Becoming a Parish Councillor

Parish Council elections normally take place every four years, the next ones being due in May 2015. At this time all Councillors cease to hold office and then have the opportunity to stand for election with any new candidates.

The election will be announced in the press, and on this website.

If you feel you might be interested in becoming a Councillor, then do let the Clerk know. Occasionally a Councillor will stand down, creating a "casual vacancy", and in this event the Clerk can let you know, as well as placing the legally required adverts.

To qualify to be a parish councillor the applicant must be:

1. A British citizen, a citizen of the Irish Republic or a citizen of any member state of the European Union;
2. Over 21 on the day that he or she is nominated as a candidate;
3. A registered local government elector; and
4. Resident in the parish, or within 3 miles of the parish, or working full time in the parish for at least 12 months prior to the nomination or election day.

A person is disqualified from holding office as a parish or town councillor if:

1. They hold a paid office, or other place of profit in the Council;
2. They have been declared bankrupt in the past five years and have not repaid their debts;
3. They have been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to more than 3 years imprisonment within the last five years; or
4. They incur illegal expenditure (when acting as a councillor) of over £2,000, or are found guilty of using corrupt or illegal practices.

The Role of the Parish Councillor
A councillor is a member of the council and is normally elected for a term of four years. People of any political or religious persuasion are eligible to become a councillor, although their personal views should not extend into their parish council work. They are elected to represent the interests of the local community as a whole and promote a harmonious local environment. The number of elected councillors depends on the size of the area. Councillors attend meetings of the full council and may also participate in committees that deal with specific areas of council business. Councillors take collective decisions that form the policy of the council.

Next Step

If you are interested in becoming a Parish Councillor please contact either the Chairman or Clerk - contact details are on the Councillors & Clerk page. You could also come to the next meeting to see for yourself what it is all about.