Guildford Borough Council (GBC) has issued a notice that there will be a By-Election for Ash South Ward on Thursday, 3 April 2025, following the resignation of Sara Badger. Those persons interested in standing for election must have their nomination submitted by Wednesday, 30 April 2025. If the election is contested, the poll will take place on Thursday, 29th May 2025.

How are By-Elections called?

When a councillor’s seat becomes vacant, the Parish Clerk will notify GBC. The Clerk will display a Notice of Vacancy in the parish area. The notice explains that an election can be called by a request made in writing to the Borough Council’s Proper Officer by 10 electors from the parish ward area, within 14 working days of the date of the notice.

If an election is called, it must be held within 60 days of the notice. If no request is received to call an election, then the Parish Council may co-opt someone into the vacant seat. This means that the Parish Council can choose by a council vote who they wish to appoint to fill the seat rather than holding an election with its associated costs.

The Notice of Vacancy must run its course before the Parish Council has the opportunity to co-opt a new councillor, and this gives the electors of the parish a chance to call an election if they wish to. If the vacancy occurs within 6 months of the date of the next scheduled elections for that council, then no election is held, and the seat may remain vacant until it is filled at the next elections, or the council may choose to co-opt into the vacant seat.

Who pays for By-Elections?

The cost of holding an election is met by the Council holding the vacancy. In this case Ash Parish Council. That council uses the funds it receives via the Precept (Council Tax). The Precept is a tax that Parish Councils charge their local electors / residents to meet their budget requirements. Parish Councils do not receive any direct funding from the central government and rely on their Precept plus any other income they generate from services or facilities they provide.

NOTICE OF ELECTION

Ash Parish Council

Election of a Parish Councillor

1. Nomination papers must be delivered to the Returning Officer at Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4BB between 9am and 5pm on any working day from the date of publication of this notice (excluding bank holidays) but no later than 4 pm on Wednesday, 30 April 2025.
2. Nomination papers may be obtained from the offices of the Returning Officer, Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4BB, during the times stated above or at the Council’s website: https://www.guildford.gov.uk/upcomingelections
3. If the election is contested the poll will take place on Thursday, 29 May 2025.
4. Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 11.59 pm on
   Monday, 12 May 2025. Applications can be made online: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
5. Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes must reach the Electoral
   Registration Officer at Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4BB by 5 pm on Tuesday, 13 May 2025. https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.
6. Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5 pm on Tuesday, 20 May
7. Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate can be made online: https://www.gov.uk/
   apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.
8. Applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer
   at Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4BB by 5 pm on Tuesday, 20 May 2025. https://www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.
9. Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4BB by 5pm on Thursday, 29 May 2025.
   Susan Sale
   Returning Officer
   Dated: Thursday 3 April 2025

Printed & published by the Returning Officer,

Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4BB