Am I Qualified to be a Councillor?
Most people are; however there are a few rules:-
You have to be:-
- a British subject, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union and
- On a "relevant date" be 18 years or over (ie the day of which you are nominated if there is a poll the day of the election)
- on the "relevant day" a local government elector for the council area for which you want to stand or
- having during the whole of the 12 months preceding that day, occupied as owner or tenant, any land or other premises in the council area or
- having during that same period had your principle or only place of work in the council area or
- during that 12 month period, resided in the local area
In the case of a sitting member of a parish or community council, you can also satisfy the criteria to be elected if you have lived in the council area or within 3 miles of it for the whole of the 12 months preceding the "relevant day".
You cannot stand for election if you:-
- are subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order
- have within 5 years before the day of the election, been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence and have had a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine
- you work for the council you want to become a councillor for (but you can work for other local authorities, including the principal authorities that represent the area)
Election Procedure
Ordinary elections of local councillors take place on the first Thursday in May every four years. For most local councils, election years are 2023, 2027, etc, but where the principal authority (county, district and unitary authority) councillor is elected in some other year that is also the year of the local council election. Reorganisation of local government may cause alteration of the Election Day and election year in some cases.
Nomination Process
A prospective candidate must deliver or send by post to the Returning Office a valid nomination paper. This form is obtained from the Officer. The candidate's surname, forename, residence and description (if required) must be entered and his or her number and prefix letter from the current register of electors. The Returning Officer has a copy of this register, and the clerk of the local council normally has one.
The nomination paper must also contain similar particulars of a proposer and a seconder. They must be electors for the area for which the candidate seeks election (ie the parish, community or town or the ward if it is divided into wards); they must sign it.
What Next?
The Returning Officer appointed by principal authority (district, borough, county or unitary authority) is the person responsible for the conduct and arrangement for community, parish and town council elections. If you are considering becoming a candidate for election it could be wise to contact the Returning Officer to obtain any more details information. Also for more information about what life is like as a councillor contact your local County Association of Local Councils or alternatively your local community, parish or town council.
Co-Option
If a seat becomes vacant mid-term (or if there are not enough candidates to fill all council seats at election time) the council will hold a by-election.
In certain circumstances, the council may then co-opt members to the council.
Some of this information has been taken from the National Association of Local Councils' website