MAKE A CHANGE BECOME A 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 local 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 come forward.
Here, you will find everything you need to know. We explain what the parish councils and councillors do, how you can become a councillor, details of the role and what to expect.
WHAT DO PARISH COUNCILS DO?
Your parish council is the most local level of government. Our work falls into three main categories:
- Delivery of services
- Improve quality of life for residents
- Give communities a democratic voice
Each year a sum of money is raised—the ‘precept’ – collected through the council tax. This money is invested back into the local neighbourhood by the parish council to improve facilities within the parish. These include responding to planning applications and creating neighbourhood plans; hosting local events and providing grants to local charities; the provision and maintenance of play equipment and the upkeep of local green spaces, public seating and litter bins in our parks; the provision and maintenance of hanging baskets, flower containers and Christmas lights.
WHY BECOME A PARISH COUNCILLOR?
As a parish councillor you can be a voice for your community and make real change. Parish councillors are the champions of their community who invest time in local projects and issues to the benefit of residents and the neighbourhood.
Parish councillor responsibilities fall into three main categories:
- Decision-making
- Monitoring
- Getting involved locally
Parish councillors attend to local needs of residents, collaborate with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council to adhere to local needs, and progress vital projects to invest in the future of the community.
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 residents’ lives.
CAN I STAND FOR ELECTION?
To stand for election to become a parish councillor you must be:
- A UK or Commonwealth citizen; or be a citizen of the Republic of Ireland; or be a citizen of another Member State of the European Union
- At least 18 years old
- An elector of the local council; or in the past 12 months occupied land or other premises in the area the local council serves (as owner or tenant); or work in the area local council serves (as your principal or only place of work); or live within three miles of the local council boundary.
Parish Councillor elections are held every four years. The last election was held in May 2023 so the next election will be held in May 2027. However it is still possible to become a councillor between elections when a casual vacancy arises. See below.
HOW TO BECOME A PARISH COUNCILLOR?
Vacancies after an election (co-option)
If, after an election, there are some unfilled seats, the parish council will take steps to fill any vacancies by making co-options within 35 days (not counting weekends and public holidays). However, if the council does not have enough elected members to be a quorum (meaning at least one-third of the council must be elected or three members, whichever is greater), the electoral returning officer must run a by-election to fill the remaining places.
What does a candidate need to do?
- Check with their electoral returning officer if there is a vacancy near you
- Put yourself forward for co-option
- The council may ask you for a CV or invite you for an interview
- The council will choose their co-opted councillor
Casual vacancy
A casual vacancy is a seat that becomes available between elections, which may occur for several different reasons, such as a councillor resigning, becoming disqualified (by committing an offence) or not attending any meetings in six months.
The council clerk will declare the vacancy by posting a note within the parish and notifying the electoral returning officer.
This notice will also confirm that a by-election will be held if at least ten electors request it within 14 days (not including weekends and public holidays). If there is no demand for a by-election, the council will fill the vacancy by co-option.
The criteria to be considered for the vacancy within our parish is as follows:
A councillor must be:
- An elector of the local council; or
- in the past 12 months occupied land or other premises in the area the local council serves (as owner or tenant); or
- work in the area local council serves (as your principal or only place of work); or
- live within three miles of the local council boundary.