Notice Under Local Government Act 1972 (Section 87(2))

VACANCY FOR A COUNCILLOR

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that a casual vacancy has occurred in the office of Councillor for the WRINEHILL PARISH following the resignation on 3rd April 2025 of Angela Drakakis-Smith’s failure to attend meetings for six months of

BETLEY, BALTERLEY AND WRINEHILL PARISH COUNCIL

 

Rule 5(2) of the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 now applies.

 

The rule allows TEN ELECTORS for the parish in which the casual vacancy has arisen to request the Returning Officer to hold an election to fill the vacancy[1].   That request must be made within FOURTEEN DAYS, calculated in accordance with the rules[2], of the date of this notice.  The fourteen day period ends on 28th April 2025.

 

What if a request to hold an election is not received during the permitted time?

Rule 5(5) of the above Rules will apply.  The Parish Council must, as soon as practicable after the expiry of the fourteen day period, co-opt a person to fill the vacancy.

 

The Returning Officer’s address is:

 

Electoral Services, Castle House,

Barracks Road, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 1BL

 

The telephone number for further guidance is 01782 717717

 

This notice is dated 4th April 2025

 

Mrs Muna Clough

Peach Tree House, Calveley Hall Lane, Calveley, Tarporley, CW6 9LG

 

[1] There is no form of words for this request, which might simply be a letter headed with such words as “We the undersigned being electors for the (Ward of)….Parish, call for an election to fill the vacancy arising from the (death)(resignation) of….”.  It is helpful if the ten signatures are accompanied by printed names and addresses.

 

[2] In calculating the notice period, day one is the day following the date of this notice; a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a Bank Holiday or day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning shall be disregarded, and the period closes at midnight on the fourteenth day after the date of this notice.  Rule 5(2) of the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 now applies.

 

Welcome to the website of Betley, Balterley and Wrinehill Parish Council in the rural setting of North West Staffordshire. This site will give you information about the Parish Council and its work as well as more general information about our area, its facilities and organisations.

 

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING (often referred to as the Elector's Meeting)

The Annual Parish Meeting for 2025, will be held on Wednesday, 7th May 2025 at 7.30 pm, in the Main Hall, at Betley Village Hall. 

We look forward to welcoming you all.

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL:

The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday, 29th May 2025 at 7.30 pm at Betley Village Hall

Everyone is welcome to attend and we look forward to seeing you.

 

PARISH COUNCIL NOTICE BOARD

The Parish Council has set up a Parish Council Notice Board on Facebook.   You can find it at B,B&W Parish Council Notice Board.  There will be lots of up to date news posted on this page.  We hope that you find it useful.

 

ABOUT BETLEY, BALTERLEY & WRINEHILL

The Civil Parish comprises the neighbourhoods of Balterley, Betley and Wrinehill and is located on the A531 and B5500 about 8 miles north-west of Newcastle-under-Lyme and 6 miles south-east of Crewe, on the boundary of Staffordshire with Cheshire.  It covers 1,073 hectares and has a population of around 1,250.

Betley is first mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) and received a market charter in 1226.  It is likely the village developed as a medieval settlement and by the mid-15th century Betley Old Hall was functioning as a manor house.  The earliest parts of St Margaret's Church - a Grade I Listed Building - are of around 1500 and some of the oldest other buildings date from c.1600.  The village developed as an estate settlement owned by two families: the Betley Court Estate of the Fletcher-Twemlows and the Tollet Estate based on Betley Old Hall and then the later Betley New Hall.

The character of the Parish is predominantly rural with open countryside consisting of low, gently undulating land.  The area is classified as "ancient clay farmlands" in the local landscape character assessment.

The Parish lies within the Green Belt, except for the inset "village envelope" in the centre of Betley. Part of the village of Betley was designated a Conservation Area in 1970 and there are 46 Listed Buildings in the Parish, the majority within the Conservation Area.

THE ROLE OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

The Parish Council is the lowest tier of local government and thus the closest to the residents of the area.  Although it provides few services it has an important role in representing the area, commenting on planning applications and lobbying Newcastle Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council on issues falling within their areas of responsibility.

The Council is made up of 12 councillors: six representing Betley, three representing each of Balterley and Wrinehill.  The Council normally meets monthly (except in August and December) and is supported by a paid Clerk.  No councillors receive remuneration.

There are two Sites of Special Scientific Interest at Betley Mere and the Black Firs & Cranberry Bog site, which also have protection under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.