Blaby District Council

Summary

Information is contained on this page on the process of electoral nominations (how to stand in an election), and also published during any election period will be a list of nominations.

Downloads

• Prospective Councillor Information Pack (PDF, 128KB)

Further information

How do I become a Councillor

Full elections are held in all wards every four years in May.

To stand for election, on the day of nomination, you must be:

• 18 or over
• be a UK, EU or Commonwealth citizen
• be registered to vote in or have either worked or lived in the area for one year.

You cannot stand if:

• you work for the Council
• you hold a politically restricted post for another local authority
• you are bankrupt
• you have served a prison sentence (including suspended sentences) of 3 months or more within 5 years prior to the election
• you have been disqualified under any legislation relating to corrupt or illegal practices.

What qualifications do I need?

You do not need any formal qualifications to become a Councillor.

What do Councillors do?

Councillors, or Members, are elected by local people to plan, run, monitor and develop Council business.

This includes taking part in partnerships with others to do this. Councillors work to improve the quality of life for people within Blaby District and make decisions about local and district issues.

Councillors are essential in deciding what is in the public interest amidst a range of conflicting issues and views.

Councillors usually represent a political party. However, they can be independent. All Councillors represent all the citizens of Blaby District, including taxpayers and customers of the Council's services.

The role of Councillor can be very varied and it is up to each individual Councillor how they work. However, the three main areas of responsibility are:

1. Representing the people in their area (ward) and becoming a representative of Blaby District.
2. Community Leadership
3. Formulating policy

A Councillors Role: As Representative

Most Councillors see their first and foremost role as representing their ward and the people who live there. To do this they may:

• Hold "drop in surgeries" normally in community centres.
• Deal with constituent enquiries about aspects of Council business.
• Undertake case work such as representing an individual or a family at special appeals.
• Support local partnerships.
• Win resources for their ward.
• Listen to the needs of local people when considering policy proposals and in decision making.

A Councillors Role: As Community Leader

Blaby District works in partnership with many local bodies and Councillors serve on these local forums on behalf of the Council. Councillors exercise community leadership by:

• Representing the Council and constituents on local management boards, school governor committees or local partnership panels.
• Participating in the activities of any outside body to which they are appointed and reporting back to the Council.
• Developing a working knowledge of the organisations services, activities and other factors important to the community's well being and identity.

A Councillors Role: As Policy Maker

All Councillors are involved in decision making. Councillors, as Members of Council and Scrutiny Committees, meet with Councillor colleagues from all political and other groups, to debate and approve Council business in a formal setting.

Councillors can influence local policies through:

• Their role on full Council
• For some, through membership of the Cabinet
• Their role on committees which both scrutinise the work of the Cabinet and recommend policy developments
• Their role as employers of staff, on appointment panels, disciplinary and grievance appeals etc.
• Membership of management boards of voluntary bodies
• Undertaking casework.

Do I need a deposit?

A deposit is not needed for local government elections.

Do I have to belong to a political party or group?

No, although the majority of people become Councillors as a result of joining a political party. However some people stand for election as independents (candidates who do not belong to any political party).

Standing as a member of a political party

If you are thinking of standing as candidate for a particular political party then you will need to be a member of that party's local organisation.

If you are interested in standing for other political parties, please visit the register of political parties via the Electoral Commissioner's website or BUBL Information Service listed below.

Standing as an Independent Councillor

The independent group of the Local Government Association has prepared a handy hints guide for independent Councillors and candidates.

If you would like a guide contact:
Maggie Sullivan
Head of Independent Group
Local Government Association
LGA House
Smith Square
London
SW1P 3HZ

Alternatively you can view the guide online at PICX website listed below.

Do I need an election agent?

You can take on this role yourself but it is helpful to have an agent.

If you are in a political party, it may be that one person takes on the role of agent for several candidates.

It is the agents responsibility to ensure that forms are sent in at the correct times and to keep a clear and accurate record of financial expenditure, to be submitted after the election.

You ought to work closely with your agent as a double check.

Election Expenses - who pays?

If you decide to become a Councillor and spend money on your campaign, it is important to note that you have to pay for your own publicity material, property services or items used for the campaign.

However, if you are a member of a political group or some other group, you may find that financial help is available. You will need to check this with your political party or group.

Furthermore, although you or your party/group pays for the election expenses, you must keep all your receipts and you will need to submit a statement of election expenses supported by receipts after the election.

This is done to make sure that the money you spend on the election campaign does not go over the set limit of £600, with an additional 5p for every entry in the ward register of electors for which you are seeking to be elected.

What do I do next?

Once you have decided to stand for election as a Councillor you will need to be proposed and then seconded by another person, followed by another 8 people or assenters to your nomination making total of 10 people to support you.

Full details of the electoral process including the nomination procedure are available on request from the contact below.

External websites

• Electoral Commissioner's website (external link)
• BUBL Information Service (external link)
• PICX (external link)
• Audit Commission (external link)
• Conservative Party (external link)
• Improvement & Development Agency (external link)
• Labour Party (external link)
• Liberal Democrats (external link)
• Local Government Association (external link)
• Local Government Information Unit (external link)

Contact us

Officer / Team	Electoral Services
Postal address	Blaby District Council Council Offices Desford Road Narborough Leicester LE19 2EP
E-mail address	electoral@blaby.gov.uk
Telephone	0116 272 7560
Fax	0116 272 7596

If you need this information in other languages or formats (large print, Braille or audio), please let us know when you contact us.

This page was last updated on 30th July 2009