Co-Option of a Member of St Michael Parish Council – St Michael ward
The Chairman and other Councillors would warmly welcome enquiries from residents who may be interested in joining St Michael Parish Council through co-option, either for self-nomination or for on behalf of another individual. Applicants will be considered at the next meeting which is due to be held 12 January 2021, by videoconference (Zoom meeting).
IF ANYONE IS STILL INTERESTED IN APPLYING, PLEASE CONTACT THE CLERK (see bottom of this page) AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE AS COUNCILLORS WILL CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT AT THEIR MEETING ON TUESDAY 12th JANUARY
Please read on for more detail
The vacancy has arisen following the resignation of a serving member. St Albans City and District Council was notified and a formal Notice of Vacancy was posted for fourteen (working) days between 12th July and 4th August 2020, during which time it was possible for electors in the parish to demand that an election be called.
No such request was received and the vacancy will therefore be filled by St Michael Parish Council by co-option, in accordance with the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 2006.
Candidates will be requested to submit a short biography or information about themselves, by way of letter or e-mail and to give a short presentation to the next meeting outlining the reasons for their application .Applicants will also be asked to confirm their eligibility to serve, based on the criteria given below.
Any person co-opted to fill the vacancy within the Parish Council must fulfil the same criteria as a person being formally nominated for a candidate at an election, that is:
- He/she is a registered elector for the parish; or
- has resided in the parish for the past twelve months or rented/tenanted land in the parish; or
- had his/her principal place of work in the parish; or
- who lives within three miles (straight line) of the parish boundary.
There are certain disqualifications – these are set out in full in the Local Government Act 1972 (see 5. 80) but the main exclusions are:
- holding a paid office of the Parish Council;
- bankruptcy;
- having been sentenced to a term of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) of not less than three months, without the option of a fine during the five years preceding the election; and
- being disqualified under any enactment relating to corrupt or illegal practices.
The Parish Council will announce after the closing date (or at the next meeting) how many applications have been received and whether a voting process needs to be invoked. Details of that process will then be published, but in brief the existing Parish Council members would vote at a public meeting to determine the result. Please note that if a vote is needed, it is Parish Council members who would vote – it is not a public election.
Interested candidates should in the first instance please contact the Clerk, Julia Reading, in writing. Contact form through this link.
