Could you help your community by becoming a Parish Councillor?

The next election for Parish councils is on 2nd May 2019

What do Parish or Town councils do?
A Parish council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the Parish. It is the level of local government closest to the community, with North Norfolk District Council and Norfolk County Council further up the hierarchy.
Parish councils make all kinds of decisions on issues that affect the local community. Probably the most common topics that Parish councils get involved with are planning matters (they are statutory consultees), crime prevention and roads & highways. Parish councils have a number of powers they can use and have the ability to negotiate with other decision making organisations such as the district, county or unitary councils, health authorities, police etc. In this respect Parish councils are extremely powerful. These organisations know that a Parish council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something and its views should be taken seriously.

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 what’s on the list of items to discuss. Some councils may also have committees to deal with specific subjects, such as planning matters.

How long do I serve for as a Parish or Town Councillor?
Once elected, Parish or Town councillors sit on the council for four years. If they then want to stay in the post they can stand for re-election. This does not mean that you have to stay for four years. If you find it’s not for you, or you can no longer meet the commitment, you can stand down.

Getting Elected
To stand for election to a Parish council, you must:
• be a UK or Commonwealth citizen; or be a citizen of the Republic of Ireland; or be a citizen of another Member state of the European Union
• be at least 18 years old
To be eligible to stand for election for a particular Parish you don’t have to be connected to a political party but you must:
• be an elector of the Parish or in the past 12 months have occupied land or other premises in the Parish (as owner or tenant) or work in the Parish (as your principal or only place of work) or live within three miles of the Parish boundary

For more information about Weybourne Parish Council please contact the clerk at [email protected] or phone 07402 722 482

Nominations to stand as a candidate in the Parish Council Election on 2nd May 2019 must be received by North Norfolk District Council be 4pm, 3rd April 2019, though if you wish to stand, it is strongly advised you submit your nomination papers well in advance of this deadline. Nomination packs can be obtained from North Norfolk District Council.