KENNINTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL VACANCIES - Join our team and become a Community Councillor
Are you passionate about your community?
Do you want to help make a long-lasting change?
Do you have innovative ideas for the council?
Do you have concerns about a specific issue and want to do something about it?
If any of this is you, then we need you. We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect their community to put themselves forward for co-option to the Community Council. We currently have three vacancies.
No special qualification is required to be a Community Councillor. It is important that all sorts of people serve as Councillors to so that all parts of the community are represented. Training Councillors is also available to help you understand the responsibilities of the role.
If you think you’d like to join the Council or would like to know more, please get in touch with the clerk (clerk@kenningtoncc.gov.uk) who is happy to talk with you about the role and what’s involved.
What do Community Councillors do?
Councillors meet once a month to discuss and act on issues that are important to the local community.
The Council sets a proportion of local taxes to be spent in the community, comments on planning applications in the Parish and runs projects that help maintain, improve or enhance the local area. Local Government is changing and Councils are seeing an increase in the responsibilities and opportunities to influence decisions made that affect our local community. Becoming a councillor is a rewarding experience as you will be able to make a change in your community to help improve residents’ lives.
What decisions do Community Councils make?
Councils make all kinds of decisions on issues that affect the local community. Probably the most common topics that they get involved with are crime prevention, helping local groups, campaining improvements on open spaces and play parks, planning matters (we are statutory consultees), and campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities in our area.
It’s true to say that on their own, community councils have limited powers to make decisions. But they do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those other organisations that do make the final decisions (such as the district or county council, health authorities, police etc).
In this respect councils are extremely powerful. The organisations that make the final decisions know that a community council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something, and its views will be taken seriously.
How much time does it take up?
The Council meets at least once a month, to which members of the public are also invited. Meetings may last two or three hours, depending on the agenda set for the meeting to discuss. We also have committees to deal with specific subjects, such as Planning and Environment and Places and there are community activities or helping develop a new project for the community to also help with, but this won’t happen every day, so it’s not going to take over your life.
How long does a Community Councillor serve for?
Once elected, councillors sit on the council for a maximum of four years. If they then want to stay in the post they can stand for re-election.
Applicants should note that councillors are expected to attend regular meetings and any additional meetings as may be arranged, and to represent the electors of Kennington in raising and discussing those issues of interest and concern on which the Community Council is empowered to act.
Am I eligible to be a Community Councillor?
You have to be:
• a British subject, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union
• over 18 years of age
and additionally you have to be one of the following
• a local government elector for the council area for which you want to stand
• have during the whole of the 12 months occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the council area or within 3 miles of it for the whole period
• have during that same period had your principal or only place of work in the council area or within 3 miles of it for the whole period.
You cannot stand for election if you
• are subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order.
• have, within five years before the day of the election, been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence and have had a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine.
• you work for the council you want to become a councillor for (but you can work for other local authorities, including the principal authorities that represent the same area).
You don’t have to be connected to a political party.
If you do become a community councillor you will have to sign up to the Code of Conduct.
Don’t take our word for it!
The best way to find out what it’s like to be a community councillor is to talk to someone who’s doing it now.
Come along to one of our meetings, or speak to one of our councillors and find out what they think of the job.
Please see the following resources for more information that may help that decision to join easier:
All About Town and Parish Councils prepared by The National Association of Local Authorities (NALC)
It takes all sorts prepared by NALC in 2011 as part of a drive to encourage individuals from under represented groups to become local councillors.
Make a Change, Become a Councillor Campaign from NALC to encourage people from all backgrounds to put themselves forward to join Parish and Town Councils. The site includes a number of short films collated where you can hear from councillors about why they joined their council and what difference they hope to make.
If you are ready to apply, please click on the link to the application
If you need more information contact the clerk on e: clerk@kenningtoncc.gov.uk or mobile: 07928 824482.
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