The Chairman of Oakham Town Council and Oakham Mayor, Sally-Anne Wadsworth, has encouraged residents across Rutland to run for their local, town and parish councils as seats remain open following the announcement yesterday, 5 April, of the candidates running in the upcoming Local Elections.

On 4 May 2023, residents across Rutland will be going to the polls to vote for their newest Council representatives.

While Rutland County Council has seen an influx of candidates hoping to join the team, many Parish Council seats will go uncontested, and even empty, due to a lack of new candidates stepping forward.

For example, Cottesmore and Oakham Town Council have empty seats, meaning that they will have no elections in May and continue to seek new candidates, who would be co-opted by the full Council as a part of the agenda in a future Council meeting.

Other areas are also looking thin on the ground, with the Essendine and and Little Casteron Parishes only having two candidates each. Meanwhile, Rildlington Parish and Barleythrope Road Parish each only have one candidate.

Oakham Mayor, Sally-Anne Wadsworth, has encouraged residents to come forward for co-option following the May elections, after which Parish Councils will officially be in situ for 4 years until the next round of local elections takes place.

Cllr Wadsworth said: "There are no seats being contested on Oakham Town Council. All that reapplied are back on with spaces available if anyone wants to join, and I would encourage people to do so."

Read about the upcoming elections and parish council candidates across Rutland in the running here.

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Alternatively, read about the candidates up for election to Rutland County Council in the May elections.