A rural Herefordshire parish council has had to call in outside help after a string of resignations left it unable to function.
Welsh Newton & Llanrothal Group Parish Council currently has just two members rather than the seven it should have.
According to local government law, parishes must have at least one-third of their total number present, or at least three members if greater, in order for meetings to be “quorate” and so able to conduct business.
The parish council’s minutes and notices show a succession of recent resignations.
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In March it announced a vacancy in Llanrothal parish following the resignation of Martin Barter.
In the same month Ben Wall was co-opted to fill a vacancy in Welsh Newton. But he resigned two months later.
The resignation of its chair, Coun Ed Walker of Welsh Newton parish, was then announced at an extraordinary meeting in August.
Further parish meetings scheduled for July and September were both cancelled due to being “inquorate”.
Herefordshire Council’s list of casual vacancies in the county now also shows the resignations of Julie and Stephen Francis from Llanrothal parish last month.
Now Herefordshire Council has issued an Order confirming that Old Gore county councillor Barry Durkin has been temporarily appointed to the parish council.
Coun Durkin confirmed: “I have volunteered to serve as a parish councillor on Welsh Newton & Llanrothal Group Parish Council because it is important that democracy continues to function effectively.”
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He added that county Conservative colleague and local ward councillor Elissa Swinglehurst “has also volunteered to sit on the parish council”.
“These appointments are simply temporary, helping to maintain effective parish governance at the first tier of local government, until local residents can come forward and take on these important community roles themselves,” he explained.
Parish clerk Andrée Mitchell confirmed that she hoped a meeting earmarked for later this month would enable new candidate members to come forward for co-option, though she added this was “challenging”.
The parish’s two remaining councillors were also contacted for comment.
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