By-election confirmed after councillor steps down

A by-election will be held in October after a Leeds councillor stepped down from all his roles, citing "health reasons" for his decision.

Peter Carlill was a Labour & Co-operative ward councillor for Calverley and Farsley, but he formally announced his resignation earlier this week.

He had represented the area since his election in 2018 and in May was appointed as an executive board member for transport and planning.

A Leeds City Council spokesperson confirmed Carlill's resignation and said a by-election for the vacant seat would be held on 22 October.

A notification of the vacancy was posted on the council's website on Friday.

As is required by law, the date for a by-election was agreed and then announced after two registered electors in Leeds formally requested one.

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: "The by-election will take place on Thursday 22 October 2026, with the count to take place that night at the Civic Hall."

In a statement posted online earlier in the week, Carlill gave his reasons for stepping down.

He said: "Although I have kept it private, for some time I have struggled with health issues, both physical and mental, which make the job more difficult for me to do justice.

"This is a fantastic job – one I have often described as the best job I have ever had – allowing me to make a positive difference to people's lives and the area I love every day.

"Yet it can also be a challenging job, jumping non-stop from one thing to the next, being available around the clock and being under continuous scrutiny – some positive, constructive and deserved, some otherwise."

Carlill wished "the best" for his colleagues in the Labour group and administration on the council.

He said: "I have every confidence the leadership, executive and members of the group have the best plan to take our city forward, despite the many constraints and challenges they face."

During his time as a councillor, Carlill was also a member of West Yorkshire Combined Authority's transport committee.

In a post on social media, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said Carlill "will be much missed in his role at Leeds City Council".

"As deputy chair of our transport committee, he brought a real depth of knowledge, enthusiasm and a cooperative spirit to his brief, helping us to bring buses back under public control and improve transport across West Yorkshire," Brabin said.

"I wish him all the best for the future and know he will continue to serve his part of the city well."

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