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

Situation of Polling Stations can be viewed here: Situation of Polling Stations - Holsworthy Town By Election 16 July 26 (PDF, 47 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.

CURRENT TOWN AND PARISH VACANCIES

Frithelstock Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Elizabeth Hunkin
Deadline: 4 August 2026
Contact for more information: Clerk: [email protected]
Notice of Vacancy can be viewed here:Notice of Vacancy - Frithelstock Parish Council - Cllr Elizabeth Hunkin (PDF, 73 KB)(opens in new tab)

Parkham Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Roger French
Deadline: 30 July 2026
Contact for more information: Clerk: [email protected]
Notice of Vacancy can be viewed here: Notice of Vacancy Parkham Parish Council - Cllr R French (PDF, 72 KB)(opens in new tab)

Yarnscombe Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Dan Farr
Deadline: 23 July 2026
Contact for more information: Clerk: [email protected]
Notice of Vacancy can be viewed here: Notice of Vacancy - Cllr Farr - Yarnscombe Parish Council (PDF, 71 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

Bridgerule Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Frederick Cogdell
Contact for more information: Clerk: [email protected]
Outcome: CO-OPTION

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]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION 

Halwill Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Emma Down
Deadline: 7 July 2026
Contact for more information: Clerk: [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

High Bickington Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Colin Kendall
Deadline: 7 July 2026
Contact for more information: Clerk: [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

High Bickington Parish Council
One Vacancy
Following the passing of Councillor Julie Clarke
Deadline: 7 July 2026
Contact for more information: Clerk: [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO-OPTION

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