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Published: 8 April 2026
The Parish Council has a vacancy, as one of the Councillors is moving away from the village. If ten electors request an election by 28th April, then West Northamptonshire will arrange it. Otherwise the Parish Council can co-opt someone to fill the place. The information for requesting an election is shown in the notice below.
Stowe Nine Churches Parish Council
NOTICE UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT (1972 (Section 87(2))
VACANCY FOR A COUNCILLOR
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that a casual vacancy has occurred in the office of Councillor for the Parish of Stowe Nine Churches following the resignation of Simon Mitchell .
Rule 5(2) of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 now applies.
The rule allows TEN ELECTORS for the ward in which the casual vacancy has arisen to request the Proper Officer to hold an election to 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 Tuesday 28th April 2026
What 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, as soon as practicable after the expiry of the fourteen-day period, co-opt a person to fill the vacancy.
The Proper Officer’s address is:
Electoral Services, West Northamptonshire Council, One Angel Square, Angel Street, Northampton, NN1 1ED
The telephone number for further guidance is 0300 126 7000 or email: electoralservices@westnorthants.gov.uk
This notice is dated _8th April 2026_
Name,___Linda Carter Clerk to Stowe Nine Churches Parish Council
* There is no form of word for this request, which might simply be a letter headed with such words as ‘We the undersigned being electors of the [Ward of] …. Parish, call for an election to fill the vacancy arising from the [death][resignation] of *. A template entitled “Request for an Election” is available from the Parish Clerk. It is helpful if the ten signatures are accompanied by printed names and addresses.
** In calculating the notice period, day one is the day following the date of this notice; a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas day, Good Friday or a bank holiday or day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning shall be disregarded, and the period closes at midnight on the fourteenth day after the date of this notice. Rule 5(2) of The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities)(England and Wales) Rules 2006 now applies.