Renowned Chesterfield councillor’s absence sparks village by-election for vacant parish seat
Candidates for a Derbyshire village parish council by-election near Chesterfield have been announced after a renowned councillor’s seat became vacant following her prolonged absence from meetings for nearly a year.
Former Brimington Parish Councillor Suzie Perkins, who is also a Labour Chesterfield Borough Councillor and former Chesterfield Mayoress, had not attended parish council meetings since January before a by-election was announced on October 29 for her vacant Brimington North seat.
Two candidates for the vacant seat have now been announced after nominations closed on November 6 and they include Reform UK’s Richard Smith, who is already a Derbyshire County Cllr for Brimington, and the Labour Party’s Alan Villaweaver.
Concerning Cllr Perkins, Brimington Parish Council clerk Peter Leppard said: “The parish council’s records show that she last attended a meeting here in January 2026. The by-election was formally announced on October 29.
“The parish council and the borough council are independent of each other.
“The parish council’s understanding is that Borough Cllr Perkins’s position at the borough council is unaffected.”
Returning Officer Christine Durrant, based at Chesterfield Town Hall, announced that a vacancy had occurred for a parish councillor as a result of Cllr Perkins ceasing to hold office at the parish council due to non-attendance at meetings during a period set down by the Local Government Act 1972.
Cllr Perkins continues to serve as a Chesterfield Borough Councillor for Brimington North and she is also listed as the council’s Chair of Appeals and Regulatory and Licensing Committees.
She has an attendance record at the borough council of 85per cent having attended 17 borough council meetings out of a possible 20 between May 19 and November 11, 2026.
Cllr Perkins was first elected as a borough councillor for Holmebrook in 2015 and elected again in 2019 and 2023 as borough councillor for Brimington North.
The borough councillor has served as Vice Chair of the Appeals, Regulatory and Licensing Committees, and as Vice Chair of Scrutiny, and she was Chesterfield’s Mayoress in 2023.
A borough council spokesperson said: “The borough council and parish council are independent organisations.
“Cllr Perkins’s removal as a councillor on the parish council does not impact her position at Chesterfield Borough Council, where she has a strong attendance record at full council meetings and the committees she serves on or chairs.”
The by-election will be held on December 3, with polls opening at 7am and closing at 10pm.
Cllr Perkins was approached for an explanation concerning her prolonged absence from parish council meetings but at the time of publication she had still not responded.
The borough council’s specialist staff administer and oversee parish council elections for Brimington, near Chesterfield, and for other parishes within its boundary.
Anyone wishing to find out how to register to vote, request a postal vote or proxy vote, can visitwww.chesterfield.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/registering-to-vote
The deadline to register to vote in the election is midnight, on November 17, and the deadline to register for a postal vote is 5pm, on November 18.
The deadline to register for a proxy or for a Voter Authority Certificate in lieu of any photo ID required to vote is 5pm, on November 25.
Voters are warned they will need to show photo ID to vote and anyone without suitable identification will be turned away and asked to return with the appropriate ID.
Those interested in finding out more about acceptable forms of ID or applying for the Voter Authority Certificate can visitwww.chesterfield.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/elections-and-results/voter-photo-identification