How to become a Councillor : Cumbria County Council

Are you interested in helping your local community?

Do you ever wish you could influence the way things are done in your area?

Do you have the skills to listen, debate and make a sound decision?

Have you got the confidence to stand up and speak in public?

Are you prepared to extend your skills and knowledge?

Could you devote time to your community?

If you answered yes to these questions then why not become a County Councillor?

The date for the next County Council Election(s) will be Thursday 4 June 2009 and all 84 seats will be contested.

You do not need any formal qualifications to become a Councillor. You can be a Councillor for more than one council - such as your District or Borough Council and your County Council.

Cumbria County Council is the second largest employer in the County, employing over 17,000 staff, spends nearly half a billion pounds each year and controls property assets with a value of around £450m. Overall responsibility for Council services (and the budget that funds them) rests with the 84 County Councillors.

84 County Councillors will be elected in June 2009 to play their part in providing services such as:-

schools

community education

libraries

arts, museums and archaeology

economic and community development

supporting and caring for the elderly, children and those with disabilities

strategic land use planning including Stucture Plan

environmental protection

road maintenance and safety

traffic management

waste disposal

trading standards

What do County Councillors do?

The Council is made up of 84 Councillors who represent 84 Electoral Divisions across the County. All Councillors are expected to represent and champion the interests of the community, businesses and constituents in their area. To achieve this as a Councillor you will need to:

Keep yourself informed about the needs of your area

Represent your community within the County Council and other bodies

Be accessible to the people in your area through regular surgeries, electronic communication and on the telephone

Play a leading role in your area and keep in contact with local groups and societies and, where they exist, parish councils

Keep the residents in your electoral division informed about your work

As well as the local representational role, Councillors participate in the political management of the Council. This will be as a member of the council where all 84 Councillors agree the budget and the council's policy framework. Additionally, you may also serve as a member of the Cabinet, a Committee or be involved in the Council's Scrutiny arrangements.

Most meetings are open to the public and you are welcome to attend if you would like to see how the council's political structures operate. A timetable of meetings is available on the council's website.

Councillors may also be appointed to represent the council on a wide range of local, regional and national organisations.

Personal Conduct

The way Councillors act in office, particularly over matters where they have a financial or personal interest, is governed both by the law and by a Code of Conduct.

If elected, you will be required to sign a declaration stating that you undertake to observe the council's Code of Conduct for Councillors, a copy of which is available on our website. You will also be required to declare certain financial and other interests which you may have.

Who can become a Councillor?

Almost anyone can stand for election, you do not have to live in the Electoral Division you are seeking to represent, but you must be:

at least 18 on the day of nomination

a British subject or EU citizen, a citizen of the Irish Republic or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen

an elector within the County or have lived, worked or owned a property in Cumbria for at least 12 months immediately preceding nomination and election

A candidate can be disqualified if:

they are an undischarged bankrupt

they have a criminal conviction, which carried a prison sentence of three months or more, in the previous five years

they work for Cumbria County Council, or hold a politically restricted post with another authority

How much do I need to know?

You do not need any previous experience, but an understanding of how a Council works would be helpful. The key qualities required are a willingness to learn and an interest in developing as a community leader within your electoral division. If you are elected you would be offered training to help you carry out your duties and support from the Council and your political group (if appropriate).

The Council places a great emphasis on training/development and expects Councillors to actively participate in appropriate opportunities, which can help develop the skills and abilities necessary to remain an effective Councillor.

What training and development can I expect to receive?

The Council believes that effective political management relies on the skills and performance of individual councillors and has developed and introduced a personal development programme. This process will help to review the effectiveness of councillors and to focus on the councillor's personal developments needs, building on strengths and addressing areas for review. This will be carried out in conjunction with the Group Office Staff.

There will also be a programme of induction and training sessions for new Councillors after the elections.

What is the time commitment?

This will depend on your roles and responsibilities; the work of a Councillor can vary from a few hours each week to several hours each day according to the commitments you take on. In addition to your work in the community, there will be Council/Committee meetings, briefings and training and development events to attend, most of which will be held at venues and locations in Cumbria. The majority of meetings take place during the working day so, if you are in employment, you will need to discuss the time commitment with your employer.

For most of the meetings you attend there will be associated papers, which you will need to read beforehand.

What support can I expect to receive?

Member Services and Scrutiny Unit provide frontline secretarial and administrative support services for all Councillors. They are also responsible for the upkeep of the various facilities available for Councillors.

Member Information Bulletins are produced weekly and circulated electronically to keep Councillors briefed on forthcoming meetings and events and other matters of interest. The Community Engagement team are available to assist with your community leadership role, acting as your link both with council directorates and partner organisations.

Information Technology

A significant amount of council business is now being transacted electronically. All County Councillors will be issued with new IT kit/equipment following the elections on Thursday 4 June 2009. To ensure that you are kept fully involved and informed, you will need to be able to access and utilise all IT systems and demonstrate sound and competent IT skills. The ICT Client Team and Agilisys (the Council's IT provider) are available to assist with any questions you may have in relation to ICT equipment.

Will I get paid?

Councillors are not paid a salary, but receive a Basic Allowance (currently £8007) paid in monthly instalments, for the time and expense incurred whilst on Council business.

In addition you are able to claim for approved and authorised mileage on behalf of the Council (currently 42.4p per mile). A Carers and Dependents Allowance can also be claimed to recompense those Councillors who incur expenditure for the care of children or other dependents. Full details of the Councillors' Allowances Scheme are available on the County Council's website.

Some Councillors also receive a Special Responsibility Allowance in recognition of particular responsibilities they hold.

Still interested?

If you would like to find out more about the County Council and its services, attend one of our meetings, contact one of the political groups or speak informally to a serving County Councillor, please contact:-

David Claxton, Head of Member Services and Scrutiny, Tel: 01228 226350, Email: david.claxton@cumbriacc.gov.uk

The closing time and date for nominations is 4.00 pm on Thursday 7 May 2009.

Diane Wood
County Returning Officer
1 May 2009

Page Author: Martin Kennedy
Phone: (01228) 226358
Email: martin.kennedy@cumbriacc.gov.uk

Page Editor: Allison Wright
Phone: (01228) 226369
Email: allison.wright@cumbriacc.gov.uk