This page gives information on the role of a Councillor and how to become one.
So, what is a Councillor?
A Councillor is someone who is elected by local people to represent the residents of an area. This can be at parish or district level. When elected, the term of office is four years, unless a Councillor is elected at a by-election. The Councillor will then serve for the remaining period of the term of office.
The Council has developed role profiles for a District Councillor and a Town or Parish Councillor which give an indication of what the roles entail.
All District Councillors currently receive a basic allowance of £6,192 per annum (which is taxable income) with additional payments if they have additional responsibilities such as the Chair of a committee. Travel allowances are also payable in many circumstances. Parish/Town Councillors do not receive a basic or travelling allowance.
Why do people become Councillors?
People become Councillors for a variety of reasons. Some want to "give something back" and, in their view, undertake public service. Others want to further their interest in politics. Many just want to represent local people and try to influence decisions affecting their area.
The Warwickshire Association of Local Councils (WALC) has also produced information that gives details about being a Parish or Town Councillor. This document is in the form of FAQs and is available here.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has also produced some guidance on it's website.
Political parties
You don't need to be a member of a political party to be a Councillor. Anyone can stand as an independent candidate. In Parish and Town councils it is rare for candidates to stand as party candidates. For District Councils, most Councillors stand as party candidates (but you do not have to). To stand as a party candidate you must have a certificate from the political party nominating officer confirming that you are their candidate.
Contact details for local political parties are:
Conservative Party - Lauren Stanley - manager@stratfordconservatives.co.uk
Labour Party - Jacob Hill - secretary@stratfordlabour.org.uk
Liberal Democrats - Richard Vos - stratforduponavonlibdems@gmail.com
Green Party - Duncan Parker - duncan.parker@hayment.com
Helping local democracy
By standing for election and letting electors know who you are and what you stand for, you are helping local democracy by giving voters a choice. If you get elected, you will know that you have the support of people who voted for you. However, it should be noted that, if elected, you represent all people in your area, even though some may not have voted for you.
