Can I become a parish councillor?

Am I eligible to stand

Most people can. However there are a few rules. You have to be:

• a British citizen, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union, and
• 18 years or older on the day you become nominated for election

You cannot stand for election if you:

• are the subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order
• have, within five years before the day of the election, been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence and have had a prison sentence (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine
• work for the council you want to become a councillor for

There are specific rules around candidacy. The full range of disqualifications for candidates is quite complex and some exceptions may apply. Full details can be found on the website of the National Association of Local Councils.

Which parish council can I stand for

You can become a parish councillor for any parish in which you are in the list of electors or during the whole of the preceding twelve months

• occupied land as owner or tenant in it, or
• had a principal place of work there, or
• resided in or within three miles of it

Full details of parish councils in Northamptonshire are available on this website, including which councils are holding elections in May 2012. You can search for parish councils, either by entering your postcode to see which local councils in which you may be eligible to stand for election, or by picking a single council from a list or map. You can then contact parish councils directly using an online contact form.

How much time will I need to spend

It is possible to spend a lot of time on council work - but most people have jobs, families and hobbies that also demand a lot of time. However, as with most things, the more you put in, the more you (and your community) will get out.

Generally speaking, the larger your community the larger your workload will be. The times of the meetings vary, as do the venues. Parish councils normally meet in the evening. It is important to establish the pattern of meetings and venues to make sure they can accommodate your domestic and/or business arrangements. Most councils meet once a month and many also have committees, in which case you would probably be invited to sit on a committee. These usually meet in between the meetings of the full parish council.

Quite often councillors say that their duties occupy them for about three hours a week. Obviously there are some councillors who spend more time than this – and some less, but in the main, being a local councillor is an enjoyable way of contributing to your community and helping to make it a better place to live and work.

How do I become a councilllor

To stand for election, you can

• contact the parish council directly, or
• contact the Returning Officer at your borough or district council, or
• reqest a Nomination Pack from us

Full details of all local councils are available on this website. You can search for a parish council to get their full contact details, and you can also contact them directly from this website using an online contact form.