Local elections refer to borough, county and parish elections.
A successful candidate in any local election will serve for a term of 4 years, unless a candidate was nominated to fill a casual vacancy (which may occur due to a resignation or death of a councillor) then it would be for the remaining term of the retiring or deceased councillor.
Results from previous local elections can be viewed using the links below.
If a councillor leaves their seat during the course of their term, a casual vacancy occurs. This could be due to the resignation of a councillor, the passing away of a councillor, the disqualification (or ceasing to be qualified) of a councillor, or a failure to take up office.
The rules for casual vacancies are different depending on whether the seat is for the Borough or County Council, or for a Town/Parish Council.
When a councillor's seat becomes vacant a Notice of Vacancy will be displayed to advertise that vacancy.
The notice explains that an election can be called by a request made in writing to the council's Proper Officer by 2 electors from the local authority area where the vacancy arises.
If an election is called it must be held within 35 working days of the request for an election. The exception to this is that if a vacancy occurs within 6 months of the date of the next scheduled elections, the vacancy is carried over to the next elections. The seat will remain vacant during that time and no by-election will be held.
| Date of notice | Ward | Number of vacancies | Result of notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 March 2024 - view notice | Crich & South Wingfield | 1 | Election requested. By-election to be held on 2 May 2024. |
When a councillor's seat becomes vacant the Town/Parish Clerk will notify our elections team. The Clerk will display a Notice of Vacancy in the parish area. The notice explains that an election can be called by a request made in writing to the district council's Proper Officer by 10 electors from the parish area, within 14 working days of the date of the notice.
If an election is called it must be held within 60 working days of the date of the Notice of Vacancy. If no request is received to call an election then the Town/Parish Council may then co-opt someone into the vacant seat. This means that the Town/Parish Council can choose who they wish to appoint to fill the seat rather than holding an election.
The Notice of Vacancy must run its course before the Town/Parish Council have the opportunity to co-opt a new councillor and this gives the electors of the parish a chance to call an election if they wish to. If the vacancy occurs within 6 months of the date of the next scheduled elections for that council then no election is held, and the seat may remain vacant until it is filled at the next elections, or the council may choose to co-opt into the vacant seat.
The following vacancies have been advertised, each notice explains that an election can be called by a request made in writing to the district council's Proper Officer by 10 electors from the parish area, within 14 working days of the date of the notice. If no request is received then the Town/Parish Council may then co-opt someone into the vacant seat.
| Date of notice | Parish/parish area | Number of vacancies | Notice of expiry date | Result of notice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 January 2024 - view notice | Somercotes Parish Council | 1 | 16 February 2024 | No request for election received, Parish Council may co-opt |
| 6 March 2024 - view notice | Belper Town Council - East Ward | 1 | 26 March 2024 | Election requested. By-election to be held on 2 May 2024. |
| 6 March 2024 - view notice | Turnditch & Windley Parish Council | 2 | 26 March 2024 | No request for election received, Parish Council may co-opt |
| 13 March 2024 - view notice | Idridgehay & Alton and Ashleyhay Parish Council | 1 | 4 April 2024 | No request for election received, Parish Council may co-opt. |
| 2 April 2024 - view notice | Kirk Langley Parish Council | 1 | 22 April 2024 | No request for election received, Parish Council may co-opt. |
| 11 April 2024 - view notice | South Wingfield Parish Council | 2 | 1 May 2024 | TBC |
| 23 April 2024 - view notice | Heanor & Loscoe Town Council - West Ward | 1 | 14 May 2024 | TBC |
If an election is called following a Notice of Vacancy being displayed, this is known as a by-election. This just means an election that is held outside of the normal scheduled timetable of elections for that council. The date for the election will be set within the timescales set out above. The election is then advertised by the publication of a Notice of Election which marks the start of the election process.
Contact the team directly on 01773 841458 or email elections@ambervalley.gov.uk
