By-elections to replace two South Kesteven councillors to be held in February
People will go to the polls next month to fill the two positions
People in Rutland will go to the polls in late February to fill two vacant positions at a local council.
By-elections have been triggered in South Kesteven District Council after two spots on the council became available.
As a result, the Council is calling for nominations to fill the positions, with the community voting for the replacements on February 24th.
One councillor, Cllr Bob Adams, passed away at the age of 81 after a short stay in hospital, but was a prominent member of his local community.
Representing the Isaac Newton ward of the town from 2007, Mr Adams had come to lead South Kesteven Council until May 2017.
Paying tribute to the politician, Councillor Breda-Rae Griffin, chairman of South Kesteven District Council, said Mr Adams would be dearly missed.
"Bob was one of the most experienced members of the council – his measured and reasoned opinions will be very much missed.
“He was a true gentleman who was always willing to help and for whom nothing was too much trouble.”
In contrast, Dr Peter Moseley has resigned from his post on the Council after comparing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Adolf Hitler.
The scathing remark was in response to the Canadian leader's introduction of a vaccine mandate in the country.
As well as this, the ex-councillor attracted widespread criticism after retweeting a deeply offensive mock post about British citizenship application, with just one question on the picture being: “Do you like bacon?”
But Dr Moseley, a former member of the British National Party (BNP) refused to apologise for his comments.
In a statement, he said that he had received hundreds of emails in support of him, adding: “The offended councillors have made the issue much bigger than it needs be for their own political reasons.
“I have Canadian friends who are in desperate conditions at the moment at the hands of a government that should be progressive, but is proving otherwise, and it is evident that I am unable to speak out freely and strongly to what I see, hear and experience while remaining a councillor.”
Those who are interested in joining the Council have until 4pm on January 28th to apply. Voters will need to be registered by February 8th in order to be eligible to cast their ballot.