NOTICE OF VACANCY TO BE FILLED BY CO-OPTION

The Electoral Services department at Northumberland County Council has confirmed that Craster Parish Council may now fill the casual vacancy, which has arisen following the sad passing of our colleague Councillor Margaret Brooks, by co-option.

If you are interested in serving as a Parish Councillor, please write to the Parish Clerk by no later than Friday 9th January 2026 confirming that you are qualified to be a Councillor and a brief explanation of why you are interested in joining the Parish Council.

The Council meets once per month (except in August and December) on the third Thursday in the month. If you would like to know more about the role, please contact the Clerk.

In addition, you will be invited to address the Council to add anything verbally to your statement.

Please also by email or letter confirm to the Clerk that you meet the legal requirements stated below:

Each candidate must:

• be at least 18 years old
• be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any member state of the European Union, and
• meet at least one of the following four qualifications:

1. You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the parish in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.
2. You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
3. Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the parish area.
4. You have lived in the parish area or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.

Where more than one person puts themselves forward, the successful candidate is chosen by a majority vote of existing Councillors. Co-option is expected to be decided at the Council meeting on the evening of Thursday 15th January 2026 at Craster Village Hall.

Contact the Parish Clerk via:

Email: parishcouncil@crastercommunity.org.uk
Post: Parish Clerk Adam Shanley, Craster Parish Council, c/o Elsdon House. 1 Gideon Walk. Ponteland. Northumberland. NE20 0FT.

Files:

• Co-option vacancy notice.pdf