Standing as a Councillor
Do you have an interest in improving your local community and
helping others who live in the area? If you do, why not consider
standing for election to Ashford Borough Council?
Councillors usually represent a political party and you may wish
to contact the leaders of the Conservative, Ashford
Independent, Liberal Democrat or Labour Groups to discuss your
interest. However it is also possible to stand as an independent
candidate.
A person wishing to stand as a candidate will be issued with the
following:-
- Nomination paper
- Consent to nomination
- Appointment of election agent
- Timetable
- Candidates' guidance
- Ward map
A candidate who is standing on behalf of a
registered political party will also need to submit:-
- Certificate of authorisation
- Request to use the party emblem
At the close of nominations the candidate will
be notified as to whether or not the nomination is valid. If a
candidate wishes to withdraw their nomination they have until no
later than noon on 16th working day prior to the date of the
election to withdraw.
Any person wanting to stand for election can
arrange a meeting with Electoral Services.
Nomination paper
Each Candidate must submit a Nomination Paper,
which requires 10 Signatories:- a proposer, a seconder and eight
assentors who must be local government electors within the ward
they wish to represent. The nomination paper must be delivered
before the date given on the Notice of Election.
What type of skills should a councillor have?
- To be a good listener and be able to provide advice and help to
local residents
- Have the ability to understand and consider detailed and often
complex issues
- To be able to work in partnership with other councillors on
various committees or with representatives on external
organisations for the good of the whole borough.
To be eligible to stand as a candidate a person must:-
- Be aged 18 or above
- Be a British citizen, or a citizen of another Commonwealth
country, the Republic of Ireland or the European Union.
On polling day and the day for nomination the person must:
- Be registered to vote with Ashford Borough Council,
or:
- For the whole of the previous 12 months have lived or occupied
land or premises or had your main place of work in the Ashford
borough.
No formal qualifications are required to become a councillor and
unlike General Elections to Parliament no deposit is required to
stand as a candidate.
A person cannot stand for election if:
- They are the subject of a bankruptcy restriction or interim
order
- They are employed by Ashford Borough Council or certain other
authorities with which it has close links.
- They hold what is known as a politically restricted post.
- They have served a prison sentence (including a suspended
sentence) of three months or more within five years of the
election.
- They have been disqualified from holding office as a result of
an election offence relating to corrupt or illegal practices.
There are no formal qualifications needed to
become a councillor however to stand validly nominated a candidate
must fulfil the following:
Legal requirements
- 18 years of age or over at the date of
nomination
- a commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the
Republic of Ireland or a citizen of another Member State of the
European Community; and
- a local government elector within the
Borough; or
- have worked in the area for the last 12
months
- have lived, or owned land/property in the
area for the last 12 months.
- A person is disqualified from being elected
by reason of any disqualification set out in section 80 of the
Local Government Act 1972 - Part V.
Consent to nomination
A nomination is not valid unless accompanied
by a consent to nomination. The candidate must sign a declaration
to the effect that he/she is qualified to stand, and the consent
must be attested by a witness.
Appointment of election agent
Another person can act as an election agent
for a candidate. They must complete an appointment of election
agent form, and that appointed agent must sign a declaration of
acceptance. If no such application is received, the candidate will
be deemed to be acting as their own agent.
The election agent is entitled to attend
polling stations, the opening of postal ballot papers, the
verification and the count.
The election agent is responsible for all acts
involved in carrying out the election on behalf of the candidate
and has a duty to ensure the campaign is conducted according to the
law. In particular the election agent is responsible for the
financial management of the election campaign and for ensuring that
the declarations and returns of expenses incurred by and on behalf
of the candidate are delivered to the appropriate officer.
Support
The council provides support to councillors by organising a
comprehensive training programme which follows the elections and by
arranging further training throughout the four-year period
based on individual need.
A current basic allowance of £4,125 per annum is available to
help meet any day to day costs of being a councillor. The
council will provide IT equipment and training to enable a
councillor to communicate electronically with the council and
residents, together with a dedicated web page which can be used to
display information and other items of interest.
This webpage was updated on
4/29/2009