THERE is a casual vacancy on Whitehill Town Council after Conservative councillor Alan Waterhouse resigned last Monday.

Mr Waterhouse told the Bordon Herald that he remained in place as an East Hampshire District Council member, but had decided to stand down from the town council.

However, he declined to comment on the reason.

Town clerk Andrea Mann said a by-election was “dependant on whether the community requests one”.

If 10 electors from the parish write to the district council’s returning officer, within 14 days, a by-election will be called.

However, if not, the seat can be filled by co-option.

Town councillor Andy Tree, who leads the minority Whitehill and Bordon Community Party, added: “Councillor Waterhouse has made a choice to resign as a town councillor only a month before entering the six-month period before main local elections on May 2, 2019, whereby under the six-month rule, no by-elections would have been called.

“As a result of his timing, local ratepayers are going to have to pay the bill for funding a by-election if one is called.”

Despite this concern, the Whitehill and Bordon Community Party said, in a social-media post, that it was “feeling excited”.

“Conservative town councillor for Pinewood Village has resigned,” the status added. “Election time for us.”

The post also included a starry eyed, smiling emoji.

A district council electoral services officer said the latest date for an election would be December 21. The estimated cost would be around £5,000 but, with all-out elections in May 2019, the successful candidate “could be in position for only a few months”.

The town council has 15 seats. As of last Monday, the Conservatives hold 10, the Whitehill and Bordon Community Party sit on four and one seat is empty.