How to Become a Councillor
Interested in becoming a Borough Councillor?
The borough is divided into 17 electoral areas called wards and there are a total of 39 Councillors.
Each Councillor is elected for a four year term of office. Some Councils have ‘all out’ elections once every four years with all Councillors being elected at the same time. However, Great Yarmouth Borough Council has elections ‘by thirds’ which means that one of the three Councillors in each ward gets elected each year. There is, therefore, no borough election every fourth year which coincides with the year Norfolk County Council elections are held.
Local elections are traditionally held on the first Thursday in May and the next Borough Council elections are due to be held on Thursday, 3 May 2012. This offers you the opportunity to stand as a representative of your local community and become a Great Yarmouth Borough Councillor.
The local election process for Great Yarmouth Borough Council begins in March 2012 when a Notice of Election will be published in the Town Hall and on the Council’s website. If you are thinking about becoming a Councillor and standing as a candidate you will have to formally submit nomination papers.
Information about the nomination process can be obtained from the elections team or from the link to the Electoral Commission in the useful links section
Why are Councillors important?
Councillors play a key role in the district, representing the people who elected them and providing a voice of the community. They are champions of the users of local services; they help shape those services for the benefit of local people, and act as community leaders.
Why become a Councillor?
Becoming a Councillor is a rewarding form of public service that puts people in the privileged position where they can make a difference to the quality of other people’s daily lives.
There are many reasons why people decide to become a local Councillor. For example, some individuals stand because they:-
want to make a difference and be involved in shaping the future of the local community
are concerned about the local area they live in and want to ensure their local community is provided with the services needed
want to represent the views of local people and ensure local community interests are taken into account
want to pursue their political beliefs
are concerned about one particular issue, for example care for older people, the lack of facilities in an area or traffic congestion.
For some, it is an extension of what they are already doing as they’re active in a political party, trade union or school governing body and they see the next step as becoming a Councillor.
Who can stand for election?
Almost anyone can stand to be a Borough Councillor. However, you must:-
be at least 18 on the day of nomination
be a British subject or an Irish Republic or European Union citizen living in the United Kingdom
be on Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s electoral register or have lived, worked or owned property in the district for at least the last 12 months
have your nomination paper signed by ten people who are on the electoral register in the ward you would like to represent as a Councillor.
You can’t stand for election if you:-
work for Great Yarmouth Borough Council
are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order
have a criminal conviction involving a prison sentence of three months or more (including a suspended sentence) in the last five years
are otherwise specifically disqualified from holding office by order of the court.
We welcome people from all backgrounds. The greater the mix of people, the more effective the council can reflect the views of its communities. Unlike parliamentary elections, you do not need to pay a deposit before you stand in a local government election. |
Do Councillors need any qualifications?
No, you do not need any specific qualifications to become a Councillor. Life experience is probably the best thing you can bring to the role.
Do I have to belong to a political party or group?
You do not have to belong to a political party to stand for election. It is possible to stand as an independent (a candidate who does not belong to a particular political party). For more information about this visit www.picx.co.uk.
If you’re thinking of standing as a candidate for a particular party then you will need to be a member of that party’s local organisation. More information about political parties can be found on the register of political parties section of the Electoral Commission’s website www.electoralcommission.org.uk.
The current (as of May 2011) political makeup of the Council is as follows:-
Group | Councillors |
|---|---|
Labour | 15 |
Conservatives | 23 |
Independent | 1 |
Total | 39 |
What do Councillors do?
The role of a Councillor can be very varied and it’s up to each individual how they carry out their work. Councillors have responsibilities to their ward, to the Council and the community.
Being an effective Councillor requires hard work. Every day, Councillors have to balance the needs and interests of their residents, voters, political parties and the Council. All of these groups place legitimate demands on Councillors’ time, on top of their personal responsibilities to family, friends and workplace.
It’s important that Councillors understand that role so they can perform responsibly and effectively for the Council and maintain the quality of their personal lives.
Ward Responsibilities, These are to:-
listen to and represent the views of the residents
make sure services are delivered effectively
try to secure extra resources for their ward
help out individual ward members on specific issues, known as 'casework'.
As a Councillor you will find that much of your time is taken up by contact with local people. This could be in the form of dealing with complaints or enquiries. Your role will be to listen, explain council policy and make sure the policy has been carried out fairly according to official procedures. You will get help and support from officers to deal with constituents’ enquiries and complaints.
Decision Making and Influencing Policy, This involves the following:-
to help form policy
to help set the Council’s budget and agree the level of council tax
to make or scrutinise decisions.
Councillors are essential to deciding what is in the public interest amidst a range of conflicting issues, views and pressures.
As well as being a Member of Council, you could also be part of the Cabinet and/or various Committees such as Scrutiny, Planning or Licensing. You will meet with other Councillors from all political and other groups, to influence and determine the development and review of Council Policy and Strategy.
Community Leadership, Councillors need to:-
develop an understanding of the local community and the groups and organisations within it and the ability to build effective partnerships with those organisation
respond effectively to local priorities
have a commitment to community engagement and empowerment.
