-

Could you be a Councillor?

Councillors have three main components to their work:

  • Decision making- through meeting and attending committees with other elected members/ councillors decide which activities to support/ where money should be spent/ what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented
  • Monitoring – councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working
  • Getting involved locally – as local representatives, councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. These responsibilities and duties often depend on what the councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available, and may include:
    • Going to meetings of local organisations
    • Going to meetings of bodies affecting the wider community
    • Taking up issues on behalf of members of the public
    • Running a surgery for residents to bring up issues
    • Meeting with individual residents

Contact us to find out more about the Council’s parish business and attend one of our public Committee meetings.

How much time does being a Councillor take up?

Quite often Councillors say that their duties occupy them for about 4-5 hours a week. There are some Councillors who spend more time than this and some less, but in the main, being a Parish Councillor is an enjoyable way of contributing to your community, and helping to make it a better place to live and work.

Are you qualified?

Yes – most people are. However, there are a few rules. You must be;

  • A British subject or a citizen of the commonwealth or the European union; and
  • On the “relevant date” (i.e. the day on which you are nominated or of there is a poll the day of the election) 18 years of age or over;

And additionally;

  • Registered to vote in the area or have lived, worked, or owned property there for at least 12 months before an election; or
  • Having during that same period had your principal or any place of work in the council area; or
  • During that 12 months period reside in the count areas

In the case of a sitting member of 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”.

Application to be a Parish Councillor

Please click on the link below to download the application form. A hard copy of the form can be collected from the Parish Office.

You cannot stand for election if you:

  • Are the subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order
  • Have, within five years before the day of the election, been convicted in the United Kingdom any offence and have 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 same area).

The Electoral Commission have issued the following information for anyone wishing to stand to be a Parish or Town Councillor:

For further information view the Bracknell Forest Council website.