Parish Council - General Information

Elections and Membership

The term of office of a Parish Councillor is four years. The timing of the election cycle is usually linked to that of the election of a Borough Councillor for the ward containing the parish.

Uncontested Elections
Where there are an equal number or fewer candidates than there are vacancies, all candidates are elected unopposed, and no poll is taken. Where there are fewer candidates than vacant seats, the Parish Council has the duty to co-opt any person or persons to fill the vacancies. This power, however, may only be exercised if there is a quorum of councillors present and within 35 days of the election. If the Parish Council fails to fill the vacancies within this period, the Borough Council may dissolve it and order fresh elections.

Contested Elections
Where there are more candidates than vacancies, a poll must be held. Undivided parishes, or multi-member parish wards, hold elections under the bloc vote system.

Casual Vacancies
Where a vacancy occurs during the term of a Parish Council, it may be filled by either election or co-option. Elections only occur if, following the advertisement of the vacancy for 14 days, 10 electors send a written request to the returning officer. If no request is received, the Parish Council will be required to fill the vacancies by co-option.
If the number of vacancies on the Parish Council is such that there is no longer a quorum, the Borough Council may temporarily appoint persons to bring the council up to strength in the interval prior to an election.

The District of West Lancashire (Electoral Changes) Order 2001 in respect of Rufford:

7.—
(5) Elections of all Parish Councillors for the parishes of Halsall, Hesketh-with-Becconsall and Rufford shall be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2004 and every fourth year after 2004.
(6) The term of office of any Parish Councillor to whom paragraphs (2), (4) and (5) of this article apply shall be four years; all Parish Councillors shall retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in the year of retirement; and the newly-elected councillors shall come into office on the day on which their predecessors retire.
(7) Rule 8 of the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 1986(6) (filling of casual vacancies) shall have effect, in the case of a casual vacancy occurring before 5th May 2003 in the office of a Parish Councillor for the parish of Simonswood as if the references in paragraphs (1) and (4) of that rule to the day on which that councillor would regularly have retired were a reference to 5th May 2003.

There are certain obligations which by law a parish council must fulfil, e.g.:

It must hold an annual meeting

It must hold at least three other meetings a year

It must appoint such officers as it believes necessary for the proper discharge of its functions. This must include an officer responsible for the proper administration of financial affairs

It must make Standing Orders for the supply of goods and services to the council

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Standing Orders , published by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), is an easy-to-understand comprehensive guide on the legal, financial, administrative and governance aspects of running a local council. This guidance is an essential tool for established or new councillors and officers involved in this tier of local government.

Part 1 explains in practical terms why Standing Orders and other tools for governance are necessary for local councils and includes key sections on:

the legal framework of local councils

local council employees

engaging with the public

council meetings

procedure and mechanics of debate

chairing meetings

Part 2 of the publication provides a complete set of 'model' standing orders for local councils to use to structure, manage and execute their business. The model Standing Orders in Part 2 may be adopted as drafted or, as appropriate, amended by a local council and some of the important matters covered in this part includes:

the revised edition of this book amends Model Standing Order No.32 (variation, revocation and suspension of standing orders) in Part 2.

the responsibilities expected of a local council's proper officer (clerk)

tabling motions for debate at meetings

the rules of debate at meetings

managing public participation at meetings

financial and legal matters

the responsibilities and management of staff

handling complaints, requests for information and communications with the media

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