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

None

CURRENT TOWN AND PARISH VACANCIES

Beaford Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Carolyn Steer
Deadline: 19 June 2026
Contact for more information: Clerk:[email protected]
Notice of Vacancy can be viewed here: Notice of Vacancy - Beaford Parish Council - Councillor Carolyn Steer (PDF, 77 KB)(opens in new tab)

Holsworthy Town Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Nigel Kenneally
Deadline: 2 June 2026
Contact for more information:  Town Clerk: [email protected]
Outcome:  Ten Signatures have been received to request an Election be held on fill this Vacancy.  The Notice of Election and proposed timetable will be available shortly.

Holsworthy Town Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Jeremy Tadman
Deadline: 2 June 2026
Contact for more information:  Town Clerk: [email protected]
Outcome:  Ten Signatures have been received to request an Election be held on fill this Vacancy.  The Notice of Election and proposed timetable will be available shortly.

Parish Vacancies to be filled by Co-option

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

2026

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

Bridgerule Parish Council
One Vacancy
Non-attendance of meetings by Councillor Julie Philpott
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

Tetcott and Luffincott Parish Council
One Vacancy
Resignation of Councillor Lynn Pett
Contact for more information:  Parish Clerk: Kay Napier - [email protected]
OUTCOME: CO OPTION

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