What will you stand for?
See http://beacouncillor.eelga.gov.uk for more information.
A guide to being a Stowmarket Town Councillor
People become Councillors for many different reasons, they might be passionate about a local issue, or they maybe want to be involved in improving the lives of people around them.
Whatever the reason, being a Councillor is a great way to make a difference and can be done by just about anyone; there is no 'Councillor type', just ordinary, everyday people - people like you.
There are roughly 20,000 elected Councillors in England; each representing their local community, all with their own reason for doing so. You could be one of them.
It might be the state of the park, community centre or school that you think needs to change in your local area. Or perhaps you want the opportunity to do something worthwhile and rewarding to help your local community.
What do Councillors do?
Councillors are the people who are elected to a Council to represent their local community. They represent a geographical area, known as a ward, and usually serve a four-year term.
The role of Councillor does not have a clear job description, and each individual’s role will vary depending on their level of commitment. However, there are rules to guide Councillors as to what they can, and should, do.
Councillors have three main areas of work:
· Decision making
Through attending meetings and committees with other elected Councillors, they decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented.
· Monitoring
Councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services be keeping an eye on how well things are working.
· Getting involved locally
As local representatives, Councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. This often depends on what the Councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available.
The day to day work of a Councillor may include:
· going to meetings of local organisations such as tenants’ associations
· going to meetings of bodies that affect the wider community, such as the Police, Highways Authority, schools and colleges
· taking up issues on behalf of members of the public, such as making representations to the District or Borough Council
· running a surgery for residents to bring up issues
· meeting with individual residents in their own homes
A Council is made up of Councillors and Officers – they are the people who work for the Council. While Councillors focus on results and actions – what will actually happen – the Officers are there to actually make those things happen.
The policies belong to the Council; the Councillor’s role is to decide the policy and action to be taken. The role of the Town Clerk and his officers is to carry out the policy and implement decisions.
Officers also provide support and assistance to Councillors, and can help with casework.
Who can be a Councillor?
Almost anyone can be a Councillor, as long as they:
1. are British, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union
2. are 18 years of age or over
3. are registered to vote in the area or have lived, worked or owned a property there for at least 12 months before an election
4. do NOT work for the Council they wish to be a Councillor for
5. do NOT work in a politically restricted post
6. are NOT bankrupt or have surcharges in excess of £2,000
7. have NOT served a prison sentence of three months or more in the five years before an election
8. have NOT been disqualified under any legislation relating to corrupt or illegal practices
What else do potential Councillors need to know?
Being a Councillor does not destroy your private and social life. 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 Councillor is an enjoyable way of contributing to your community and helping to make it a better place to live and work.
Many Councillors also have a ‘day job’ – a full time career they need to keep while serving as a Councillor. It is a good idea to have a discussion with your employer about what it could involve. By law, your employer must allow you to take a reasonable amount of time off during working hours to perform your duties as a Councillor – the amount of time will depend on your responsibilities and the effect of your absence on your employer’s business.
Decide from the start how available you want to be to your residents. There’s no right or wrong way of doing this, but be consistent so that people understand how you work.
All Councils provide an induction and training for new Councillors on many aspects of the job. Councillors do not receive a salary, however can be paid an allowance for expenses incurred.
Stowmarket Town Council
In Stowmarket, there are three wards - North, Central and South Wards.
The Town Council serves a population of approximately 19,000 people, is made up of 15 elected Councillors and is backed up by a staff of over 30 Officers.
The Town Council is growing in influence and size and this is expected to continue. Stowmarket issues and services should be dealt with locally by involvement with the residents. The Town Council is ideally placed to respond quickly to local issues and matters arising in the town.
Council Meetings
All 15 Town Councillors make up the Full Council, which meets on the third Wednesday of every month at 7.00pm in the Stowmarket Town Council Chamber. There are also two Committees – Planning, Consultation & Strategy and Operations & Services.
The Planning, Consultation & Strategy Committee is made up of nine Councillors and meets on the first and third Wednesday of every month. The aims of the Committee are:
· to encourage the development of Stowmarket a key place-shaper
· to develop the mission, aims and objectives of the Town Council through long and short term business planning
The Committee comments on applications for planning permission and consultation documents, develops Council strategy and contributes to business planning.
The Operations & Services Committee is also made up of nine Councillors and meets on the first Wednesday of every month. The aims of the Committee are:
· to monitor Stowmarket Town Council's management of internal operations and delivery of public services
· to guide financial planning within the business objectives and meeting pubic requirements
The Committee receives regular reports from Officers, considers budget proposals, makes recommendation to Full Council, approves applications for financial assistance, advises on personnel matters, reviews accommodation and facilities and considers development of new public services and/or the extension of existing services.
Stowmarket Town Council Services
The Town Council runs and owns many different amenities which serve the people of Stowmarket, as well as the surrounding villages, provides a range of functions on behalf of its residents and provides public leisure events in the town. These include:
· Providing the Regal Cinema and Theatre
· Providing and equip Hillside Community Center
· Providing and encouraging the use of conference facilities
· Maintaining the Corn Exchange
· Running the Market
· Providing and maintaining cemeteries and memorials
· Providing and maintaining allotments
· Acquiring land, maintaining public parks and recreational areas and the appropriate facilities
· Providing CCTV
· Providing and maintaining public clocks
· Providing and maintaining public lavatories
· Keeping Stowmarket Tidy
· Providing litter bins in streets
· Supporting anti-litter campaigns
· Planting and maintaining roadside verges
· Holding Councillor Surgeries
· Contributing to community organisations and groups
· Spending money on crime prevention measures
· Managing the Town Centre
· Commenting on planning applications
· Making bye-laws
· Running a Grants Scheme
· Holding StowFest
· Holding a Christmas Light Switch On
Stowmarket Town Council Mission Statement
“As an evolving Town Council we promote the social, economic and environmental well being of Stowmarket through the provision of quality services and facilities that are accessible to all. We work with our residents, other local authorities, businesses and community organisations to achieve a safe, healthy and prosperous community. We work with residents to have more say over the town environment in which they live”.
Aims
Ø To provide services and facilities that meets the needs and expectations of our residents and visitors.
Ø To constantly strive to improve the town's services and environment by working with our partner organisations.
Ø To promote the economic and social development of Stowmarket by encouraging local enterprise and by levering in external funding.
Ø To be a strong advocate for the views of our townspeople, traders and visitors.
Ø To involve the townspeople and organisations in all future developments.
Ø To be a good and fair employer by providing fulfilling work opportunities and conditions for our staff and in so doing recognising their importance to the Town Council.
Ø To ensure sound financial management of the Town Council resources through Member and officer involvement.
Ø To provide every opportunity to assist Councillors to play their part in Town Council affairs including through the provision of learning and development.
