Being a Parish Councillor

What is a Parish Councillor?

A Parish Councillor is an elected representative of his or her area.  They should act as a means of communication between their neighbours and the Parish Council. 

A Councillor is usually in office for 4 years and elections take place in conjunction with other District level elections.  A Councillor may resign at any period during that 4 year term and a new Councillor must be elected or co-opted.

Aldingham Parish Council must currently have four representatives of the South Ward (Leece, Roosebeck, Dendron, Newbiggin, Gleaston) and three representatives of the North Ward (Scales, Aldingham, Baycliff).

What Do Councillors Do?

Once elected, a Councillor is legally obliged to attend the 11 Parish Council meetings, which take place on Mondays throughout the year.

An important part of a Councillor's role is to be in touch with members of their community and to understand issues affecting that area.   

Other tasks such as attending other public meetings or courses, reviewing planning applications and publicising Council meetings are occasionally required. 

Who Can Become a Councillor?

All Parish Councillors must:

• be aged 21 years or older
• be registered to vote in the ward they represent

To be an effective Councillor, it is also helpful to:

• know and care about the local area
• know the local people and be part of the community
• be willing to take on some voluntary tasks

How Can I Become a Councillor?

Because the Parish Council has a limited number of seats, positions only become available when an existing member resigns or at the end of a term.  The Council can request an increase in their numbers if it is deemed reasonable.

The Council currently has two vacancies in its South Ward. 

If you are interested in becoming a councillor or would like to find out more, you should contact our clerk or an existing councillor for details.  All our members would be willing to have an informal chat about the role if you would like to know more.  Visit our Contact Us page for all the details.  Or why not come along to one of our meetings?