Why become a Parish Councillor?
As a Parish Councillor, you can become a voice for your community and make a real change. Parish Councillors are community leaders and represent the interests of the communities they serve.
By becoming a parish councillor you become someone your community will look to for help, guidance and support a community leader with the power to influence decisions for the benefit of the people you serve.
Seeing your community change for the better, as a result of decisions you have helped make, is something that can give you a sense of achievement and pride.
How much time does it take up?
Councils usually meet once a month for the council meeting, to which members of the public are also invited. Meetings may last two or three hours, depending on the agenda set for the meeting to discuss. Some councils have committees to deal with specific subjects, such as environmental issues.
In addition to the regular meetings, councillors are required to attend other meetings representing the council, for example acting as a representative on an outside body, community activities or helping develop a new project for the community. Such meetings won’t happen every day, so it’s not going to take over your life.
How long does a parish councillor serve for?
Once elected, parish councillors sit on the council for a maximum of four years. If they then want to stay in the post they can stand for re-election. Current election year is 2023.
Applicants should note that Councillors are expected to attend regular meetings and any additional meetings as may be arranged, and to represent the electors of Bromsberrow and Bromsberrow Heath in raising and discussing those issues of interest and concern on which the Parish Council is empowered to act.
What’s Involved?
It is possible to spend a lot of time on council work – but most people have jobs, families and hobbies that also demand a lot of time. As with most things, however, the more you put in, the more you (and our community) will get out.
Bromsberrow Parish Council meets 6 times a year, on the last Tuesday of the every other month. Meetings start at 7.30 and should normally be over by 9.30.
You will be invited to join one or more of the Parish Council’s committees or workgroups which look after Footpaths, Planning, Finance and various other aspect of council business. Parish Council work is increasingly done by email and documents are circulated prior to meetings. Site visits, for example to look at developments, are also needed from time to time.
A lot of what the Council does is common sense, and training is available. There will be an induction session for all councillors of the new council and Gloucestershire Association of Parish and Town Councils (GAPTC) run regular training workshops.
See the Good Councillor’s Guide booklet (from the National Association of Local Councils) for more information about the duties of a Parish Councillor or ask the clerk for a copy.
How to become a Parish Councillor?
