Trio of Powys council by-election set to be held on July 2

A trio of Powys County Council by-elections are set to take place on Thursday, July 2.

And wannabe councillors have until 4pm this Friday, June 5 to get their nomination papers in to the council.

The by-elections are for the wards of Glantwymyn near Machynlleth, Llanyre and Nantmel near Llandrindod Wells and Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew near Brecon.

They are happening due to the successful election of former councillors Elwyn Vaughan (Plaid Cymru) , Claire Johnson-Wood and Iain McIntosh (both Reform UK) to the Senedd last month.

Mr Vaughan and Mrs Johnson-Wood were both elected for the Gwynedd Maldwyn constituency while Mr McIntosh was successful in the Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituency.

Under the rules – once elected to the Senedd they automatically vacated their roles as councillors.

The council said: “Nomination papers may be obtained from the Returning Officer and delivered or electronically via [email protected]

“Nomination papers may be delivered to the Returning Officer, County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5LG, between 10am and 4pm on any weekday and no later than 4pm on Friday, June 5.

“If any election is contested the poll will take place on Thursday, July 2.”

The council explained that applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by midnight on Tuesday, June 16, and can be made online at: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

They council said: “Electors should take note that applications to vote by post or requests to change or cancel an existing application must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at by 5 pm on Wednesday, June 17 and applications to vote by post can be made online: www.gov.uk/apply-for-postal-vote.’

Last month the Liberal Democrats successfully defended the vacancy in the Llandrindod South ward which saw Lauren D’Silva elected to the council.

This by-election was held following the resignation of Jose Ewing in March.

The make-up of the council is currently:

The minority administration is made up of 31 councillors.

These are 22 Liberal Democrats and nine Labour councillors.

The Powys Independents group have 13 councillors.

The Conservative group also has 13 councillors.

Plaid Cymru has three councillors.

Reform UK has two councillors.

Green party – one councillor

There are three non-aligned councillors.

And there are three vacant wards.

Total – 68.