COLEHILL PARISH COUNCIL

PUBLIC NOTICE OF VACANCIES

s.87(2) OF THE Local Government Act 1972 ( the 1972 Act) requires a local council to give public notice of casual vacancies, to ensure transparency and attract more candidates.

The public notice given by the council invites application for candidates who satisfy (1) the eligibility for being a councillor and (ii) the competencies listed in the person specification.

NOTICE OF CO-OPTION

Colehill Parish Council seek to fill four vacancies through co-option. The statutory notices of vacancy have been posted and no requests for elections were made. Any expressions of interest to be made to the parish clerk – Mrs Zoe Caddy in the first instance

clerk@colehill.gov.uk or 01202 880049

All candidates who submit an advance application in writing, to be received by 5pm on 12th February, will be invited to attend an extraordinary meeting of the parish council meeting which is likely to be in 16th February 2021.A person co-opted to fill a casual vacancy on a Parish Council must fulfil the same criteria as a person being formally nominated for a candidate at an election. The person must either be on the most recent Register of Electors for Colehill and/or during the previous 12 months prior to appointment by co-option, either have occupied as owner or tenant any land or premises in the parish, or had their principal or only place of work in the parish, or have resided either in the parish or within 3 miles of the parish boundary.

The person should also not be disqualified for election under Section 80 of the Local Government Act 1972. Broadly, this relates to holding a paid office under the Town Council, bankruptcy, having been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 3 months without the option of a fine during the 5 years preceding the co-option, or being disqualified under any enactment relating to corrupt or illegal practices.

Procedure for Co-Option as a Member of Colehill Parish Council

Casual Vacancy A casual vacancy occurs following the resignation or death of a serving member. Dorset Council is notified of the vacancy and the Elections Team post a formal Notice of Vacancy. The notice will be displayed for fourteen days during which ten members of the parish can demand an election takes place. If called the by-election is then organised by Dorset Council. If an election is not called then the Parish Council will fill the seat by co-option.

Process the vacancy by co-option will be advertised on notice boards within the parish and via the website  for a minimum of fourteen working days.

Eligibility The Parish Council is able to consider any person to fill a vacancy provided that:

• He/she is an elector for the parish; or
• has resided in the parish for the past twelve months or rented/tenanted land in the parish; or
• had his/her principal place of work in the parish; or
• has lived within three miles (straight line) of the parish.

There are certain disqualifications for election, of which the main are (see 5. 80 of the Local Government Act 1972):

• holding a paid office of the Parish Council
• 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.

Applications Candidates will be requested to:

• Complete and submit an application form to the Parish Clerk which can be downloaded here.

Any questions about the procedure for co-option, eligibility to serve or the roles and responsibilities of a Parish Councillor should be directed to the Clerk to the Council.

There will be opportunities for training during the term of office.

The Clerk will notify the elections team at Dorset Council of the new member appointment and request the new member completes a Registration of Interests form within 28 days of being co-opted.