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Make a change - Become a Councillor


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#1 Administrator

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Posted 04 December 2023 - 12:29 PM


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Are you passionate about your community? Do you want to help make a long-lasting change? Do you have innovative ideas for the council? Do you have concerns about a specific issue and want to do something about it? If this is you, then we need you. We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect their community to put themselves forward for election. Make a change and become a councillor.

Here, you will find everything you need to know. We explain what local councils and councillors do, how you can become a councillor, details of the role and what to expect, and local councils a range of resources to help recruit candidates.

What do local councillors do?

Local (parish and town) councils and councillors make a massive difference to local people's quality of life. They are passionate about their communities and seek to make a change to help improve their residents' lives.
 
Local councils run numerous services, depending on the size of the council. Many you will see day-to-day, but some are less known.
 
These include introducing solar panels, setting up dementia-friendly groups, organising community buses, creating neighbourhood plans, implementing suitable housing, establishing youth projects, managing allotments and open spaces, maintaining footpaths, public seating and litter bins.
 
Councillors are elected to represent the local community, so you must either live or work in the council area. Becoming a councillor is a rewarding experience as you will be able to make a change in your community to help improve residents' lives. A councillor’s role can include developing strategies and plans for the area, helping with problems and ideas, representing the community, working with other local community groups, decision making and reviewing decisions and talking to the community about their needs and what the council is doing.
 

How to become a councillor

There are six simple steps to becoming a councillor:

  • Check for elections in your area by emailing your elections officer
  • Submit your nomination to the returning officer — find out more about the process.
  • Wait for your nomination to be accepted
  • Your nomination is made public by the principal authority
  • Start your elections campaign
  • Polling day — find your polling station

Vacancies after an election (co-option)
If, after an election, there are some unfilled seats, the local council should take steps to fill any vacancies by making co-options within 35 days (not counting weekends and public holidays). However, if the council does not have enough elected members to be a quorum (meaning at least one-third of the council must be elected or three members, whichever is greater), the electoral returning officer must run a by-election to fill the remaining places.

 

What does a candidate need to do?

• Check with their electoral returning officer if there is a vacancy near you

• Put yourself forward for co-option

• The council may ask you for a CV or invite you for an interview 

• The council will choose their co-opted councillor

 

Casual vacancy

A casual vacancy is a seat that becomes available between elections, which may occur for several different reasons, such as a councillor resigning, becoming disqualified (by committing an offence) or not attending any meetings in six months.
The council clerk will declare the vacancy by posting a note within the parish and notifying the electoral returning officer.
This notice will also confirm that a by-election will be held if at least ten electors request it within 14 days (not including weekends and public holidays). If there is no demand for a by-election, the council will fill the vacancy by co-option.

 
© NALC. Used with permission.
 
 

Want to know more?

Further information about becoming a Parish Councillor including eligibility criteria and how the nomination process works can be found in the document below.



#2 Administrator

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Posted 28 January 2024 - 05:21 PM

PARISH COUNCILS and COUNCILLORS

 

WHAT


Parish Councils were established by act of Parliament in 1894. The Parish Council is the first level of elected government and the only unpaid level.

It has a wide range of powers and responsibilities governed by law, including:

  • Allotments

  • Bus Shelters
  • Drainage — of ditches and ponds
  • Footpaths
  • General Spending— parish councils can spend a limited amount of money on anything they deem of benefit to the community
  • Highways — right to enter into discussions about new roads and road widening
  • Consent of parish council required for diversion or discontinuation of highways
  • Traffic signs and other notices
  • Tree planting and verge maintenance
  • Legal proceedings - power to take part in any public enquiry
  • Litter - provision of litter bins and support for anti-litter campaigns
  • Planning— parish councils may be notified of any planning applications for the area
  • Public conveniences — provision and maintenance of public toilets
  • Recreation — provision of recreation grounds, public walkways, pleasure grounds, open
    spaces, village greens, gymnasiums, playing fields, holiday camps and
    boating ponds
  • Rights of Way — footpath and bridleway maintenance. Seats (public)
  • Signs — danger signs, place names and bus stop signs.
  • Traffic Calming
  • War Memorials
  • Water Supply — power to utilise stream, well or spring water and to provide facilities for general use.

Responsibilities are increasing with the devolution of services from the District Council including paying for the running of local elections.

 

Bradford Peverell Parish Council is the holding trustee of the Village Hall Charitable Trust.

 

WHY


Parish Councils give local people a voice in local government.

 

Parish Councils have powers to undertake a variety of functions on behalf of their communities and to provide a wide range of local services which are important to their communities and enhance the quality of living.

 

WHO


The council members are seven parishioners elected by the community. Any parishioner aged over 18 may stand for election.

 

Elections will take place in May if there are more than seven candidates. Otherwise, those existing councillors who stand will remain in office. If their number falls below seven, they can co-opt further councillors. The minimum requirement (the “Quorum”) is five.

 

WHERE AND WHEN


The council meets six times a year in the village hall and there is an annual meeting. Dates are published on the Parish Council website (bradfordpeverell.info) and on notice boards.

 

Any parishioner may attend meetings and may speak in the open session period. The councillors are in frequent communication by email and telephone as matters arise.

 

HOW


The number of Councillors on the Parih Council is up to 7. A Chairman must be elected by the Parish Councillors and a Parish Clerk must be appointed. The Parish Clerk is also the Responsible Financial Officer of the Parish Council.

 

Funding

 

Parish Councils are funded by a “precept”, a levy forming a tiny part of the Council Tax charged by County Councils.

 

Bradford Peverell is a very small Parish and therefore has a very small amount of income from the precept. This in turn limits what and how much it can do.

 

Parish Councils are not charities and are therefore prohibited from raising funds other than from the precept. They are however, permitted to apply for grants, when and where applicable. They can also appoint a committee to run a lottery and to distribute any profits to charitable organisations within the Parish.

 

Transparency

 

Members of the public are entitled to attend any meeting of the Council

.
All agendas and minutes of meetings are posted on the village notice board and on the Parish Council web site - bradfordpeverell.info

 

All financial statements are summarised within the minutes of meetings.



#3 Administrator

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Posted 20 February 2024 - 09:27 PM

What do parish and town councils do in your community?

Depending on the size of your parish or town council the range of activities they undertake can vary. They work with the unitary authorities in some locations on joint service provision and often help support community volunteer groups as well as look after buildings and facilities in the parish or town boundary.

WATCH VIDEO 1


What do parish and town councils do across Dorset?

You will be surprised at how parish and town council support your local community. To find out more get in touch and talk to the current councillors, Clerk and DAPTC.

WATCH VIDEO 2

 

Why becoming a parish or town councillor in Dorset matters.

In recent years there have been fewer individuals coming forward to take up councillor roles and it's important it you care about your community, this is one way of helping make it a better place to live, work and enjoy. We are looking for councillors of all ages who have a range of interest in helping their communities thrive.

WATCH VIDEO 3

 

Parish and town councils are for everyone.

Parish and town councils make better decisions the more diverse and representative they are of the community they serve. Training and support is available and if you join you will benefit from the support and guidance of the Clerk and fellow councillors.

WATCH VIDEO 4