Local Elections

MAKE A CHANGE BECOME A PARISH COUNCILLOR

Are you passionate about your community? Do you want to help make a long-lasting change? Do you have innovative ideas for the council? Do you have concerns about a specific issue and want to do something about it? If this is you, then we need you. We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect their community to put themselves forward for election. Make a change and become a Parish Councillor.

WHAT DO PARISH COUNCILS AND PARISH COUNCILLORS DO?

Parish Councils and Councillors make a massive difference to local people’s quality of life. They are passionate about their communities and seek to make a change to help improve their residents’ lives.

Councillors are elected to represent the local community, so you must either live or work in the council area. Becoming a councillor is a rewarding experience as you will be able to make a change in your community to help improve residents’ lives. A councillor’s role can include developing strategies and plans for the area, helping with problems and ideas, representing the community, working with other local community groups, decision making and reviewing decisions and talking to the community about their needs and what the council is doing.

If you want to know more about what it is like to be a councillor, watch the Youtube recording from NALC’s #MakeAChange event, hosted by Times Radio presenter Matt Chorley, with a panel of councillors from across the country, as well as viral sensation Jackie Weaver (Chief Officer at Cheshire Association of Local Councils).

HOW TO BECOME A PARISH COUNCILLOR?

Our Parish Council can only be as helpful, connected and energetic as the people elected to run it, so we need councillors who are capable, enthusiastic, and engaged to reflect our community. You can find out more about becoming a councillor on The Electoral Commission and Local Government Association website, and Shropshire-specific information can be found on the dedicated Shropshire elections webpage. Page 9 of the Shropshire Council Town and Parish Council guidance document gives details of where and when you can hand deliver your nomination papers.

Here are the simple steps to becoming a councillor (not affiliated to a political party):

  1. Read the guidance notes – check you meet the eligibility criteria
  2. Download, print, and complete the nomination forms
  3. Hand deliver your nomination papers to the Shropshire Elections Team no later than 4pm 8th April
  4. Wait for your nomination to be accepted
  5. Your nomination is made public by the principal authority
  6. Start your elections campaign (see latest government guidance on how to campaign safely)
  7. Polling day

After the election, ALL candidates, whether elected or not, will need to submit an elections expenses return and declaration to the Returning Officer (you are not able to claim back any expenditure I’m afraid!). Download the candidate spending forms, declaration, and guidance notes. This must be submitted within 28 calendar days of the election.

WHERE CAN I GET FURTHER HELP?

If you want to campaign as a member of a political party, if you need to know polling numbers for your proposer and/or seconder, or if you need any other help at all then please get in touch via our Contacts page.