First things first – can I be a councillor?
As would be expected in such an important post, there are a few essential criteria to becoming a councillor. You must meet the following three criteria:
- British, from the Commonwealth or the EU
- At least 18 years old
- Registered to vote in the area or have lived/worked/owned property there for a year.
In addition, you will also be barred from becoming a councillor if:
- You currently work for Havant Borough Council
- You hold a politically restricted post
- If previously convicted of a corrupt or illegal practice
- If sentenced to prison for three months or more during the five years before election.
What do councillors do?
Councillors are people elected to represent their local community. Every service provided by your local council is managed in their name. Councillors are engaged in committees relating to the smooth running of council services. They highlight local needs and concerns and may also represent a political party.
The role and responsibilities of councillors are rich and varied. In addition to representing the needs of their local ward (the area they are elected to), additional duties can include:
- Reviewing or devising council policy
- Ensuring the council meets its legal responsibilities
- Scrutinising decisions made
- Community engagement
- Responding to concerns in the community
Where relevant to your role, you will also be expected to represent the council to organisations such as the police, fire and health services, trusts, voluntary groups and other local bodies.
Is it a political role?
Conservative Councillors will need to be members of Havant Conservative Association. If you would like to join us, please visit the 'membership' section.
What skills and experience does a councillor need?
You do not need qualifications to be a good councillor, just skills and experiences that best represent your local community. These could include – for example - skills gained through volunteering or working with community groups.
You need to be a well organised individual, and someone who can apply themselves to problems. You will also need to be able to communicate well with a wide range of public and professional bodies.
Can I work and be a councillor?
In a word – yes!
You don’t have to be retired to be a councillor – just able to represent the needs of your residents. A full-time job is no bar to achieving this.
A councillor will need to undertake duties during normal office hours as part of their role. However, by law, your employer must provide a reasonable amount of time off work for your duties. It is recommended you talk to your employer at the earliest opportunity to discuss the practicalities.
How much time will it take?
The time you need to provide will vary upon the specific demands of your role, but just a few hours a week could make a difference. The actual time you spend will vary dependent on your responsibility to your ward, and other responsibilities you may take on board.
Can I afford the role?
A basic allowance (not wage) is paid to all councillors – this is £5,891 per annum. Additional allowances are paid to councillors who take on additional responsibility. Mileage for approved council duties can be claimed at 45p per mile, and rail travel can be pre-booked through the council.
In addition, the council is committed to removing barriers to councillors fulfilling their duties. It will support where possible with particular allowances - for example, allowances covering care for dependents whilst undertaking council business.
What support would I get?
All councillors have access to the Democratic Services Team. The team can assist councillors with any issue – large or small – and provide a comprehensive training program to nurture and develop key skills of relevance to councillors. A full IT package is also provided to ensure councillors can work effectively.
Get some advice from people in the know…
If you are thinking of becoming a councillor, there is some great support available for you – our councillors! The Democratic Services Team will be happy to introduce you to a councillor so you can gain their unique perspective in a friendly and informal manner.
Alright – I’m ready to go!
That’s good to hear! If you want to represent a political party, it is worth talking to your local party group as soon as possible. If you want to stand independently, you will need to establish yourself locally on issues that matter to your local community, and build yourself a presence to inform residents’ future voting.
Additionally, you will need to submit your official nomination at least 19 working days before an election, which will require 10 people to act as signatories. You must also provide consent in writing of your nomination.