Becoming a Councillor
ListenThis page includes information on how you can become a councillor:
- What is expected of a councillor?
- Who can be a councillor?
- Who can’t be a councillor?
- How long will I be a councillor?
- What support would I get?
- Allowances and expenses
- How much time would I spend on council duties?
- I would like to be a councillor. What now?
- I would still like to contribute to the community but not as a councillor. What can I do?
What is expected of a councillor?
Your responsibilities as a councillor will vary depending on the roles you play but will include:
- Representing the ward you are elected in
- Community leadership and engagement
- Developing and reviewing council policy
- Regulatory duties
- Decision-making
- Scrutinising the decisions taken by the Executive
Councils now deliver a lot of services in partnership with other agencies so you might have the opportunity to sit on partnership boards or committees.
Many councillors also represent the council on one or more outside bodies.
You will be expected to attend meetings of the Full Council, which take place at least 8 times a year, and any other meetings for which you are a member. Meetings usually take place at 7.30pm. The schedule of meetings is agreed by the council each year.
For most of the meetings you attend there will be papers which you will need to read beforehand.
The people you represent will look to you for help in dealing with their problems even if these do not involve the work of the council. You are likely to receive a lot of emails or post and many telephone calls. Not every caller will telephone at what you might think is a reasonable hour!
You might need to discuss casework or council business with council staff. These meetings will usually need to be during the day.
If you are a member of a political group you will be expected to attend political group meetings and possibly party training and other events.
You can be a councillor as long as you
- Are least 18 on the day you are nominated
- Are a British citizen, a qualifying citizen of a Commonwealth country, a citizen of the Irish Republic, or a citizen of another member state of the European Union
You also need to meet one the following four criteria on the day you are nominated and on polling day:
- Be registered as a local government elector for the local authority area in which you are standing
- Have occupied as an owner or a tenant any land or premises in the local authority area in which you are standing during the whole of the 12 months before the day you are nominated
- Have had your main or only place of work during the last 12 months in the local authority area in which you are standing
- Have lived in the local authority area in which you are standing during the whole of the last 12 months.
You won’t be able to be a councillor if
- You work for the council you want to be a councillor for or if you work for another council in a politically restricted post
- You are subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order
- You have served a prison sentence (including a suspended sentence) of three months or more without the option of a fine
- You have been disqualified under any legislation relating to corrupt or illegal practices
The above list is not exhaustive so please seek advice from Electoral Services if you are considering whether to stand for election.
How long will I be a councillor?
The term of office is four years. The next council elections take place in May 2011. If you are elected to a vacant place during this period you will serve for the remainder of that term of office. See the future elections page for more information.
New councillors take part in a full induction programme. You will be given the opportunity to discuss the skills that you would like to develop and will have access to a full and varied Learning and Development programme.
To help you carry out your duties you will be able to use the Members’ support staff in Democratic Services who provide administrative support. You can also call on advice and information from other council officers, including Democratic Services Officers who may well be the people you see most often at council and committee meetings, where they write the minutes and keep the democratic system running.
You will have access to ICT and other equipment which will vary depending on your role.
You will be able to view specific intranet pages for members which will give you current information which will be useful to you.
You will be entitled to receive a basic allowance to cover your general duties as a councillor. You may also receive a special responsibility allowance for particular duties you undertake, for example if you are elected chair of a particular meeting. You can also claim expenses. Information about expenses and allowances can be found in the council’s Member Allowances Scheme.
The council decides its own scheme of allowances and expenses to reflect the role and responsibilities of councillors in Bracknell Forest. An Independent Remuneration Panel oversees the allowance scheme and sets out recommendations to help the council make its final decision.
How much time would I spend on council duties?
This will vary depending on the roles you take on and the amount of time you have available. You can expect to have a greater time commitment if you are an Executive Member or a committee chair.
I would like to be a councillor. What now?
If you are thinking of standing for a particular political party you should get in touch with that party’s local organisation. The parties currently represented on the council are
If you plan to stand as an independent, Electoral Services can advise you what to do to get your name on the ballot.
I would still like to contribute to the community but not as a councillor. What can I do?
There are many ways that you can be involved in the community as a volunteer.
Perhaps becoming a school governor or working on a conservation project might be more up your street.
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