Source: https://shinfieldparish.gov.uk/your-parish-council/becoming-a-councillor/
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Becoming a Councillor - Shinfield Parish Council
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Becoming a Councillor
Home
Your Parish Council
Becoming a Councillor
Interested in becoming a Parish Councillor
Want to advocate for your community? have some spare time? can attend a couple of meetings per month?
Email our Clerk for a informal chat
Click Here
Make a Difference Where You Live
Are you passionate about your community? Do you want to help shape the future of Shinfield Parish? Becoming a parish councillor is a rewarding way to get involved, influence local decisions, and represent the voices of residents.
As a councillor, you’ll help steer local projects, support community groups, protect valued green spaces, and contribute to plans that improve daily life for everyone.
You don’t need any specialist background or formal training — just a genuine interest in your community and a willingness to listen, learn, and get involved.
Your ideas, energy, and perspective could make a real and lasting impact.
Join us and help make Shinfield an even better place to live, work, and thrive.
Serving as a councillor on a parish or town council is governed by the Local Government Act 1972 (LGA 1972).
Shinfield Parish Council has 15 seats, though often there are fewer nominees than available positions. Elections occur every four years, with uncontested seats filled by co-option, following proper procedures. Additional vacancies between elections may also be filled by co-option unless 10 or more people request a by-election, in which case an election is held.
Eligibility
Broadly speaking, anyone who has a desire and sufficient spare time to serve the community can become a councillor. Their appointment is subject to the qualifying criteria being met and the individual being willing to adhere to the statutory
Code of Conduct for Parish Councillors.
Qualifying criteria
A candidate must be:
A British subject or a citizen of the a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union
At least 18 years of age
A local government elector for the area of the authority, or for during the preceding 12 months, lived in the parish or within 3 miles of the parish, have owned or occupied land in the parish, or worked in the parish
A candidate cannot:
Hold paid office or employment within the council
Be subject to a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order
Have been within the last five years convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for more than three months
Relevant skills are:
Good listening skills
Good decision-making skills
Good local knowledge
Applying to fill a casual vacancy
A candidate must be:
A British subject or a citizen of the a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union
At least 18 years of age
A local government elector for the area of the authority, or for during the preceding 12 months, lived in the parish or within 3 miles of the parish, have owned or occupied land in the parish, or worked in the parish
A candidate cannot:
Hold paid office or employment within the council
Be subject to a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order
Have been within the last five years convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for more than three months
Relevant skills are:
Good listening skills
Good decision-making skills
Good local knowledge
The council chooses someone to fill a vacancy if insufficient candidates are proposed for seats at an election. An ordinary election occurs every four years but there may be an election when a seat falls vacant at other times.
In addition, if a vacancy occurs between elections (for example, by the resignation of a councillor), the council must generally find out if the electors want an election before they can co-opt.
It is better for democracy if councillors are elected rather than relying on co-option, so they can be confident that the council is the community’s choice of representatives.
If you are interested in filling a casual vacancy by co-option, either contact the council, via the Clerk, the Chairman or the Vice Chairman, stating your desire to serve on the council, or come along to any of our meetings. We welcome candidates from all walks of life and appreciate a diversity of skills and knowledge. Everyone who joins the council enhances our skills base in one way or another.
Applying to join the council at election time or a By Election
Administration of formal elections is undertaken by Wokingham Borough Council.
If you want to stand you can obtain the necessary forms from:
The Returning Officer Wokingham Borough Council Shute End Wokingham RG40 1BN
WBC Elections
For more information or to have an informal chat, please call our Clerk on 0118 988 8220 or email
clerk@shinfieldparish.gov.uk
For information on our current Parish Councillors,
click here
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Reading, RG2 9EH
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