How do I become a Councillor?
Darlington Borough Council has 53 Councillors, each representing one of the Council’s 24 wards. Councillors are elected to serve for a four-year term of office. All out elections are held every four years and the next elections will be held on Thursday, 5th May, 2011.
Councillors are accountable to residents of their ward, although their over-riding duty is to the whole community, including those who did not vote for them.
In some areas of Darlington, in the rural areas, electors are also represented by Parish Councillors. These Councillors are also elected to serve for a four-year term of office with all out elections every four years. There are 12 Parish Council’s in Darlington.
All Councillors also have to agree to adhere to a Code of Conduct - pdf document to ensure high standards in the way they undertake their duties.
Key Roles and Functions of All Councillors
Councillors are democratically accountable to residents of their wards. The over-riding duty of Councillors is to the whole community, but they have a special duty to their constituents, including those who did not vote for them.
Councillors :-
· are collectively the ultimate policy makers and carry out a number of strategic and corporate management functions;
· contribute to the good governance of the area and actively encourage citizen involvement in decision making;
· effectively represent the interests of their ward and of individual constituents;
· respond to constituents’ enquiries and representations, fairly and impartially;
· participate in the governance and management of the Council;
· maintain the highest standards of conduct and ethics; and
· serve the public interest and take decisions, having regard to the interest of the whole local community.
For further information, please contact Democratic Services on (01325) 388351 or email Elections@darlington.gov.uk.
What support is available to Councillors?
Council officers will support newly elected Councillors through a comprehensive induction programme. There is also an excellent on-going programme of training and development to enable Councillors to fulfil their role as a community representative and leader.
In all the work you will do as a Councillor, there will also be help and support from the Council’s Officers.
If you are elected to serve on Darlington Borough Council, you will receive an allowance to cover the time you spend on your duties. Darlington Borough Council has a Members’ Allowances Scheme - pdf document. The scheme details the allowances paid to Councillors and those holding positions with additional responsibility, e.g. those Members who chair meetings. An Independent Panel recommends the rate of allowance to be paid to Councillors. View the report produced by the Independent Panel on the Members' Allowance Scheme - pdf document.
The Council encourages all Councillors to use electronic communication and you will be provided with a computer or laptop and appropriate training. As far as possible, day-to-day communication with Members of the Council will be via e-mail and each Member will be given an e-mail address,
What are the requirements for standing for election?
You can become a Councillor if you: -
· are 18 or over on the day of nomination;
· are a British, Irish Republic, Commonwealth or other EU Citizen;
· have had property or work connections in the Darlington Borough Council area for the whole of the 12 months before the date of nomination;
· are on the electoral register for the area.
All the requirements for standing for election as a Councillor are set out in the Local Government Act 1972. You will need to refer to this to make sure that you qualify. Additionally, people holding certain politically restricted posts in a local authority are disqualified from election to, and membership of, a local authority.
Disqualifications
A person is disqualified from standing for election if he/she: -
· is employed by, or holds a paid office, under the local authority;
· has been adjudged bankrupt;
· has been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to not less than three months imprisonment (including any suspended sentence) within the past five years;
· has been disqualified from holding office by order of an election court;
· has been disqualified following a decision of the Adjudication Panel for England.
The full range of disqualifications for candidates at local elections is complex and Candidates are strongly advised to consult the relevant legislation to ensure that none of the disqualifications apply, and if in doubt, to seek legal advice.
Nominations
A candidate’s nomination pack will be available before every election, when the Notice of Election is published. You can receive a pack by contacting Democratic Services on (01325) 388351, or email Elections@darlington.gov.uk. The Notices of Election for the Borough Council (pdf document) and Parish Council (pdf document) elections on 3rd May, 2007 were published on 27th March, 2007.
Useful links
Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission has a website on local elections in England.
www.electoralcommission.org.uk/elections
It has also published a Guide for Candidates and Agents for the 2007 elections and this can be found at: -
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/templates/search/document.cfm/17910
National Association of Local Councillors
The National Association of Local Councils supports Parish Councils in England and Wales.
http://www.nalc.gov.uk
It has produced an election pack and a booklet, for anyone wanting to know more about parish councils and the rolse of parish councillors, which can be found at
http://www.nalc.gov.uk/Toolkits/Democracy/Elections.aspx