Be a Councillor

What are you passionate about in your local area? Do you want Spelthorne to be the cleanest and greenest place to live, work and visit in the south east of England? Do you want to ensure that residents receive the services that they need, when they need them? Or perhaps you want to make Spelthorne a welcoming place for people and businesses to live and work? 

Spelthorne Borough Council needs people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect the communities they serve to put themselves up for election.  Whatever needs changing in your local area, you could be the person to change it by becoming a councillor. 

Decisions made by councillors affect the lives of everyone in the area in countless ways. Representing a population of approximately 100,000 people across the Borough, understanding the issues and concerns they face and taking action are the most important tasks that any councillor undertakes.

Local councillors are the elected representatives of Spelthorne Borough Council. They are elected for four years unless they are elected at a by-election, in which case they must stand again at the next normal election for the seat. 

If you think being a councillor could be for you, read on to find out more.

Find out about Spelthorne Borough Council

Spelthorne Borough Council is currently made up of 39 councillors who represent 13 wards in the borough. 

Each councillor is elected for a four-year term except by-elections. 

Political makeup of Spelthorne Borough Council 
Find your local Councillor or Ward(opens in new tab) 

How do I become a councillor and what does it involve? 

To be a councillor, you have to stand at local elections and compete with other candidates to gain the most votes from the local electorate. 

You do not have to belong to or represent a political party to stand in the elections. You can stand as an Independent Candidate or choose not to have a description to your name. If you choose to stand for a party you will need to go through their selection process before you can be put forward as their candidate. Get in touch for support with independent politics or party politics. 

In order to stand at the elections, you must first get a set of nomination papers from Electoral Services at Spelthorne Borough Council, which will explain the nomination process. These packs are available nearer the election date. Find out more about Spelthorne's Electoral Service and also about becoming a Councillor.

Next steps 

To become a councillor, you have to put yourself forward at local elections and compete with other candidates to gain the most votes. 

Below are some of the most important steps to consider. 

1. Find out when the next local government elections are in Spelthorne.
2. Make sure you are registered on the electoral roll with your local council.
3. If you are interested in independent politics (not a political party), you can get resources and advice from the Local Government Association's Independent Office and the Independent Campaign Corner. As an independent, you will also need to start working out your views on local issues and services.
4. To stand for a political party, you'll need to be a member of the party, get involved locally and go through their selection process before you can be put forward as their candidate for election. You can find out more on each party's website. This can take up to about a year or more, so please contact your political party as soon as you can. You can also contact the Local Government Association (LGA) political offices.
5. Almost anyone can be a councillor but to check whether you are eligible, see the criteria on the LGA website. Nomination papers are available from Electoral Services
6. Get in touch with a councillor to find out more with an informal chat (or ask us to help).
7. Use the Local Government Association's Be a Councillor worksheets to see how you would handle some real situations as a councillor
8. Explore, research and keep up to date about Spelthorne's different communities, services, issues and ideas.
9. Attend council meetings and local events to find out more about local government and your community.
10. Read the guidance from the Electoral Commission about the processes and forms to fill out to put yourself forward for election. To become nominated as a candidate at a local government election in England, you need to submit a completed set of nomination papers to the place fixed by the Returning Officer by 4pm on the 19th working day before the poll.
11. Contact the Electoral Services team to get the necessary paperwork, find out the deadlines, and see what help they can give to submit your papers by visiting our elections webpage or emailing: electoral.services@spelthorne.gov.uk
12. You will need to get a proposer and a seconder (in the ward where you wish to stand) to sign your nomination papers.
13. Build your local profile, reputation and campaign. Find out more about campaigning from the Local Government Association's Independent Office, your , or the Electoral Commission. 

Does Spelthorne Borough Council pay councillors? 

Councillors are not paid a salary but they are entitled to receive a 'basic allowance', which is intended to recognise the time devoted to their work on behalf of local people in connection with council business. Each council sets its own rate. Spelthorne Borough Council publishes this on our website. 

By law, all members of the Council are required to complete a Register of Interest Form, the details of which are published annually. 

What support will I receive from Spelthorne Borough Council? 

Spelthorne Borough Council is committed to providing councillors with advice and support for all aspects of their role. After an election, all new councillors will attend an induction programme to enable them to meet the key people who will support them in their role and attend events to familiarise them with the work of the council, the expectations of councillors and ways in which they can carry out key tasks. 

Councillors are provided with ongoing learning and development support to broaden their knowledge, skills and confidence. In the first few weeks, experienced councillors will be available to guide you in getting to know the workings of the borough council and your role within it. Democratic Services and Business Support will be your point of contact to signpost you round the council for the first couple of months. 

Tablets will be issued at the reception day for newly elected councillors. We will provide a secure app for Androids and iPads that will enable you to remotely access the Council's systems, email, calendar, contact information as well as Council and Committee papers. Remote access can also be facilitated via councillors' own home laptops/and or tablet devices. 

All councillors are expected to provide at their own expense, a private ADSL broadband connection and computer hardware, including a printer and consumables. ICT staff can assist and advise councillors but will not be able to place orders on their behalf. 

Mobile phones are issued to all councillors.

What support is available from Spelthorne Borough Council for disabled councillors? 

An audio loop system is available in Council Chambers for people with a hearing impairment and council offices and chambers are wheelchair accessible. Councillors are encouraged to contact Committee Services following their election to discuss their personal needs so that reasonable adjustments can be made. 

I would like to be a candidate for a political party. Who should I contact?

If you are interested in standing for a political party, please view the Electoral Commission Register of Political Parties.

There are different processes and deadlines for each political party, so if you are keen on representing one in particular, we advise that you join them as soon as possible to ensure you are eligible to stand as a candidate for them before the cut-off period. Most political party websites will have a way in which you can get in touch with their Spelthorne branch. 

Spelthorne Borough Council wards and how do I find out which electoral ward I live in?   

To find your local councillor or which ward you live in visit: Your Councillors - Spelthorne Borough Council

Am I eligible? 

You can stand to be a councillor as long as you are: 

• British or a citizen of the Commonwealth or European Union
• At least 18 years old
• Registered to vote in the area or have lived, worked or owned property there for at least 12 months before an election. 

If you are in any doubt about whether you are eligible to stand as a councillor, you should contact the electoral services team by calling 01784 444218 or emailing electoral.services@spelthorne.gov.uk.

You can't be a councillor if you: 

• Work for the council you want to be a councillor for, or for another local authority in a politically restricted post
• Are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order
• Have been sentenced to prison for three months or more (including suspended sentences) during the five years before election day
• Have been convicted of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court
• Are subject to the notification requirement of or under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. 

Key dates 

Council meetings are usually held in the evening starting at 7pm but can occasionally occur during the day. 

Useful contacts 

Be a Councillor Email: beacouncillor@local.gov.uk

Spelthorne Borough Council
Electoral Services
Tel: 01784 444218
Email: electoral.services@spelthorne.gov.uk

Electoral Commission
Tel: 0333 1031928
Email: pef@electoralcommission.org.uk
www.electoralcommission.org.uk

Local Government Association (LGA) Independent Group
Tel: 020 7664 3224
Email: independent.groupLGA@local.gov.uk
Website: https://www.local.gov.uk/lga-independent

If you are interested in other political parties, please view the Electoral Commission Register of Political Parties

Electoral Commission - Online contact form / 0333 103 1928