Becoming a Parish Councillor

Why become a Parish Councillor?

Parish Councillors are elected representatives who volunteer their time freely to work on behalf of local residents. By becoming a parish councillor you can become a voice for your community, somebody who residents will look to for help, guidance and support. You will be involved in local decision making and strategic planning for the benefit of the people you serve. Seeing your community change for the better, as a result of decisions you have helped make, is something that can give you a sense of pride.

What skills will I need to be a Parish Councillor?

A Council benefits from diversity and we welcome interest from people of different ages, backgrounds, experiences and abilities. Good communication skills, being a good listener, problem solving, analytical thinking and being a team player are all advantageous attributes.

Eligibility

1. Qualifications

To be able to stand as a candidate at a parish council election you must:

be at least 18 years old
be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights
meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
- You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the parish in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards. More information is set out in ‘Being a registered local government elector’.
- You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election. More information is set out in ‘Occupying as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the local authority area’.
- Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the parish area. More information is set out in ‘Your main or only place of work is in the local authority area‘.
- You have lived in the parish area or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election. More information is set out in ‘Living in the parish area (or within three miles of it)’.

Please see https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-parish-council-elections-england/what-you-need-know-you-stand-a-candidate/qualifications-and-disqualifications-standing-election/qualifications for more detail.

2. Disqualifications

There are certain people who are disqualified from being elected to a parish council. You cannot be a candidate if at the time of your application or on the date of the meeting where the co-option is decided:

You are employed by the parish council or hold a paid office under the parish council (including joint boards or committees). More information is set out in our guidance Working for a parish council
You are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order. More information is set out in our guidance Bankruptcy restrictions or interim order section.
You have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the five years before application and the ordinary period allowed for making an appeal or applications in respect of the conviction has passed. A person who is in the process of making an appeal or application in relation to the conviction is not disqualified at any time before the end of the day on which the appeal or application is disposed of, abandoned or fails by reason of non-prosecution
You have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which covers corrupt or illegal electoral practices). The disqualification for an illegal practice begins from the date the person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for three years. The disqualification for a corrupt practice begins from the date a person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for five years unless at any time within that period a court determines that the conviction should not be upheld, in which case the disqualification ends at that time.
You are subject to the notification requirement of or under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and the ordinary period allowed for making an appeal or application in respect of the order or notification has passed. A disqualification set under s.81A of the Local Government Act 1972 will only apply to a person who is subject to any relevant notification requirements or relevant order made on or after 28 June 2022. A person who is in the process of making an appeal or application in relation to the disqualification is not disqualified at any time before the end of the day on which the appeal or application is disposed of, abandoned or fails by reason of non-prosecution.
You have been convicted of an intimidatory criminal offence motivated by hostility towards a candidate, future candidate or campaigner or holder of a relevant elective office. The effect of a disqualification order is that the person will be disqualified from standing for, being elected to, and holding any relevant elective office for five years.

A person may also be disqualified from being or becoming a member of certain authorities following a conviction under the Localism Act 2011.

The full range of disqualifications is complex and if you are in any doubt about whether you are disqualified, you must do everything you can to check that you are not disqualified before submitting your application.

It is a criminal offence to make a false statement on your application as to your qualification for being elected or co-opted, so if you are in any doubt you should contact your employer, consult the legislation or, if necessary, take your own independent legal advice.

The Clerk will not be able to confirm whether or not you are disqualified.

Duties

It is the duty of a Parish Councillor to attend every full Parish Council Meeting (held monthly on the 3rd Monday of each month) or have a valid reason for not doing so. Parish Council
Meetings are held in the Function Room at the Fishbourne Centre, Blackboy Lane, Fishbourne at 7pm.

If you want to find out more …

If you want to find out if being a Parish Councillor is right for you, just come along to one of our meetings, meet the team and see us in action. Alternatively feel free to contact any of the Parish Councillors and have a chat with us. To register an interest in joining the council, please contact our clerk Lucy Wright –