If a seat becomes vacant on a Parish or Town Council, the clerk is required to give public notice of the vacancy.  In order to trigger an election, ten or more electors for the electoral area need to submit a request, in writing, and within fourteen working days of the date of the notice.  The request or requests must be sent to the Proper Officer of the District Council.  If sufficient requests are received the Returning Officer will fix the date of the election which must be within sixty days of the date of the notice of vacancy.  If sufficient requests have not been received by the due date, the Council is allowed to make their own arrangements to fill the vacancy by co-option.

In accordance with Section 89(3) of the Local Government Act 1972, where the vacancy occurs within six months before the day on which the councillor whose office is vacant would regularly have retired, an election shall not be held under Section 89 (1) of the above Act, and the vacancy will be filled at the next ordinary election of councillors.

The Parish Council may choose to fill the vacancy for the period until that election.

Please contact the Town/Parish Clerk in the first instance.

CURRENT SCHEDULED ELECTIONS

HOLSWORTHY TOWN COUNCIL - ELECTION TO BE HELD 16 JULY 2026 

Following receipt of three nomination papers the Election will be held on 16 July 2026.

Notice of Poll can be viewed here:Notice of Poll - Holsworthy By Election 16.7.26 (PDF, 90 KB)(opens in new tab)

Statement of Persons Nominated can ve viewed here:  Statement of Persons Nominated - Holsworthy Town By Election 16.7.26 (PDF, 177 KB)(opens in new tab)

Following the Notices of Vacancy confirming the resignation of Councillor Nigel Kenneally and Councillor Jeremy Tadman from Holsworthy Town Council, the required number of valid signatures to request an election be held to fill both the vacancies have been received.

PLEASE NOTE: 

Nomination papers must be submitted in person to Riverbank House by appointment from Friday 12 June until 4:00pm on Friday 19 June 2026. If more than two nominations are received, the election will proceed on Thursday 16 July 2026.

Please make an appointment to hand in your nomination pack to the Elections Team at Riverbank House, Bideford EX39 2QG by emailing [email protected] 

Notice of Poll can be viewed here:Notice of Poll - Holsworthy By Election 16.7.26 (PDF, 90 KB)(opens in new tab)

Statement of Persons Nominated can ve viewed here:  Statement of Persons Nominated - Holsworthy Town By Election 16.7.26 (PDF, 177 KB)(opens in new tab)

Notice of Election can be viewed here: Notice of Election - Holsworthy Town Council (PDF, 90 KB)(opens in new tab)

Election Timetable can be viewed here:Holsworthy Town Council - Election Timetable (PDF, 29 KB)(opens in new tab)

Candidate Nomination Pack can be accessed here:  Holsworthy Town Council - Candidate Nomination Pack (PDF, 422 KB)(opens in new tab)

Absent Voters List Request Form can be accessed here: Holsworthy Town Council - Absent Voter Request Form (PDF, 142 KB)(opens in new tab)

Register Request Form can be accessed here: Holsworthy Town Council - Nomination Register Request Form (PDF, 120 KB)(opens in new tab)

CURRENT TOWN AND PARISH VACANCIES

Bridgerule Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Frederick Cogdell
Deadline: 10 July 2026
Contact for more information: Clerk: [email protected]
Notice of Vacancy can be viewed here: Notice of Vacancy - Bridgerule (PDF, 71 KB)(opens in new tab)

Northcott Hamlet of St Giles on the Heath & Northcott Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Helen Bowyer
Deadline: 7 July 2026
Contact for more information: Clerk: [email protected]
Notice of Vacancy can be viewed here:Notice of Vacancy - Northcott Parish Council - Cllr Helen Bowyer (PDF, 72 KB)(opens in new tab)

Halwill Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Emma Down
Deadline: 7 July 2026
Contact for more information: Clerk: [email protected]
Notice of Vacancy can be viewed here: Notice of Vacancy - Halwill Parish Council (PDF, 72 KB)(opens in new tab)

High Bickington Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Colin Kendall
Deadline: 7 July 2026
Contact for more information: Clerk: [email protected]
Notice of Vacancy can be viewed here: Notice of Vacancy - High Bickington - Cllr Kendall (PDF, 72 KB)(opens in new tab)

High Bickington Parish Council
One Vacancy
Following the passing of Councillor Julie Clarke
Deadline: 7 July 2026
Contact for more information: Clerk: [email protected]
Notice of Vacancy can be viewed here: Notice of Vacancy - High Bickington (PDF, 72 KB)(opens in new tab)

Parish Vacancies to be filled by Co-option

Please contact the relevant Town/Parish Clerk direct for more information.

2026

Beaford Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Carolyn Steer
Deadline: 19 June 2026
Contact for more information: Clerk:[email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

Buckland Brewer Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Trevor Mills
Deadline: 21st May 2026
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

St Giles on the Heath Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Anne Curtis
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

Dolton Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Anjie Devine
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

Abbotsham Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Jenna Tolley 
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

East Putford Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Robert Thomas
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

East Putford Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Sarah Thomas
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

Ashwater Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor John Webber
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk:  [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

Holsworthy Hamlets Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Cllr Walker
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

St Giles on the Heath Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Cllr Michelle Mcllmurray
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: [email protected] 
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

Ashreigney Parish Council
One Vacancy
following the death of Cllr Sue Tillyer
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: a[email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

Winkleigh Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Jaqueline Sheppard 
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: [email protected] 
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

Bradford Ward of Bradford & Cookbury Parish Council
One Vacancy
Non-attendance of meetings by Councillor Karen Osbourne
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

Clovelly Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Vivien Rose Foster
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

Winkleigh Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Andrew Warner
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: [email protected] 
OUTCOME: CO OPTION

Winkleigh Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Greg Goldsworthy
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: [email protected] 
OUTCOME: CO OPTION

2025

High Bickington Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Nic Copp
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: A Matthewman - [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO OPTION

High Bickington Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Franklin Spencer
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: A Matthewman - [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO OPTION

Halwill Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Jamie Wilson
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: D Osborne - [email protected]
Outcome: Co-option

Thornbury Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Susan Bond
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: Michael Nattrass - [email protected]
Outcome: Co-option

Black Torrington Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Alex Parratt
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: Donald Osborne - [email protected]
Outcome: Co-option

Halwill Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Roger Groocock
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: D Osborne - [email protected]
Outcome: Co-option

St Giles on the Heath Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Susan Trusler
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: Kayleigh Walker - stgilesparishcouncil.org.uk
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

Northcott Parish of St Giles on the Heath & Northcott Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Gerald Thorne
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: Kayleigh Walker - stgilesparishcouncil.org.uk
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

Holsworthy Hamlets Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Ray Fursdon
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: Dr Julie Foster - [email protected] 
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION