Co-Option Timetable To Fill Parish Council Vacancy

Hambledon Parish Council will begin the process of co-opting a new member to fill a current vacancy with applications invited from Monday August 2nd until September 1st, 2021.

The council decided that, with summer holidays approaching and the parish council not meeting in August, it would be appropriate to give a whole month for people to apply. Details of how to do so appear at the end of this article and also in the forthcoming August issue of Hambledon Parish Magazine and on parish noticeboards.

With no local elections due until May 2023, and no formal request made for a by-election, Hambledon Parish Council has been given the authority to fill the vacancy, caused by the resignation of John Anderson after 38 years as a councillor, by co-option.

This means that candidates can put their names forward and, assuming more than one has done so, the council will decide on who to appoint at its meeting on September 7th.

Parish councillors are unpaid and do not represent a political opinion or party. Their purpose is to best serve the interests of their local community, responding to local concerns, commenting on planning applications but not determining them, which is the responsibility of Waverley Borough Council. They support and assist village organisations, help promote good causes and monitor local roads, footpath and bridleways, and taking action with the relevant authorities.

The council is made up of seven councillors, who are assisted by a salaried clerk. Meetings are held once a month at the village hall, starting at 8pm, in public.

Anyone who meets the official criteria set out below, and cares about Hambledon, its places and people, is welcome to apply.

A British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen, or a citizen of any other member state of the European Union and on the relevant day (the day of nomination or election) have reached 18 years of age or over. They must also meet at least one of these four qualifications:

  • on the relevant day and thereafter they continue to be on the electoral register for the Parish
  • during the whole of the twelve months before that day, they have owned or tenanted land or premises in the parish
  • during the whole of the twelve months before that day their principal or only place of work has been in the parish
  • during the whole of the twelve months before that day, they have lived in the parish or within 4.8km (3 miles) of the parish boundary.​

Disqualification

You may be disqualified from standing (or being co-opted), if you are a paid officer or employee of that parish, have had bankruptcy restriction orders made against you or you have a previous criminal conviction with a prison sentence of three months or more.

If you are in any doubt whether you would be able to stand for election please contact Electoral Services on 01483 523116 or visit the Electoral Commission website for more information.

Once the application period opens, people may register their interest with Julie Flenley at clerkofhpc@outlook.com and please copy in the chairman at spayne444@btinternet.com and the vice chair at grovemum@aol.com

Candidates must include a 300-word submission on why they think they are suited to the role. Please include full contact details.

For more information on local democracy, please follow this link: https://www.waverley.gov.uk/Services/Council-information/Registering-to-vote-and-elections/Casual-vacancies

 

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