Welcome to Warwickshire County Council

Have you ever thought about becoming a County Councillor?
Are you interested in helping your local community? Do you ever wish you could influence the way things are done in your area? Do you have the skills to listen, debate and make a sound decision? Have you got the confidence to stand up and speak in public? Are you prepared to extend your skills and knowledge? Could you devote time to your community?
If you answered yes to these questions then why not become a County Councillor? The next County election will be held during 2013 and all 62 seats will be contested. (Please see above notice re a casual vacancy in the Nuneaton St. Nicolas Electoral Division) You do not need any formal qualifications to become a councillor. You can be a councillor for more than one council – such as your district or borough council and your county council. Become a Councillor - Make Your Voice Heard Frequently Asked Questions:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What does the County Council do? What is a County Councillor? How do I become a County Councillor? Do I have to be political? Will I be able to take time off work? How much time will it take? Will I get paid?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. What does the County Council do?
A. Warwickshire County Council provides a wide range of services to over half a million residents, spends over £0.5 billion a year and employs around 16,000 people. It works with other public, private and voluntary bodies to make Warwickshire a better place for people to live and work. It has specific responsibilities to provide: Schools and other educational opportunities; Social care services for young and older people; Libraries, Museums and other cultural activities; The Fire and Rescue Service; The Trading Standards Service; Highways and other public rights of way; and Planning advice as the strategic planning authority, and determining planning applications for minerals and waste management. Other services are provided through partnerships and by the five District and Borough councils. The vision statement for Warwickshire County Council, agreed by Cabinet in May 2007 is: "Working in Partnership to put Customers first; Improve Services and Lead Communities".
[Back to Top]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. What is a County Councillor?
A. County Councillors are people who wish to improve the effectiveness of local services in Warwickshire and represent the views of the people of their division. Councillors are ordinary people that carry out a very varied and demanding role. Ideally, Members of the Council should reflect the diversity of the population in the district, with a wide range of backgrounds, interests and needs represented. If successfully elected, you will be invited to take part in 'New Member Induction' where you will learn more about your role and the Council, meet the officers who will support you in your role as well and other newly elected Councillors. Training packages will also be developed to assist Members to carry out their responsibilities.
[Back to Top]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. How do I become a County Councillor?
A. To become a County Councillor you have to be elected to one of 62 seats (electoral divisions) of the Council. If you wish to stand for Election, you do not have to live in the electoral division you stand in, but you must be: at least 18 years old; a British citizen, an EU citizen or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen; and a local elector or have lived and worked in Warwickshire for at least a year before being nominated. If you would like further information on becoming a candidate please contact the Electoral Officer in the District or Borough in which you wish to stand: North Warwickshire Borough Council 01827 719221 elections@northwarks.gov.uk Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council 02476 376230 02476 3766221 democratic.support@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk Rugby Borough Council 01788 533595 elections@rugby.gov.uk Stratford on Avon District Council 01789 260208 elections@stratford-dc.gov.uk Warwick District Council 01926 412656 elections@warwickdc.gov.uk
[Back to Top]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. Do I have to be political?
A. Councillors don't need to be identified with a political group, although in practice most are. The political groups provide the opportunity for the informal discussion of issues outside the formal structure and help develop consistent lines of thought in the key policy areas.
[Back to Top]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. Will I be able to take time off work?
A. If a Councillor works, their employer must by law (Employment Rights Act 1996, Section 50) allow them to take a reasonable amount of time off during working hours, to perform their Council duties. Employers do not have to pay an employee while they are on Council business and the amount of time off will depend on an individual’s responsibilities and the effect absences from work could have on an employer’s business. This should be discussed with your employer before you commit to becoming a Councillor.
[Back to Top]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. How much time will it take?
A. This will depend on how much time, effort and commitment you are willing to devote to the role. New Councillors will need to get to know the area they represent and as community leaders be able to deal with local issues as well as county issues. All 62 Councillors have a role within the Council’s decisionmaking arrangements, often reflecting their personal areas of interest. Most new Councillors will serve on a number of committees, including overview and scrutiny committees, which have an important role examining local services to ensure they are effective and meeting local needs. In addition all Councillors attend full Council and Area Committee meetings. Councillors can expect to attend at least two or three meetings a month, and most of these are held during office hours. There will be other local meetings a new Councillor will need to attend, such as school governing bodies or parish council meetings and most meetings involve papers that will need to be read beforehand. Being a Councillor is not a full-time role, but does need a time commitment that is likely to impact on their lives.
[Back to Top]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. Will I get paid?
A. Councillors are not paid a salary, but are paid an allowance for the time and expense incurred whilst on Council business. Special Responsibility Allowances are also paid to some Councillors such as Cabinet Members or Committee Chairs for the extra work and responsibility this involves.
[Back to Top]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meet our current County Councillors: A large variety of people stand for election for many reasons - Meet our current Councillors at Warwickshire County Council.
[Back to Top]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You cannot stand as a Councillor if you:
Are employed by or hold a paid office under that local authority (including joint boards or committees); OR Have been adjudged bankrupt, or have made a composition or arrangement with creditors; OR Have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 3 months or more (including a suspended sentence) without the option of a fine, during the five years before the day of the election; OR Have been disqualified under Part III of the Representation of the People Act 1983 or under the Audit Commission Act 1998. A person may also be disqualified from election if he or she has been convicted or reported guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court. Additionally, the Local Government Housing Act 1989 defines a number of politically restricted posts under a local authority, holders of which are disqualified from election to and membership of a local authority.
[Back to Top]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Useful External Links:
Improvement and Development Agency (IDEA) Councillor's Guide 2008 - 2009 The Electoral Commission Direct.gov Local Government Association
[Back to Top]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For further information, please contact:
Jane Pollard Democratic Services Warwickshire County Council Shire Hall Warwick CV34 4SA Tel: 01926 412565 democraticservices@warwickshire.gov.uk
[Back to Top]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------