CASUAL VACANCIES
Public Notice
As soon as there is a vacancy, public notice must be given of such a vacancy (see attached example). This must be displayed in the Parish in some conspicuous places within the area. I know that some Parish Councils advertise in the local press. You should also ensure that a copy of the notice is sent to me along with the name of the person who has left the Council.
Request for an election
A request of fourteen days from the date of the notice is allowed in which any requests for an election should be submitted to me. In calculating this period of fourteen days, the following days must not be counted:
Saturdays and Sundays
Good Friday
Bank Holidays
a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning
The request for an election must be received from 10 electors within the parish, town or parish/town ward if applicable.
If a request for an election is received
If I am requested to hold an election to fill the vacancy, I will calculate the timetable and arrange the election.
If no request for an election is received
If no electors request an election your Council may co-opt a new member. No procedure is laid down as to the method of co-option and it is sufficient for the Council to pass a Resolution in the following forms:
Proposed by
Seconded by
And Resolved that ______be co-opted as a Parish Councillor
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of ______.
The co-option of a new Councillor must take place within 60 days of public notice being given of the vacancy. I should then be notified of the name of the new Councillor and forwarded a completed code of conduct form.
If an election is uncontested or there are insufficient candidates
Where there are insufficient candidates for the election to be contested but a quorum has been achieved, the Parish Council may co-opt qualified people to fill the remaining seats. This is usually done at the first meeting of the Council but must be within 7 weeks of the date of election.
For Parish Councils, a quorum is 3 councillors or 1/3rd of the total seats, whichever is the greater.
WEST MONKTON PARISH COUNCIL
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Casual Vacancy has occurred in
the office of Councillor on the West Monkton
Parish Council.
Unless ten electors for the Parish give notice in writing by
Wednesday, 1st November, 2017
to the Returning Officer, The Deane House, Belvedere Road,
Taunton TA1 1HE, requesting that an election be held, the Parish
Council will, at a Meeting to be held on
Tuesday 12th December 2017 at Brittons Ash Community Hall, fill
the vacancy by the co-option of a new Councillor.
_
Clerk to the Parish Council
2 Hill Farm Cottages
West Monkton
Taunton TA2 8LW
Dated: 12th October 2017
PARISH AND COMMUNITY COUNCILS
- CASUAL VACANCY
In the event of a casual vacancy occurring, the clerk to the Parish Council is required, in accordance with Rule 8 of the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 1986, to give notice of vacancy. The notice must advise that any ten registered electors for the electoral area for which the vacancy has arisen, may, within 14 days of the notice of the vacancy, give notice in writing to the proper officer of the district council in which the Parish or community is situated, requesting that an election be held to fill the vacancy.
An election shall be held on a day appointed by the returning officer for the district council and must be a day falling within the period of 60 days (computed in accordance with election rules) beginning with the day on which the public notice of vacancy was given. If less that 10 requests to hold an election are received the parish council shall fill the vacancy by co-option.
NB If the vacancy arises within a period of six months before the day on which that councilor would regularly have retired, the parish council may choose to co-opt and any vacancy not so filled shall be filled at the next ordinary elections.