By-election expected as soon as November

Following the death of North Middleton Councillor Ian Robertson, a by-election is expected to take place in as soon as November.

As soon as practicable after the death of a Councillor and where it is not within six months of the date of the next ordinary local elections, the Council is required to declare the vacancy, which takes the form of a public notice posted outside the Town Hall. As the vacancy has arisen in a Middleton ward, we believe a notice will also be  published at Middleton Customer Service Centre as well.

Once the notice is published, the Council has to wait until it receives a request in writing from two local government electors for the Borough for a by-election to be held. The election must then be held within 35 working days from receipt of the request. The electors do not have to be from the actual ward in which the vacancy has arisen. If no request is received, the seat remains vacant until filled at the next ordinary election.