Current vacancies and by-elections

Councillor for Betley, Balterley and Wrinehill Parish Council (Wrinehill ward)

Under the Local Government Act 1972 (Section 87(2)), public notice is hereby given that a casual vacancy has occurred in the office of Councillor for Betley, Balterley and Wrinehill Parish Council (Wrinehill ward) following the failure to attend meetings of Cllr Drakakis-Smith for six months on 3 April 2025.

Rule 5(2) of the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 now applies.

The rule allows ten electors for the area in which the casual vacancy has arisen to request the Returning Officer to hold an election to fill the vacancy. That request must be made within fourteen days, calculated in accordance with the rules, of the date of this notice. The fourteen day period ends on 28 April 2025.

If a request to hold an election is not received during the permitted time, Rule 5(5) of the above rules will apply. The Parish Council must then, as soon as practicable after the fourteen day period, co-opt a person to fill the vacancy.

The Returning Officer's address is: Electoral Services, Castle House, Barracks Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 1BL

This notice is dated 4 April 2025.

By-elections

For a by-election to be held to fill a parish councillor vacancy, ten electors from the relevant parish ward must make request in writing.

The request must:

• contain a list of 10 signatures from registered local electors for the relevant parish ward

• be made within 14 days of the notice of vacancy  (not including Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday)

• be delivered to the address of the Returning Officer at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Barracks Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 1BL

If a request is received for a parish council by-election, further details will be provided on the elections webpage.

Vacancies where no election is requested will be removed from this page approximately two months after the publication date of the original vacancy notice.

If an election is requested, when both the notice of election has expired and the deadline for withdrawals has passed, a poll will only be held if there are more candidates than seats available.

Any parish council polls must take place within 60 'computed days' from the date of the notice of vacancy. Saturdays, Sundays and any other non-working days are not included in the 60 day period.