Become a Bilbrook Parish Councillor

What is a Parish Council?

Bilbrook Parish Council is the first tier of local government and is closest to the community it serves. It has the power to take decisions and spend money on matters that make a real difference to village life. For Bilbrook, the other two tiers of local government are Staffordshire County Council and South Staffs District Council.

What does Bilbrook Parish Council do?

We represent the people of Bilbrook and work to improve the quality of life in our village by providing and maintaining essential local services. This includes:

• Allotments, play areas, and play equipment.

• Bilbrook old and new village greens and the war memorial.

• Christmas Lights and the annual act of remembrance.

• Flowers, planters, and street furniture around the village.

• The Jubilee walks and the “Bilbrook Tidy Up” events.

Could you be a Parish Councillor?

To be eligible to stand for the council or be co-opted, you must be:

• A UK, Republic of Ireland, or qualifying Commonwealth or EU citizen.

• At least 18 years old.

Additionally, you must meet at least one of the following four requirements:

• You are registered as a local government elector for the parish.

• You have occupied land or other premises in the parish as owner or tenant during the whole of the last 12 months.

• Your main or only place of work during the last 12 months has been in the parish.

• You have lived in the parish, or within 4.8 kilometres (3 miles) of it, during the whole of the last 12 months.

Disqualifications

You cannot stand for council if you work for Bilbrook Parish Council, are currently subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order, or have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including suspended sentences) within the last five years.

How to Join the Council

There are two main routes to becoming a councillor. Whether you are elected or co-opted, the role and responsibilities are exactly the same.

1. The Election Route

Every four years, all 13 seats are up for “ordinary election.” You submit a formal nomination paper to South Staffordshire District Council. You no longer need “subscribers” (proposers and seconders) to sign your forms. If an election goes to a poll, remember that you must show a valid photo ID to vote in person.

2. The Co-option Route

If a seat becomes vacant between elections, the council can “co-opt” a member. Interested residents apply directly to the Parish Council and are usually invited for a short, informal chat. Existing councillors then vote to select the new member.

Ready to apply?

If you are interested in joining the council via co-option, please read our co-option policy and complete the eligibility declaration form below.  You can read the Good Councillor Guide if you want to learn more about the role.

To apply, please send your completed declaration form along with a brief expression of interest (explaining your reasons for joining and what you can contribute) to the Parish Clerk.

We always recommend coming along to a meeting first to see us in action. We meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:15 pm at the Village Hall. Even if you don’t wish to stand yourself, you can still support and vote for candidates who represent your interests.

For more information or an informal chat, please contact the Parish Clerk at clerk@bilbrookparishcouncil.gov.uk or visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk.