Become a Town or Parish Councillor

Are you passionate about where you live? Do you want to have a say in decisions that impact your community? Becoming a town or parish councillor could be for you.

Role of local councillors

Local (town and parish) councils and councillors make a big difference to local people’s quality of life. They need to be passionate, open-minded and team players, who are champions for their communities.

Local councillors invest time in local projects and issues to benefit the residents and neighbourhood. They will help make decisions on local services, work closely with district councils to support local needs and progress vital projects for the future of the community.

What is expected of a local council?

Know their local area and be aware of opportunities and challenges
Address issues together as a council, and take forward new ideas
Make council decisions on behalf of residents
Communicate council decisions that affect the community
Support the council's initiatives
Work with representatives of local organisations, interest groups and businesses for the benefit of residents

What powers do towns or parish councils have?

They have a wide range of powers related to local matters such as street lighting, play areas, open space, community buildings, allotments, bus shelters, car parks and much more. Councils are consulted on local planning matters and liaise with police on community issues. Local councils will seek to influence other decision makers for the benefit of the community. The local council will raise money through their share of Council Tax and has the power to raise or lower this each year. Councils can also apply for grant funding to finance local projects.

How much time does it take up?

This will vary from council to council. Councils usually meet once a month for the full council meeting, with members of the public also invited to attend. Meetings can last from one to two hours depending on the agenda, these are usually in the evenings. There may be actions to take away, and emails/calls to respond to during the week. Additional meetings can include committees and working groups. Time will vary depending on the size of the village/town and how involved the councillor becomes.

Is it a paid role?

Parish and town councillors do not receive any form of payment for their services, however they can be given allowances to cover expenses.

What support will a councillor receive?

Local councillors receive guidance and advice from their town or parish clerk, as well as from other professional officers and bodies. Support is also available from fellow councillors. Councillors are expected to attend relevant training. Advice and support is also available from the National Association of Local Councils and from Norfolk Parish Training and Support.

How to become a local councillor

Local councils can only be as helpful, connected and as energetic as the people involved.

You must be:

a British citizen, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or some European Union countries
18 years of age or older
live or work in an area that is served by your local council

There are three ways you can become a councillor:

Standing for election
Filling a vacant seat after an election
Filling a casual vacancy (if a councillor resigns or dies)

The best way to find out what it's like to be a local councillor is to talk to someone who is already doing it.

Speak with your town/parish clerk and attend the next council meeting. You can also visit your local council website for more information.

Find out more about the role of town and parish councils at Gov.uk.

You can also look up which polling district boundary covers which parish or ward.

View town and parish council vacancies in Broadland View town and parish council vacancies in South Norfolk