By-election called after death of councillor
Leicestershire County CouncilA by-election has been called on a finely-balanced Leicestershire council following the death of a long-serving councillor.
Voters will have the chance to elect a new member for the Long Whatton and Diseworth ward on North West Leicestershire District Council on Thursday 1 October.
The seat has been vacant since July, when Conservative councillor Nick Rushton died after being diagnosed with cancer.
Rushton had been a member of the district council for 35 years while also serving for 12 years as leader of Leicestershire County Council.
The district council has been under no overall political control since the last election in May 2023.
The council is currently run by an 18-strong Tory-led alliance of 12 Conservative councillors, five Liberal Democrats and two independent members.
Labour is currently the largest party on the authority, holding 17 of the 38 available seats. There are two non-aligned independent councillors.
Anyone wishing to stand as a candidate in the election needs to have submitted their nomination papers by Friday 2 September.
Listen to BBC Radio Leicester on Sounds and follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.