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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Llanwarne Parish Council / Llanwarne Group Parish Council | Rowena Jane Williams | Resignation | 12 April 2024 | 2 May 2024 | 8 July 2024 | |
Kinnersley Parish /Kinnersley & Distict Group Parish Council | Caius David Hawkins | Resignation | 2 April 2024 | 22 April 2024 | 26 June 2024 | |
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 | Co-option |
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 |
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:
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.