Becoming a Councillor

If you’ve never been to a Parish Council meeting before, you may be forgiven for thinking that the Parish Councillors are a group of (probably older) people who meet now and then in a Village Hall. But the role of Councillor is vital if the Parishioners in your community are to be supported and represented well. By becoming a Councillor, you would become a community leader with the opportunity to influence decisions for the benefit of the people in your parish. Seeing your community change for the better, as a result of decisions you have helped make, is something that can give you a real sense of achievement and your work will foster a true connection with where you live. 

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How much time does it take up?
Sedgwick Parish Council meets once a month with meetings lasting up to two hours. We note regular reports from people like our district and county councillors, PCSO discuss items on our agenda and listen to any contributions made by residents in the Public Participation section.  In addition to the regular meetings, councillors can volunteer to become involved in further activities or helping to develop a new project or iniative.

How long does a parish councillor serve for?
Once elected, parish councillors sit on the council for a maximum of four years.  If they then want to stay in the post they can stand for re-election. 

Am I eligible to be a Parish Councillor?
To stand for election on a parish council, you must: 

• be a UK or commonwealth citizen, or;
• be a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, or;
• be a citizen of another Member state of the European Union;
• be a least 18 years old.

To be eligible to stand for an election for a particular parish, you must:

• be an elector of the parish, or;
• for the whole of the previous 12 months have occupied (as owner or tenant) land or other premises in the parish, or;
• during the previous 12 months have worked in the parish (as your principal or only place of work), or;
• for the whole of the previous 12 months lived in the parish or within three miles of the parish boundary.

You don’t have to be connected to a political party.

If you do become a parish councillor you will have to sign up to the Code of conduct and abide by the rules and regulations laid down by law, but you will receive training and support to help you.
 
If you are interested in becoming involved, please speak to any councillor or contact our clerk