / Orcop Parish Council Sarah Read Resignation 25 July 2024 14 August 2024 17 October 2024 Co-option
Brampton Abbotts Parish / Brampton Abbotts with Foy Group George Edward Watts Resignation 22 July 2024 9 August 2024 14 October 2024 Co-option
Leintwardine Parish / Leintwardine Group Parish Council Vincent Griffin Non-attendance 19 Jul 2024 2024 8 August 2024 11 October 2024 Co-option
Shobdon Parish / Shobdon Parish Council Anne Walker Resignation 19 July 2024 8 August 2024 11 October 2024 Co-option
Humber Parish / Humber, Ford and Stoke Group Parish Council Richard Edward Collins Resignation 18 July 2024 7 August 2024 10 October 2024 Co-option
Moreton-on-Lugg Parish / Moreton-on-Lugg Parish Council Sandra Derry Resignation 15 July 2024 2 August 2024 7 October 2024 Co-option
Moreton-on-Lugg Parish / Moreton-on-Lugg Parish Council Richard Derry Resignation 15 July 2024 2 August 2024 7 October 2024 Co-option
Aston Ingham Parish / Aston Ingham Parish Council Stephen Paul Smith Resignation 10 July 2024 30 July 2024 2 October 2024 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)

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.