Community leadership is at the heart of modern local government and councils are taking on new responsibilities for working in partnership with other organisations, including the voluntary sector, to improve services and the quality of life of citizens.
How much time is involved in being a Councillor?
It’s for you to decide the level of commitment you’re able to give to being a Councillor. It also depends on your role within the Council and the number of commitments you decide to take on. It could range from a few hours each week to a few hours each day at busier times.
Some of the issues you need to consider are:-
how your role as a Councillor will impact on any family and personal relationships – you will need their support and understanding as you may be spending a lot of your spare time on Council business.
the people you represent as they will look to you for help in dealing with their problems. You are likely to receive a lot of post, emails and a great many telephone calls, and not every caller will telephone at what you might think is a reasonable hour!
awareness that a large proportion of your time may be spent dealing with constituency and associated casework. You may spend some of your time visiting constituents in their homes or at the Council offices, and you may also meet with Officers of the Council to help you with any issues.
You will need to attend some Committee meetings, depending on the roles you volunteer for and are appointed to. The average length of a Committee meeting is approximately 1.5 hours but this varies.
Also be aware that:-
for most meetings you attend there will be papers you’ll need to read beforehand. These papers can be quite detailed and take time to read and understand.
if you are elected as a chair, spokesperson or member of the Cabinet, the role can be more demanding.
if you’re a member of a political party there will be additional calls on your time to attend political group meetings.
This may mean that in one week you could have a Scrutiny Committee meeting, represent the Council on an outside body or partnership, have a political group meeting (if you are a member of a political group) and be holding a ward surgery.
You will receive a lot of information as a Councillor so managing this and prioritising it will be important if you want to make an impact and not spread yourself too thinly across too many areas.
In all of this it’s worth remembering there are lots of Officers in the Council who will be happy to provide you with support and advice and help with specific issues.
A job profile of a Councillor is attached at the bottom of this page
Can I be a Councillor and keep my existing job?
Yes you can. Section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 says that an employer is required to permit an employee reasonable time off during the employee’s working hours to perform any of the duties as a member of a local authority, which includes attending Committee meetings.
However, there is no statutory right for time off with pay to be granted for this purpose. The amount of time off will depend on your responsibilities and the effect of your absence on your employer’s business. You should discuss this with your employer before making any decision about whether to stand as a Councillor.
Will I get paid for my duties as a Councillor?
There is no salary for being a Councillor. However, Councillors are paid allowances to reimburse for time and expenses incurred while on Council business. Every Borough Councillor is entitled to a basic allowance. This was set by the Council at £3,579 (taxable) a year for 2012-13.
Councillors who hold particular positions of responsibility within the Council, such as chairing or being a member of, some of the bigger committees, receive a special responsibility allowance as well.
Allowances are paid in monthly instalments throughout the year.
Councillors may use car park passes and claim travelling allowance for certain approved duties, such as attending Council meetings or attendance at meetings of outside bodies.
What support will I receive if I’m elected?
The Member Services Team provide dedicated support to Councillors. Council Officers are employed to carry out the decisions of the Council and if you have a specific service related query procedures are in place to ensure you get responses within five days – all you would need to do is ask. For urgent matters, Senior Officers including the Managing Director, Deputy Managing Director and Heads of Service can be contacted direct.
You will be offered a broadband line, laptop and printer for use at home with email and internet access. Our IT Team will set this up and ensure everything works correctly and that you are trained to use it.
If you have any special needs, for example difficulty in accessing the Council’s buildings, visual or hearing difficulties etc you are invited to speak to the Member Services Manager, on a confidential basis, to see if your requirements can be met.
If you are a member of a political group, support and assistance will be available from other members of your group.
Will I be given any training to help me perform my duties?
After each election, successful candidates will receive a welcome pack and lots of useful information.
There is an induction programme for all new Councillors that involves meeting with the Managing Director, Deputy Managing Director and Heads of Service.
An on-going training and development programme decided by fellow Councillors will help you to deal with the role and all Councillors are encouraged to attend as many events as possible to develop their skills and broaden their knowledge of the work of the Council.
IT training is available throughout the year and can be tailored to individual needs.
How do I become a Borough Councillor?
Local elections are usually held on the first Thursday in May. The next elections are due to be held on 3 May 2012.
All you have to do is decide to stand for election and win the public vote!
There is a formal nominations process and the closing date by which you must submit your nomination will be early April 2012 (confirmation of the dates will be made available by the returning officer nearer the time).
Sometimes by-elections take place between the election dates if a Councillor retires prematurely. If you are elected at a by-election you will serve until that ‘seat’ comes to the end of its four year term.
The calling of an election is published in the local press, on the Council’s website and by formal notice at the Town Hall at which time prospective candidates may apply for a nomination pack.
To receive a nomination pack please contact the election team who will be able to provide you with assistance and information to complete the form
Further Information
Contact Us
Tel: 01493 846325
Member Services
Town Hall,
Hall Plain,
Great Yarmouth,
Norfolk,
NR30 2QF
Open: 9am to 5pm, Mon to Fri
Useful Links
Electoral Commission - Independent body which reports directly to Parliament
The Borough Council is not responsible for the contents of external internet sites.
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