May 2015 elections

Becoming a parish councillor

Want to do something positive?

Help make a difference by influencing decisions that affect your community?

Then stand for election to become a Councillor on your parish council.

Who is eligible?

Any person over the age of 18 who is a citizen of the UK, the European Community or the Commonwealth can be a Councillor if they are an elector in, work in or live in the parish or live within three miles of the parish boundary.

Key points

• A Councillor’s normal term of office is 4 years.
• There are 15 parish Councillor positions to be filled.
• A Councillor is a holder of public office and not a volunteer, but the position is unpaid.
• There is no cost incurred in standing – no deposit, no fees or charges – other than any costs you choose to incur in publicising yourself (and there are statutory limits to what you can spend – the vast majority of candidates spend nothing).

Timetable

• Publication of notice of election: Monday 30 March 2015 (at the latest)
• Deadline for receipt of nomination paper confirming you are standing: Thursday 9 April at 4pm (must be hand delivered to BDC election officials – by appointment)
• Publication of those who have stood for the election: Friday 10 April at 4pm (at the latest) – if there are 15 or less candidates then all will be elected in an uncontested election, but the candidates don’t take office as a Councillor until Monday 11 May 2015 (4 days after Polling Day)
• Polling day: Thursday 7 May 2015 7am to 10pm (General Election day) – if there are more than 15 candidates then voting will take place.
• New Councillors take office and old Councillors leave office: Monday 11 May 2015.
• Annual Parish Council meeting: Must take place between 11 and 24 May 2015.

Finding out more

Please let June Hunt, our Town Clerk, know if you are thinking about standing in the election. She can answer your questions and make sure you are aware of deadlines for submitting the relevant forms.