Councillors

Elections

There is currently a vacancy for a councillor on the Parish Council co-option advert May 2022

Eligibility criteria to be a Councillor

To be eligible to stand as a councillor you must be qualified by virtue of being a British or Commonwealth Citizen, citizen of the Republic of Ireland or European Union citizen, who has attained the age of 18 years and is:

(a) registered as a local government elector for the parish; and/or who has

(b) during the whole of the twelve months preceding the appointment occupied as owner or tenant land or other premises in the parish; and/or his/her

(c) principal or only place of work during those twelve months has been in the parish; and/or has

(d) during those twelve months resided in the parish or within 4.8 kilometres of it;

and is not disqualified from holding office by reason of any disqualification set out in Section 80 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Applicants are asked to apply in writing, setting out why you wish to be considered as a councillor and any qualities or experience that you have that you think would benefit the Parish Council.

If you have any questions about the process or what is involved please do not hesitate to contact the Parish Clerk on 01691 682683.

Please note that the due to the pandemic the Council is holding all meetings virtually so access to a computer/ mobile phone would be an advantage although not essential.

Applications must be submitted to the Parish Clerk at Knockin Parish Council Council, 3 Lady Ida, Kinnerley, Oswestry, SY108DN

The closing date for applications is 16.00 Friday 7^th May 2021

Mrs Penny O’Hagan
Clerk to the Council 27.4.21

Next Parish Council Elections will be held 6th May 2021 more details can be found here

Town and parish elections 6 May 2021 | Shropshire Council

Notice of Election

Elections in Shropshire last took place on 4th May 2017. Knockin Parish Council had 7 vacancies for councillors

Due to changes in the way Shropshire Council is seeking to run and fund local services it is really important that local people are involved in the decision making process. One of the best ways of ensuring that your views are represented is by standing as a Parish Councillor in the 2021 Elections.

Outlined below is some information about being a local councillor and how to stand for election.

Being a Local Councillor

Good Councillors Guide

- A Councillor’s normal term of office is 4 years
- Is the holder of a public office and not a volunteer
- Can receive expenses for their role
- The main job of a councillor is to participate in the collective decision making processes of the council
- He/she has no authority to make decisions about council business on his/her own
- A local council may arrange insurance cover to indemnity its councillors against liability resulting from them being representatives of the council
- A councillor’s financial and certain other interests in council business must be transparent
- He/she is subject to obligations set out in the Code of Conduct adopted by the council
- Information about councillors is available in the council’s publication scheme
- The first business of the council’s annual meeting is the election of its chairman
- Most councils appoint a Vice Chairman but this is optional
- The normal term of office for the Chairman is one year.

Who is eligible?

The law specifies that any person over the age of 18 who is a citizen of the United Kingdom, The European Community or the Commonwealth can be a councillor if they are an elector in, work in, live in or live within three miles of the area of the local council is eligible. Certain circumstances will mean that an individual may be “disqualified” from standing; check with your council if unsure.

What will I do if I’m elected?

Attend council meetings
Raise matters that the council can consider and formally decide to take action about at meetings
Make informed contributions which influence the debate on the business that needs to be decided at those meetings
Participate in the Council’s decision making process, which in itself is subject to strict rules and guidelines
Represent the Council externally

Election Materials and Guides

SALC Webpage

http://www.alcshropshire.co.uk/elections

NALC Elections Webpage

NALC ‘It Takes All Sorts” (information for prospective candidates)

http://www.nalc.gov.uk/publications

NALC ‘Whatever – Yeah! Local Councils and Youth Provision’

http://www.nalc.gov.uk/publications

NALC ‘Power to the People’

http://www.nalc.gov.uk/publications

“Be a Councillor” website

http://beacouncillor.co.uk/