Standing as a candidate

Becoming a councillor

If you are passionate about your local community, we need you.

Councillors make a huge difference to local people's quality of life and how local issues are dealt with. We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect the communities they serve to put themselves forward for election.

Elections to the council take place every 4 years. The council is split into 31 wards with 3 councillors representing each one.

Find out more about the process of standing as a councillor (Electoral Commission).

Who can be a councillor?

The easy answer is almost anyone, as long as you are:

• a British citizen 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

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 3 months or more (including suspended sentences) during the 5 years before election day
• have been convicted of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court

Find out more about becoming a councillor (GOV.UK).

Last updated 08 February 2024