How to be a Parish Councillor

What is a Parish Council?
Parish Councils are the first tier of local government and are statutory bodies. They serve electorates, are independently elected, and raise their precept which is a form of council tax. There are 10,000 Parish and Town Councils in England and 100,000 Councillors serving in these Councils, with over £2 billion invested into these communities annually.

Parish and Town Council activities fall into three categories: delivering services to meet local needs, giving the community a voice and representation, and improving the quality of life and community wellbeing.

Why become a Parish Councillor?
Are you passionate about your community and surroundings? Do you want to help make a long-lasting change? Do you have innovative ideas for the Council? Do you have concerns about a specific issue and want to do something about it? If this is you, then we need you.

Becoming a Parish Councillor allows you to directly shape your local community, voice residents' concerns, and influence decisions that affect everyday life in your immediate area. It is an impactful way to get involved in the grassroots of democracy.

We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect their community.

Do you need to be part of a political party?
No, you do not need to be a member of a political party to join a Parish Council. Many Parish Councillors are independent and do not represent any political party.

However, if a prospective candidate is a member of a political party, this does not prevent them from standing or from being involved in a political party.

It is also perfectly acceptable to be a party-political Councillor on other levels of government whilst simultaneously serving as a Parish Councillor, providing you can dedicate enough time to each role successfully.

Who can become a Parish Councillor?
To become a Parish Councillor, you must:

• be at least 18 years old;

• be a British or qualifying Commonwealth citizen;

• be either registered to vote in the parish, or have lived, worked, or owned/rented land there for the 12 months preceding the election;

• Live within three miles of the parish.

What are the responsibilities of a Parish Councillor?

A councillor's role has three principal areas:

• Decision-making — Councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered, and what policies should be implemented by attending meetings and committees.
• Monitoring — Councillors ensure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by monitoring how well things work.
• Getting involved locally — As local representatives, councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. These responsibilities often depend on what a given councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available.

What may a day as a Parish Councillor look like?

The day-to-day work of a councillor may include the following:

• Attending council meetings. Hawkwell Parish Council hold meetings twice a month, typically. These usually fall on the first and second Monday of the month, starting at 6:45pm. 
• Joining meetings of local organisations and bodies that affect the wider community, such as the police, the Highways Authority, schools, and colleges.
• Taking up issues on behalf of residents, such as making representations to the principal authority.
• Running surgeries for residents to bring up issues.

How do I apply to be a Parish Councillor?

The Election Process
Parish Council elections fall every four years. Hawkwell Parish Council’s next election is in May 2027. If you are interested in applying during the Election process, you will need to:

• Contact your local district or borough council’s electoral services team (such as Rochford District Council Elections) to request a candidate nomination pack.
• Complete the nomination papers, which require signatures from a proposer and seconder who are both registered electors in your ward.
• Submit your completed nomination papers to the Returning Officer by the statutory deadline.

The Co-option Process
If a Council seat has not been filled during the Election process, or Councillors have left, there will be vacancies. These are called ‘casual' vacancies.

To fill a casual vacancy between elections you can apply by co-option. Hawkwell Parish Council has several casual vacancies. You can apply using the forms on this website, or by contacting the Clerk. 

You will simply have to :

• Complete and submit the Declaration of Eligibility form
• Submit a brief application or expression of interest outlining why you want to join and confirming you meet the eligibility criteria (our Apply to be a Councillor form includes a section for this) 
• Complete and submit the Apply to be a Councillor form
• Attend the upcoming parish council meeting where existing councillors will vote on whether to appoint you to the open seat