A ‘Notice of Election’ will be posted today – 6 weeks until council elections in Flintshire

Flintshire County Council will post a ‘Notice of Election’ today, Friday 17 March.

It signals the start of the ‘pre-election period’ for the upcoming County Council and Town and Community council elections on May 4th (Star Wars Day)

So you want to be a councillor?

County councillors are elected to represent their local community in the running of their local council.

This can involve campaigning for things to be done to meet the needs and expectations of local communities, bringing local people and organisations together to support community action and volunteering.

Councillors also help determine how local services are provided, funded and prioritised.

All elected members of local authorities in Wales are entitled to receive a basic annual salary which in 2016-2017 is set at £13,300.

Members with additional responsibilities, such as executive member or chair of a committee, receive higher salaries.

Town And Community Council Elections are also being held on the same day, there are 34 town and community councils in Flintshire.

The role of councillors on Town And Community Councils is unpaid – more information here: onevoicewales.org.uk [icon name=”external-link” class=”” unprefixed_class=””]

Nomination period.

Monday 20 March will see the start of the nomination period in Flintshire, this is the point where residents wishing to stand in the election can send in their nomination, you have until 4pm on Tuesday 4 April to do this.

To be elected as a councillor you must:

• be at least 18 years of age or over at the date of nomination
• be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any member state of the European Union
  and meet at least one of the following for qualifications:
• You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the local authority area in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.
• You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
• Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the local authority area.
• You have lived in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.

More Info: Can you stand for election? [icon name=”external-link” class=”” unprefixed_class=””]

In Flintshire there are 70 Councillors elected for a term of five years, they a serving a population of over 145,000 people divided into 57 electoral divisions, depending on its population, each division has one or two Councillors to represent the interests of its residents.

It is estimated that on average, councillors spend the equivalent of three days a week on council business, but many describe the job as full time.

Many employers recognise that value of the work of councillors and the skills that their employees will gain in the role and are often flexible around demands of councillors.

Purdah.

Friday also sees the start of Purdah, the ‘pre-election period’ when specific restrictions on communications activity are in place.

It means the council should not issue any publicity which “seeks to influence voters” should not produce publicity on matters which are politically controversial or make references to individual politicians or groups in press releases./

The council should not arrange proactive media or events involving candidates, issue photographs which include candidates, supply council photographs or other materials to councillors or political group staff unless you have verified that they will not be used for campaigning purposes.

Purdah: A short guide to publicity during the pre-election period [icon name=”external-link” class=”” unprefixed_class=””]

Flintshire County Council Elections: Thursday 4 May 2017 – Being A Councillor [icon name=”external-link” class=”” unprefixed_class=””]