- Who can become a Councillor?
-
You are 18 years or over, are a British, qualifying Commonwealth
or European Union Citizen and are registered to vote in the area or
you have lived, worker or owned property in the area for 12 months
before the election.
- Are there any other restrictions to becoming a Councillor?
-
A person cannot become a councillor: (1) if they are employed by
the council (2) hold a politically restricted post (3) are the
subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order (4)
have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or
more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a
fine, during the five years before election day, (5) have been
disqualified under Part III of the RPA 1983 (which relates to
donations and other offences) or under the Audit Commission Act
199831 (6) if you have been convicted or reported guilty of a
corrupt or illegal practice by an election court, or if they have
been disqualified from standing for election to a local authority
following a decision of the Adjudication Panel for
England.
- How do I become a Councillor?
-
A Candidates Pack is available before every election. If you are
thinking of standing as a candidate for a particular political
party, then you should first get in touch with that party's local
organisation. Many parties also have a national website, through
which you can get information about their organisations in your
area.
- What should I do if I want to stand for election as an
independent candidate?
-
If you plan to stand for the council as an independent, your
local Electoral Registration Officer can advise you about what
you'll need to do to get your name on the ballot. This is all
explained in the Candidates Pack.
- What does a Councillor do?
-
Councillors are people who are elected to the local council to
represent their local community. They must either live or work in
the area. You will need to attend meetings and for the meetings you
attend there will be papers which you will need to read beforehand.
The people you represent will look to you for help in dealing with
their problems, even if these do not involve the work of the
council. You are likely to receive a lot of post and many telephone
calls.
- Is there training for Councillors?
-
There will be a programme of induction and training sessions for
new Councillors after the elections. Meanwhile, if you'd like to
know what committee and council meetings are like, you would be
welcome to come and see. The calendar of meetings is published in
May.
- Will I have a secretary?
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No, not unless you become Leader of the Council or leader of one
of the political groups on the council.
- Will I have my own office?
-
No, although each political group has its own office and group
room which you will be able to share.
- How much of my time will it all take up?
-
According to the commitments you take on, this can vary from a
few hours each week to several hours each day.
- What expenses can I claim?
-
Information about expenses can be found on the page about
Members' Allowances. These are to cover your constituency duties
such as: • sending letters and telephone calls, • attending council
meetings, committees and other authorised meetings • attendance at
seminars and conferences, outside bodies and Parish Council
meetings. Certain "approved duties" are eligible for travel and/or
subsistence allowances, but only for travel outside the Council
area, when necessary. Some members also receive a Special
Responsibility Allowance for particular duties they undertake (for
example, chairing particular meetings). This is something that each
council considers and decides on after a local election.
- As a Councillor, what other support will I get?
-
The councils will provide induction and training for new
councillors on all aspects of being a councillor. You can expect
full IT training tailored to suit your needs. To help you carry out
your duties, you will be able to use the support staff located in
Democratic Services who provide support. These may well be the
officers you see most often. They service the meetings of the
council and its committees by convening meetings, writing the
minutes and by keeping the democratic system running.