What is a Councillor?

A Councillor is someone who is elected by local people to represent the residents of an area.  This can be at a District level (i.e. Cannock Chase Council), or, more locally, at a Parish or Town Council level.  When elected, Councillors normally serve a four year term of office before standing down or standing again for re-election.

Why Become a Councillor

People have different reasons for wanting to become a Councillor.  Some want to represent local people’s interests or "give something back" to the community; others may have political interests or ambitions.  However, you do not have to be a member of a political party to become a Councillor.  People who don’t want to represent a political party can stand as independent candidates.

How Do I Get to be a Councillor?

You need to be elected, but first, you need to be a candidate.  If you want to represent a particular political party, you will need to be ‘selected’ by the local party to stand as their (official) candidate at the election.

To be a candidate you have to meet certain basic criteria before you can stand for election and these are outlined below.  Full details and the latest guidance can be found on the Electoral Commission website.

Further Information

We hold briefings prior to elections for prospective Candidates and Agents.  A briefing in respect of the May 2027 District elections will be scheduled in due course.

Notices of Election and additional information will be published in due course.

Additional information is also provided by the Local Government Association as part of its 'Be A Councillor' campaign.

Criteria

Qualifications for Standing for Election

Briefly, on the day you are nominated and on the day of the election you must be:

• at least 18 years old
• a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights*.

In addition, you must meet at least one of the following four qualifications:

• You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the local authority area in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.
• You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day election.
• You main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the local authority area.
• You have lived in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.

*Further information about the eligibility / qualifications criteria for Commonwealth / EU citizens is published by the Electoral Commission.

Disqualifications for Standing for Election

You will not be eligible to stand for election if:

• You are employed by the local authority or hold a paid office under the authority (including joint boards or committees).
• You hold a politically restricted post.
• You are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.
• You are the mayor for a combined authority that the local authority is a part of.
• You have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the five years before polling day and the ordinary period allowed for making an appeal or applications in respect of the conviction has passed.  A person who is in the process of making an appeal or application in relation to the conviction is not disqualified at any time before the end of the day of which the appeal or application is disposed of, abandoned or fails by reason of non-prosecution.
• You have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983

1. The disqualification for an illegal practice beings from the date a person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for three years.
2. The disqualification for a corrupt practice begins from the date a person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for five years.

• You are subject to the notification requirement of or under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and the ordinary period allowed for making an appeal or application in respect of the order or notification has passed.  A disqualification set under section 81A of the Local Government Act 1972 will only apply to a person who is subject to any relevant notification requirements or relevant order made on or after 28 June 2022.  A person who is in the process of making an appeal or application in relation to the disqualification is not disqualified at any time before the end of the day on which the appeal or application is disposed of, abandoned or fails by reason of non-prosecution.
• You have been convicted of an intimidatory criminal offence motivated by hostility towards a candidate, future candidate or  campaigner or office holder of a relevant elective office.  The effect of a disqualification order is that the person will be disqualified from standing for, being elected to, and holding any relevant office for five years.

A person may be disqualified from being or becoming a member of certain authorities following a conviction under the Localism Act 2011.

Further information about the disqualifications criteria is published by the Electoral Commission.