How to Become a Councillor

Town Councillors are elected by the public and serve four-year terms.

Councillors represent their community. The main duties are attendance of meetings, committee meetings and responding to correspondence from constituents. Some Councillors are also appointed to represent the Council at outside organisations, such as charities and local groups.

Most Councillors are members of political parties and stand for election as party candidates.

To become a Councillor you must:

be over 18 years of age
be a British subject, or a citizen of the Irish Republic, a commonwealth country, a UK dependent territory or another country in the European community
be an elector for the area in which you would like to stand, or have either owned property, lived or worked in that area throughout 12 months immediately before you are nominated. (In the case of a Town Council, you may be eligible if you lived, worked or owned land within 4.8kms of the boundary of that area)

You cannot stand if you:

are employed by that council
have been declared bankrupt within the last five years if you have not repaid your debts
have been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to not less than three months imprisonment within the last five years
you hold a politically restricted post for another authority
you have been disqualified under any legislation relating to corrupt or illegal practices

You do not need any formal qualifications to become a councillor