Why become a Parish Councillor?
As a parish councillor, you become someone your community will look to for help,
guidance and support, a community leader with the power to influence decisions
for the benefit of the people you serve. You will represent the residents of your parish
and spend time listening to residents views as their elected representative.

Seeing your community change for the better as a result of decisions you have helped
make, is something that will give you a sense of achievement and pride.

What decisions do Parish Councils make?
Probably the most common topics that parish councils get involved with are planning
matters (they are statutory consultees), crime prevention, managing open spaces and
campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities.

On their own, parish councils have limited powers to make decisions.  However, they do
have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those other organisations
that do make the final decisions and, in this respect, parish councils can be extremely
powerful.

The organisations that make the final decisions know that a parish council gives the best
reflection of how a community feels about something and our views are taken seriously.

Parish Duties
The duties and functions of a parish council are many and varied so it is an interesting position
to hold.

Awbridge Parish Council meets six-weekly (except August) and meetings may last up to two hours,
depending upon the agenda items to be discussed.

The Parish Council discuss and decide upon planning applications and any other matters referred
to it by local residents.

There is also an annual parish assembly which all parishioners are invited to.

Residents can bring to the attention of the parish council anything that concerns them, either
directly to their parish councillor or through the clerk.

If matters raised are not the responsibility of the council, the clerk can bring them to the attention
of the proper authority.

How much time does it take up?
In addition to the regular meetings, some councillors have specific duties (portfolios) requiring
them to attend other meetings to represent the council, e.g. acting as a representative on an
outside body, or helping develop a new project for the community.

Such meetings don’t happen often, so it’s not going to take over your life.

How long does a parish councillor serve for?
Once elected, parish councillors sit on the council for a term of four years. If they then want to
stay in the post they can stand for re-election.

Councillors can also be co-opted.  This requires the prospective candidate to write a brief resumé
and attend a parish meeting for a short informal interview.  The councillors will then take a vote and
ppoint the most suitable candidate.

Am I eligible to be a Parish Councillor?
To become a parish councillor you must:

 - be an elector of the parish, or; 
 - for the whole of the previous 12 months have occupied (as owner or tenant) land or other 
   premises ​in the parish, or; 
 - during the previous 12 months have worked in the parish (as your principal or only place of work), or; 
 - for the whole of the previous 12 months lived in the parish or within three miles of the parish boundary. 
 - be a least 18 years old.

The best way to find out what it’s like to be a parish councillor is to talk to someone who’s doing it now.  
Come along to a parish council meeting, or speak to one of our councillors and find out what they think of the job.