Councillor Vacancies
There is currently vacancies for Parish Councillors in the Roden, Edstaston and Newtown Wards. As these vacancies have arisen between the ordinary round of elections (normally every 4 years) they are classed as Casual Vacancies.
The formal notifications had been placed on notice boards around the Parish. Copies are also found below.
Vacancy Notice – Roden Vacancy Notice – Edstaston Vacancy Notice – Newtown
Elections were not called so the Parish Council is permitted to fill the vacancies by co-option.
These notes are to advise of the practice relating to Casual Vacancies and are a general guide only and are not intended as a comprehensive statement of the law.
The Returning Officer is appointed by Shropshire Council, and she is responsible for the conduct of, and arrangements for elections. However, the Parish Council will assist, where able, with giving advice to prospective candidates prior to elections and, when appropriate, the preliminary arrangements for the filling of Casual Vacancies by co-option.
If you need any more information, please contact the Parish Clerk, or alternatively, Shropshire Council’s Elections Office on 0345 678 9015.
Co-option Notice
The formal notice for co-option has been placed on notice boards around the Parish. A copy is also found below.
Any person wishing to be considered should apply to the Clerk in writing explaining why he/she believes he/she should be appointed a Councillor for the Ward.
The deadline for applications is 31 May 2019 in order that the Parish Council can consider applications at the 4 June2019 meeting. Candidates will be invited to that meeting.
Term of Office
The next round of Ordinary Parish Council Elections will take place in 2021. The successful candidates should expect to serve up to the fourth day after the ordinary day of elections.
Qualifications for Candidature
To be qualified to be elected a member of the Parish Council a person must be 18 years of age or over at the date of his/her nomination, and be a Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, or a citizen of another Member State of the European Community, and either:
on that day he/she is and thereafter he/she continues to be a local government elector for the administrative area of the parish; or
he/she has during the whole of the twelve months preceding that day occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish; or
his/her principal or only place of work during that twelve months has been in that area; or
he/she has during the whole of those twelve months resided either in the parish or within 4.8 kilometres (3 miles) of it.
Candidates are advised to complete as many of the relevant qualifications as apply.
There are certain disqualifications for election, of which the main (S.80 of the Local Government Act 1972) are:
holding a paid office under the authority;
bankruptcy;
having been sentenced to a term of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) of not less than three months, without the option of a fine during the five years preceding the election; and
being disqualified under any enactment relating to corrupt or illegal practices.
Co-option of Parish Councillor – Procedure for Council Meeting
During the Public Statements section of the meeting, candidates will be given the opportunity to confirm they meet the requirements to qualify as a Councillor as below, give a brief personal background, explain to the Parish Council why they have applied to become a Councillor (lasting no more than 5 minutes) and then be prepared to answer any questions from the Council.
When the item is reached on the agenda, the Chairman will ask for the candidates to be proposed and seconded en bloc. When all the nominations have been received a vote will be taken. This may be by paper ballot if a resolution is passed. It is usual for the candidates’ names to be put in alphabetical order.
The successful candidate must receive an absolute majority vote of those present and voting.
If there are more than two candidates for the vacancy and no one of them at the first count receives a majority over the aggregate votes given to the rest, steps will be taken to strike off the candidate with the least number of votes and the remainder will then be put to the vote again; this process will, if necessary, be repeated until an absolute majority is obtained. The Chair may have to exercise his casting vote.
After the vote has been taken, the Chairman will declare the candidate who received the highest number of votes, duly elected.
The successful candidate if attending the meeting will be invited to join the Council subject to signing the declaration of acceptance of office.
Acceptance of Office
A person elected to the office of Parish Councillor shall before or at the first meeting of the Parish Council after their election or if the Council at the that meeting allows, before or at a later meeting fixed by the Council, make in the presence of a member of the Council or of the proper officer of the Council a declaration of Acceptance of Office (see below).
Failure to do so will mean their office will become vacant (local Government Act 1972, Section 83).