A COUNCILLOR has been replaced after they were removed from a Herefordshire town council.

Councillor Rhiannon Jones was co-opted on to Leominster Town Council to represent the North Ward in May 2023.

But in January this year, it was declared at a meeting of the town's full council that the councillor should be disqualified for failure to attend meetings, meaning a casual vacancy had arisen.

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The vacancy has now been filled by co-option, with recently published minutes from Leominster Town Council's March meeting stating that councillors had resolved to formally co-opt Nicholas Carpenter to represent the ward.

READ MORE: Mayor's message after Herefordshire town councillor replaced

What is a casual vacancy?

A vacancy can arise for a number of reasons, according to Herefordshire Council.

These include resignation, death, failing to attend a parish council meeting for six months, failing to sign their declaration of acceptance of office, ceasing to be qualified, or being disqualified.

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You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here.

Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence.

The council or clerk of the parish or town council must tell electoral services as soon as possible if a vacancy occurs, with a notice of vacancy to be advertised locally for 14 working days, during which electors can request an election.

A parish election is only held if 10 people who are registered as local government electors in the relevant parish (or parish ward if applicable) ask for an election to be held.

If there are fewer than 10 electors or no one asks for an election then the council must co-opt a new member as soon as practicable.