Becoming a Councillor
Are you interested in joining the Council?
A Councillor is a member of the council and is normally elected for a term of four years. People of any political or religious persuasion are eligible to become a Councillor, although their personal, political views should not extend into their parish council work.
Becoming a Councillor is a rewarding and valued form of public service. All Councillors contribute to the work of the Council by:
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Having a say about the things they care about
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Putting forward ideas for better services
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Responding to the needs and views of the public
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Seeking the best outcome to local issues
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Getting involved in decision making
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Helping to make Dereham a better place to live!
We normally meet on the second Tuesday of the month. Meetings commence at 7:30pm lasting around 2 hours, at The Memorial Hall in Dereham. Councillors are expected to attend meetings on a regular basis.
You can read about the recent election process on Breckland Council's website and the Electoral Commission's website.
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The Role of a Councillor
They are elected to represent the interests of the local community as a whole and promote a harmonious local environment. The number of elected councillors depends on the size of the area. In Dereham we are able to have 12 councillors.
Local councils are the first tier of governance and are the first point of contact for anyone concerned with a community issue. They are democratically elected local authorities and exist in England, Wales and Scotland. The term ‘local council’ is synonymous with ‘parish council’, ‘town council’ and ‘community council’.
Local councils are made up of locally elected councillors. Councillors must abide by a Code of Conduct; a set of rules on how councillors are expected to behave. They must also declare their pecuniary (financial) interests in the town, details of which are kept on a Register at Breckland District Council.
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Being a parish councillor can be an interesting and rewarding experience.