Casual vacancies in district councils2
1
Section 11 of the 1962 Act5 (election and term of office of members of district councils) is amended as follows.
2
In subsection (4), in the words following paragraph (c), for “occurs” substitute “arises”.
3
In subsection (4A), for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute “by a person returned or elected in accordance with sections 11D to 11K.”.
4
After that subsection insert—
4AA
Any person returned as mentioned in subsection (4A) shall be deemed for all purposes to have been duly elected as a member of the council.
4AB
The clerk of a district council must as soon as practicable after a casual vacancy arises notify the Chief Electoral Officer—
a
that a casual vacancy has arisen in the council, and
b
of the name of the member of the council whose seat has become vacant (in this Act referred to as the “previous member”).
4AC
The clerk of a district council must, within 7 days from any other matter concerning a casual vacancy coming to the clerk’s knowledge, report it to the Chief Electoral Officer.
5
Omit subsections (4B) and (4C).
6
In subsection (5)—
a
after “deemed” insert “for the purposes of rule 1(3) of the Local Elections Rules6”,
b
in paragraph (a), for “the vacancy exists” substitute “an election must be held to fill the vacancy in accordance with section 11D, 11E, 11F, 11G or 11H”, and
c
omit the words following paragraph (b).
7
In subsection (6)—
a
for “occurring” substitute “arising”, and
b
for “member whom he has succeeded” substitute “previous member”.