MAKE A CHANGE BECOME A COUNCILLOR
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.
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.
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.
Local councils can only be as helpful, connected and energetic as the people elected to run them, so we need councillors capable, enthusiastic and engaged to reflect their communities. You can find out more about becoming a councillor on The Electoral Commission and Local Government Association website. There are three ways that you can become a councillor; standing for election, filling a vacant seat after an election (co-opted) or filling a casual vacancy.
Standing for election
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
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.
Hear from councillors themselves on why they became councillors and what their role is at their local council. NALC have produced a series of videos that tell the stories of councillors. These community heroes are proof that you, too, can make a change in your community.
| Five things you can do to promote local elections 12 Downloads | 20 KB | |
| Frequently asked questions on local council elections 3 Downloads | 20 KB | |
| MAKE A CHANGE RESOURCES COMMS PACK 14 Downloads | 1.07 MB | |
| Elections Information for Potential Candidates 330 Downloads | 170.35 KB | |
| Elections - Frequently asked questions-2021 293 Downloads | 186.87 KB |
Local Resources
Rugby Borough Council website: https://www.rugby.gov.uk/
A Prospective Councillor Event is being held in Rugby Borough early 2023. This free event is open to any member of the public considering standing for election as a Parish Councillor. We are currently finalising the date and venue, this page will be updated shortly.
Elections Officer
Sarah Bolderston-Bowers
Electoral Services Team Leader
Legal, Democratic and Elections
Legal and Governance
Rugby Borough Council
Tel: 01788 533526
Mail: Sara.Bolderston-Bowers@rugby.gov.uk
Prospective Councillor Briefing - A Virtual Event Tuesday 28 February 6.00 - 8.00 pm
This online briefing is free and open to any member of the public considering standing for election as a Parish or Town Councillor in Stratford-on-Avon District.
Click here for more details and joining instructions.
Prospective Councillor Briefing - A Virtual Event Monday 13 February 6.30 - 8.30 pm
This online briefing is free and open to any member of the public considering standing for election as a Parish Councillor in Warwick District.
Elections to Warwick District Council are held once every four years, normally on the first Thursday in May. Warwick District is divided into 17 wards and District Councillors are elected by majority and serve for four years. Our next scheduled local government elections for Warwick District, Town and Parish councillors are to be held on Thursday 4 May 2023.
Webpage: Local elections - Warwick District Council (warwickdc.gov.uk)
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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.
Electoral Services
Opening hours: Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm (excluding bank holidays)
Liz Read
Electoral Services Manager
Telephone: 024 7683 3034
Email: electoral.services@coventry.gov.uk
Website: https://www.coventry.gov.uk/
Borough and Parish Elections - 4 May 2023
On 4 May 2023, elections will be held for all 35 seats on North Warwickshire Borough Council. These polls will be combined with elections to all Parish Councils in North Warwickshire.
Website: https://www.northwarks.gov.uk/info/20114/elections_and_voting/1360/may_2023_-_elections
The 16 town and parish councils that operate in the Solihull Council area and further informaiton for Solihull candidates are listed on the Solhull Borough Council website. Click here for full details.
