How to become a Councillor?

Introduction

So - you're interested in becoming a Councillor? This page gives information on how to go about becoming elected, sets out some of the things you need to think about, and answers some of the questions you might want to ask.

If you need more information, or you would like to talk about this with a Council officer, please contact the people listed in the contact numbers section who will be happy to help you.

Why become a councillor?

North East Lincolnshire Council has 42 councillors, each representing one of the Council's fifteen wards. Councillors are elected to serve for a four year term of office. Elections are held in three years out of four, the next Local Elections will be held in 2010. Councillors are accountable to residents of their ward, although their overriding duty is to the whole community, including those who did not vote for them.

In some areas, electors are also represented by town and parish councillors. These councillors are elected to serve for a four year term of office and elections are held once every four years. There are 13 parish councils and 1 town council in North East Lincolnshire.

Full details of the procedure for becoming a candidate at council elections are set out in the Electoral Commission's Guidance for Candidates and Agents. Click on this link to find out about standing for election.

http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/templates/search/document.cfm/20553

Councillors have to agree to adhere to a Code of Conduct to ensure high standards in the way they undertake their duties. There are many reasons for wanting to be a councillor - to represent the local community, to help the people they represent, to pursue political beliefs, to play a role in developing local services.

What do Councillors Do?

Councillors represent the electors in their ward, and may hold "surgeries" in their wards for constituents to attend. Most contact over individual issues is made by phone. 

Councillors also decide on priorities for the Council as well as setting the annual budget. All Councillors meet together as the full Council, roughly once every 6-8 weeks. Councillors serve on committees and scrutiny panels and they can also represent the Council on various local organisations.

You will need to attend meetings. Some of these are held during the working day and others in the evening. For most meetings, there will be papers which you will need to read beforehand. You are likely to receive a lot of post and telephone calls.

Meetings

The full Council meeting (all 42 Councillors) is the ultimate decision-making body for North East Lincolnshire Council.  This meeting cannot consider every single decision to be made, so the Council gives powers to make decisions - under what is called the Scheme of Delegation - to the Cabinet, Committees and Panels.

The Cabinet - sometimes called the Executive - meets every 6 weeks to consider major issues affecting the Borough of North East Lincolnshire.   Our Cabinet has 8 Councillors, each with individual areas of responsibility, appointed by the political group or groups with the most seats overall on the Council. 

The Council's Scrutiny Panels work like the Select Committees in Central Government, and cover areas linked to the Cabinet Members' areas of responsibility - also called Portfolios.

The Council also has a Planning Committee, Licensing Committee, Standards Committee, Appointments Committee and Appeals Committee, with other working groups and panels set up when needed.  The time commitment needed to attend meetings will depend on how many Committees, Panels etc each Councillor is appointed to.

If you are in paid employment, your employer may give you paid time off to attend daytime meetings. Evening meetings start at 6.00, 6.30 or 7.00 p.m. to allow time for those who work during the day to get there, and for those with caring responsibilities to make arrangements for evening cover.

There is no fixed length of time for meetings, but most are completed within 2 hours.   If a meeting is likely to need more time than this, it will usually be clear from the agenda, supplied during the week before the meeting, that this is the case.

Most meetings are open to members of the public.  Dates and times are advertised, and you may contact any of the Democratic Services Officers for details (see contact numbers section). Why not come along to a meeting and see for yourself what happens?

What Support is available to Councillors?

If you are elected to serve on North East Lincolnshire Council, you will receive an allowance to cover the time you spend on your duties, and you will receive support from officers of the Council to assist you in your role.

North East Lincolnshire Council - like other Councils - has a Councillors Allowances Scheme. The rate paid to Councillors is decided by an independent group of people, and this is reviewed every three years. Additional allowances are paid to those holding positions with more responsibilities - such as those who chair meetings, for example.

Council officers will help you through a comprehensive induction programme for each Councillor, and an excellent ongoing programme of training and development to enable you to fulfil your role as a community representative and leader.

No. Anyone can stand for election providing they are eligible. If you are interested in standing as a candidate for a political party, you should first get in touch with the local organisation of that party. Many national parties have websites which provide information. If you wish to stand for election as an independent candidate, you will need to follow the procedure outlined in the nomination pack available at each election.

You can become a councillor if you:

• are 18 or over on the day of nomination;
• are a British, Irish Republic, Commonwealth or other EU citizen;
• have property or work connections in the local authority area;
• are on the electoral register for the area.

A person is disqualified from standing for election if he/she:

• is employed by or holds a paid office under the local authority;
• has been adjudged bankrupt;
• has been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to not less than three months imprisonment (including any suspended sentence) within the past five years;
• has been disqualified from holding office by order of an election court;
• has been disqualified following a decision of the Adjudication Panel for England.

www.nelincs.gov.uk/council The North East Lincolnshire Council website contains information on existing councillors, council and committee meetings, decision making, and electoral services.

www.electoralcommission.org.uk The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by Parliament. Its aim is to gain public confidence and encourage people to take part in the democratic process within the United Kingdom by modernising the electoral process, promoting public awareness of electoral matters, and regulating political parties.

www.aboutmyvote.co.uk Find out about your vote and what elections are happening in your area.

www.lga.gov.uk   The Local Government Association promotes the interests of English and Welsh local authorities and exists to promote better local government

www.councillors.uk.com   The National Association of Councillors is an organisation which represents the interests of elected members in all types of local authorities and all political persuasions.

www.nalc.gov.uk The National Association of Local Councils represents the 10,000 community, parish and town councils in England and Wales.

The following officers of North East Lincolnshire Council may be contacted for further information:

Jenny Fenton  (Electoral Services Officer) Tel: 01472 324160

Elizabeth Lidster (Head of Democratic Services) Tel: 01472 324123

Paul Windley (Senior Democratic Services Officer) Tel: 01472 324121