Councillors are elected by the community to represent the interests of local people.
Their work normally involves:
- attending council and committee meetings to make or help shape decisions on local services;
- representing the Council on other organisations;
- helping the Council to achieve its corporate aims;
- championing the needs of local people and local communities; and
- taking up issues on behalf of constituents.
Being a councillor requires you to care about your local community, be willing to give up some of your time and be keen to learn.
To qualify as a candidate you must satisfy the following criteria on nomination day and polling day:
- Be at least 18 years old;
- Be a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, or a citizen of any member state of the EU.
A candidate must also meet at least one of the following four qualifications during the whole of the 12 months before the nomination day and on polling day:
- Be registered as a local government elector for the council;
- Have been an owner or tenant of any land or premises in the council’s area; or
- The main or only place of work has been in the council’s area; or
- Have lived in the council’s area.
We have a
guide which gives you more information about being a councillor at Essex County Council.
The next County Council elections are scheduled to be held on 2 May 2013.