A list of upcoming council by elections and vacant council seats

Thanks to MiddleEnglander for collating this information

There are 4 by-elections called for January 2015, including one for 2 seats, and 2 in February. A further 14 vacancies are known where the election has as yet no date, although up to 9 could remain unfilled as they are to be contested again in May. So far 17 vacancies have been identified as classified under the "six month" rule.

There were 22 by-elections ahead of the main elections in 2011, the same period in the local council election cycle as 2015, which may be a benchmark for the number expected this year.

22nd January - 2
Fife UA, Kirkaldy East - SNP resigned - 8 candidates: Con, Lab, LD, SNP, UKIP, Green, 2 x Ind
Wealden DC, Crowborough West - Conservative died - 2 candidates: Con, UKIP

28th January - 1
West Berkshire UA, Purley-on-Thames - Conservative died - 4 candidates: Con, Lab, LD, UKIP

29th January - 1 for 2 seats
St Albans DC, Marshalswick South- 2 Conservatives resigned

5th February - 1
Derbyshire CC, Brimington - Labour died

12th February - 1
Harlow BC, Mark Hall - UKIP resigned

Current known vacancies where by-election not yet called - 14
Cambridgeshire CC, Bar Hill - Conservative died around 22nd November
Camden LB, St Pancras & Somers Town - Labour died 18th December
Carmarthenshire UA, Hengoed - Labour died around 29th November
Essex CC, Bocking - UKIP died 24th December
* Fenland DC, Manea - Independent disqualified 8th November
* Herefordshire UA, Mortimer - Conservative died 6th November
* High Peak DC, Limestone Peak - Conservative died around 15th September
* Lichfield DC, St John's - Conservative died 14th September
* Rushcliffe DC, Manvers - Conservative died 26th September
* South Oxfordshire DC, Goring- Conservative died 21st September
* South Ribble BC, Bamber Bridge West - Labour died 1st November
* St Edmunsbury BC, Haverhill East - Conservative sitting as UKIP died 2nd October
* Waveney DC, St Margaret's - Labour died 8th November
Western Isles UA, West side & Ness - Independent died around 22nd December

* seats that will be contested again in May 2015.
Whilst not covered by the "6 month" rule, experience from earlier years suggests some may be left unfilled until May particularly as a number are being re-warded in May.

Vacancies covered by the "6 month" rule - 17
Bedford UA, Great Barford - Conservative died 6th December
Bracknell Forest UA, Winkfield & Cranborne - Conservative died 18th November
Dartford BC, Brent - Conservative resigned around 15th December
Eastleigh BC, Hedge End Wildern - Liberal Democrat resigned 2nd December
East Staffoedshire DC, Yoxall - Conservative died around 22nd December
Milton Keynes UA, Monkston - Liberal Democrat resigned 17th November
Pendle BC, Clover Hill - Labour resigned around 3rd December
Rotherham MB, Silverwood - Labour resigned around 26th November
Rushcliffe DC, Thoroton - Conservative died 16th November
Sevenoaks DC, Cowden & Hever - Conservative sitting as UKIP resigned towards end of December
Shepway DC, Hythe East - Conservative died 7th December
Stroud DC, Nailsworth - Conservative died close to rule becoming applicable
Torbay UA, Blatchcombe - Conservative died around 4th December
Waverley BC, Cranleigh East - Conservative died 29th November
Wealden DC, Buxsted & Maresfield - Conservative resigned 26th November
Wychavon DC, Badsey - Conservative died 15th November
Wychavon DC, Elmley Castle & Somerville - Conservative resigned around 16th December