The next local Council elections will be held in May 2023

There will be 12 places on the Parish Council for the next 4 year term

Your local polling station for Brundall will be Brundall Memorial Hall and will be open for voting between 7am and 10pm.

Am I qualified?

Yes – most people are. However there are a few rules.  You must be:

• A British qualifying citizen of the Commonwealth or national of an EU member state;
• On the ‘relevant date’  (ie the day on which you are nominated, or if there is a poll on the day  of the election) be 18 years of age or over.  And at least one of the following:

• Be a registered local government  elector for the Council area for which you want to stand on the ‘relevant  date’;
• or have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the town/area during the whole  of the 12 months preceding nomination;
• or had your principal or  only place of work during the last 12 months in the town/parish;
• You can also satisfy the  criteria to be elected if you have lived in the council area or within  4.8km/(3 miles) of it for the whole of the 12 months preceding the last 12 months

You cannot stand for election if any of the below apply:

• You are the subject of a  bankruptcy restriction order or interim order;
• You have been convicted and received  a minimum 3 month custodial sentence or have been found guilty of corrupt or illegal practices;
• You work for the Council  you want to become a Councillor for (but you can work for other local  authorities that represent the same area).

But I’m too young ….Some parish councils also run youth councils, comprising a number of young people representing their local schools and colleges. They are granted their own political forum by having a space and a time to meet and discuss matters that  affect them. These youth councils are in direct communication with their parish councils so they can also be involved in decision-making. If there is not a scheme, or a parish youth forum in your community, get together with friends and put a proposal to your local community, parish or town council.

Further information

Visiting your council is the best way to find out what happens there. See the Meeting page of this website to find out when Brundall’s next Parish Council meeting will take place. (Hover over the word Meeting to find Agendas and Minutes)

There are 10,000 community, parish and town councils in England and Wales,controlled by Acts of Parliament and they are responsible for the most local of matters. Importantly, they can “precept” – raising a sum collected with the council tax each year to improve facilities and services for local people.  Parish, town and community councils in England and Wales have a number of basic responsibilities in making the lives of local communities more comfortable, many of which are often taken for granted. Essentially these powers fall within three main categories: – representing the whole electorate within the parish; delivering services to meet local needs; and striving to improve quality of life in the parish.   Individual powers include traffic calming measures, local youth projects, tourism activities, leisure facilities, car parks, village greens, public toilets, litter bins, street lighting, street cleaning, burial grounds, allotments, bus shelters, commons, opens spaces, footpaths, bridleways, and crime reduction measures.  Community, parish and town councils can also comment on planning applications – they are statutory consultees and can be represented at public inquiries.

The Role of a Councillor

What is a Councillor?

Councillors are elected to represent an individual geographical unit on the council, known as a ward or – mainly in smaller parishes – the entire parish or town council area. They are generally elected by the public every four years.

Getting involved locally – As local representatives, councillors have responsibilities towards their residents and local organisations. These responsibilities and duties often depend on what the councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available, and may include going to meetings of local organisations such as local associations, and organisations affecting the wider community; taking up issues on behalf of members of the public, running meetings for residents to bring up issues.

How much time does it take up?

Quite often Councillors say that their duties occupy them for about three hours a week. Obviously there are some Councillors who spend more time than this – and some less, but in the main, being a community, parish and town Councillor is an enjoyable way of contributing to your community, and helping to make it a better place to live and work.