Casual vacancies

A casual vacancy occurs when an elected member ceases to be an elected member as a result of, for example, their death, resignation, becoming disqualified or being no longer qualified to remain elected. 

The local authority is required to publish a public notice whenever there is a casual vacancy. The notice will state the area in which the vacancy has arisen along with any other appropriate information, such as the number of electors required to call a by-election, if relevant.

The Proper Officer is required to retain the document(s) requesting an election (Local Government Act 1972 Sec 225). Any document(s) lodged under (Local Government Act 1972 Sec 225) are required to be available for public inspection and copying (Local Government Act 1972 sec 228,5).