Landward Caithness by-election date confirmed

12th March 2013

By-election - Ward 4 (Landward Caithness)

Candidates wishing to stand at the by-election being held in The Highland Council’s Ward 4 – Landward Caithness – have until 4 pm on Thursday 28 March to complete their nomination.

The by-election is being held on Thursday 2 May to find a successor to Councillor Robert Coghill (Independent) who, following medical advice, stepped down at the end of February.

Nomination papers are now available from The Highland Council Offices, Girnigoe Street in Wick or via The Highland Council’s web site: www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/elections/

Polling will take place between 7 am and 10 pm on 2 May unless the election is uncontested. Anyone eligible to vote can apply for either a postal vote or to vote by proxy. The latest time to apply for a postal vote is 5.00pm on Wednesday 17 April. Wednesday 24 April is the deadline for anyone wishing to apply to vote by proxy. Advice on postal and proxy voting is available by contacting the Electoral Registration Office on 0800 393783.

The Returning Officer is Chief Executive of The Highland Council, Alistair Dodds and the count will take place at the Assembly Rooms in Wick on Friday 3 May.

Landward Caithness is one of 22 wards within the Highland area and has a population of 11,290 with the main centres being Halkirk, John O' Groats, Castletown, Dunbeath and Lybster. The electorate is 8,546.

Robert Coghill was elected to The Highland Council in 2007 and was re-elected in May of last year. He was one of four Councillors representing Landward Caithness. The other Ward members are Councillors David Bremner, Willie Mackay and Alex MacLeod.

The Highland Council is made up of 80 elected members. The current representation is Independent 34, SNP 21, Liberal Democrats 14, Labour 8, Independent Nationalist 2 with 1 vacancy for the Landward Caithness ward.

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Candidates and Agents Awareness Session for Ward 4 - Landward Caithness By-Election (13 March 2013)

As the Nomination Period for Candidates to Ward 4 – Landward Caithness By-Election commences on Tuesday 12 March 2013, the Returning Officer would like to offer an awareness training session to prospective candidates and their agents. The awareness session will cover topics such as the Nomination Procedure; the Election timetable; the issuing of Poll Cards and Postal Ballot packs and Candidate’s spending limits.

The awareness sessions will be held in the Conference Room, The Highland Council Offices, Government Buildings, Girnigoe Street, WICK, KW1 4HW on Wednesday, 13 March 2013 at 10.00 am and 6.00 pm.

If you would like to register your interest to attend an awareness session, please telephone the Council’s Election Office on 01463 702945 or e-mail the office at elections[AT]highland.gov.uk

The by-election timetable will be posted on this page during week commencing Monday 11 March 2013.

If you require any information in the meantime please contact

John Bruce, Elections Manager,
The Highland Council,
Council Offices, High Street, Dingwall, Ross-shire IV15 9QN
Tel: 01349 868524 or Mobile: 0788 750 3221

Cheryl MacIver, Elections Officer,
The Highland Council,
Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX
Tel: 01463 702945

Email: election[AT]highland.gov.uk

See the Highland council web site for detailed information for candidates
http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/elections/highlandcouncilelections/byelectionward04.htm