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 & council Name of
outgoing councillor
Casual vacancy
reason
NOV
published
Last date to
request an election
Last date to hold
an election
Outcome
Newton Parish / Hope-under-Dinmore Group Parish Council John Pritchard Deceased 2 April 2024 22 April 2024 26 June 2024  
Westhide Parish / Withington Group Parish Council Julie Williams Resignation 22 March 2024 15 April 2024 19 June 2024  
Little Dewchurch Parish Susan Daynes Resignation 1 March 2024 21 March 2024 29 May 2024 Co-option
Garway Parish / Garway Parish Council Anthony Phillips Non-attendance 29 February 2024 20 March 2024 28 May 2024 Co-option
Upton Bishop Parish Council Mark Peter Shuttlewood Resignation 28 February 2024 19 March 2024 24 May 2024 Co-option
Eyton Parish Council / Luston Group Parish Council John Kenneth Oatley Resignation 29 February 2024 20 March 2024 28 May 2024 Co-option
Norton Parish / Kinnersley and District Group Parish Council Christine Leander Angela Atwell Resignation 22 February 2024 13 March 2024 20 May 2024 Co-option
Whitchurch Parish Whitchurch & Ganarew Group Parish Council Jono Smith-Milne Resignation 19 February 2024 8 March 2024 15 May 2024 Co-option
Upton Bishop Parish of Upton Bishop Parish Council Karl Lumsden Failure to attend meetings 9 February 2024 29 February 2024 7 May 2024 Co-option
Burghill Parish of Burghill Parish Council Joy Carroll Resignation 2 February 2024 22 February 2024 29 April 2024 Co-option
Leominster North Parish Ward of Leominster Town Council Rhiannon Mandy Jones Non-attendance 2 February 2024 22 February 2024 29 April 2024 Co-option
Lugwardine Parish of Bartestree & Lugwardine group Parish Council Linda Margaret Hoppe Resignation 25 January 2024 14 February 2024 19 April 2024 Co-option
Lugwardine Parish of Bartestree & Lugwardine group Parish Council Alan Keith Long Resignation 25 January 2024 14 February 2024 19 April 2024 Co-option
Moreton on Lugg Parish of Moreton on Lugg Parish Council Jamie Butterfield Resignation 22 January 2024 9 February 2024 16 April 2024 Co-option
Leominster East Parish Ward / Leominster Town Council Janet Ann Healey Resignation 18 January 2024 7 February 2024 12 April 2024 Co-option
Leintwardine Parish Council / Leintwardine Group Parish Council Terrence Dilwyn Mullett Resignation 17 January 2024 6 February 2024 11 April 2024 Co-option
Welsh Newton of Welsh Newton & Llanrothal Group Parish Council Elissa Jane Swinglehurst Resignation 12 January 2024 1 February 2024 8 April 2024 Co-option
Welsh Newton of Welsh Newton & Llanrothal Group Parish Council Rhiannon Elen Marks Resignation 12 January 2024 1 February 2024 8 April 2024 Co-option
Pembridge Parish of Pembridge Parish Council Phillip John Thomas Death 8 January 2024 26 January 2024 3 April 2024 Co-option
Shobdon Parish of Shobdon Parish Council Kaitlin Smith Non attendance 4 January 2024 24 January 2024 27 March 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.