Becoming a Councillor
If you become a Councillor you will join over 80,000 people who all volunteer their time to serve and influence their local community
What do you need?
The most important thing is a wish to do something for your local community. A Council needs a range of skills to work as a team, for example some people are good with ideas, others bring practical skills or knowledge and others are good at accounts or influencing others. Councillors often have different skills, backgrounds and interests and all can bring something to the work of the Council.
You need to be over 18 and live or work in the parish or within 2 miles of it. You also need to be a qualifying UK citizen to become a councillor. You need to abide by the Council’s code of Conduct which includes the Nolan 7 principles of public life.
Councillors Conduct and Interests
Becoming a councillor and representing your community is a public role and the 7 Nolan principles apply. We have a Code of Conduct that includes these and you will be expected to abide by these and also declare any interests you have before each meeting. This could include ownership of land or property that might be affected. The Nolan principles of public life are:
Selflessness – you should act in the public interest
Integrity – not being under any obligations to others
Objectivity – acting impartially, fairly and on merit
Accountability – openness and transparency
Honesty and Leadership
What are a Councillor’s responsibilities?
You are expected to attend parish council meetings on the second Monday in May, July, September, November, January and March and an Annual Parish meeting also in May. Meetings are at 6.30pm in the village hall and generally last up to an hour and a half. You will also be asked to take on a special responsibility or interest on behalf of the Council.
Elections/Co-options
Elections are held every 4 years but in practice most people volunteer and are co-opted. Co-option is when the council chooses someone to fill a vacancy if insufficient candidates are proposed for seats at an election.
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