Councillor Vacancy – could you be our next Councillor?

We currently have a Councillor Vacancy for Promenade Ward and are looking for candidates

Following a resignation in the summer, we currently have a Councillor Vacancy for Promenade Ward which we are looking to fill by co-option.

What is a co-option?

If a vacancy opens up on a parish or town council, and a by-election is not requested by residents in the relevant ward, a process called co-option is used to fill that vacancy. Eligible candidates can apply to be considered, they are then invited to speak at a public meeting where they would outline why they want to be a Councillor and what they would like to bring to the Council. Existing Councillors would consider each candidate and then vote on who they would like to appoint.

Eligibility

Candidates must satisfy the following qualification categories in order to be eligible to fill the vacancies:-

1. Be aged 18 years or older;
2. Be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights;
3. Be registered as a local government elector for the Parish of Penzance; OR have, during the whole of the preceding twelve months, occupied as owner or tenant, any land or premises in the Parish; OR have had their principal or only place of work within the Parish during the preceding twelve months; OR have, during the whole of the preceding twelve months, resided in the Parish or within 4.8km thereof.

Candidates will be ineligible to fill the vacancies if any one of the following categories applies to them:-

1. They hold a paid office under Penzance Council;
2. They are subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order;
3. They have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the preceding five years;
4. They have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983;
5. They are subject to the notification requirement of or under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003; or
6. They have been convicted of an intimidatory criminal offence motivated by hostility towards a candidate, future candidate or campaigner or holder of a relevant elective office.

How to apply

Any eligible person who wishes to be considered for co-option should write to the Town Clerk at the address below, providing their address and contact details, the reasons they wish to be considered for co-option and providing any relevant experience they might have, by no later than 5pm Friday 9 October 2026.

Applications will then be considered at a Penzance Council meeting – date to be confirmed – with an opportunity for each candidate to provide a five-minute verbal presentation. Any information provided by candidates, excluding personal contact details, will appear in the public domain as a part of the Agenda for the meeting.

Need additional support?

If you have any questions about the eligibility criteria, how to apply, or you have any additional needs which mean you require additional support or adjustments at the co-option meeting, please contact us:

Tel. 01736 363405

Email: [email protected]

Click Here

for more information