Create a new local council
To set up a new parish or town council, you must provide the principal authority with a petition that has signatures of at least 7.5% of the local population to trigger a Community Governance Review. In some cases, the principal authority can trigger this themselves. A neighbourhood forum that’s had a Neighbourhood Plan passed at referendum can trigger a Community Governance Review without needing a petition.
You can get more information and advice about what you need to do from the National Association of Local Councils’ (NALC) Create a Council.
You can also read about what happens after a petition is submitted in Guidance on Community Governance Reviews, which explains how local authorities should review the petitions.
Become a local councillor
Parish and town councils are the grassroots of local democracy and have a greater understanding of the views and interests within their localities.
By becoming a councillor you will be an important member of a team that works to represent those views and find ways to improve the area and lives of your fellow neighbours. You may be able to bring skills and/or knowledge to the council, or the council may be an opportunity for you to learn new skills and meet others with the same community spirit and desire to help build a better future for generations to come.
How do I become a councillor?
New councillors are elected on to the council through elections that are usually held every four years. To be eligible you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a British citizen, an eligible commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any other member of the EU
- Meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
- Your name must appear on the local elector register for the parish at the time of nomination should you be elected.
- Have occupied any land or other premises as owner or tenant in the parish during 12
months before the day of nomination and day of election. - Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of nomination and day of election has been within the parish area. You do not have to have paid employment to qualify as long as your main or only place of work is in the parish area.
- You have lived in the parish or within three miles of it during the 12 months before the day of nomination and day of election.
To find out more about being a councillor, download ‘Get Informed, Get Involved’ below.
To find out more about your local council you can visit its website, social media, local newsletter and notice boards.
The AEA have released a free short parish nominations course to help candidates at parish and town councils in England accurately complete their nomination papers.
Log In Page | How to complete parish council nomination papers
Get Informed, Get Involved
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Become a clerk
The most senior employee in a local council is often known as the clerk or executive officer, and they have the legal role of proper officer. If you become a clerk you will provide the council with independent, objective and professional advice and support. Your role will be to ensure the council conducts its business lawfully.
What qualifications do I need to be a clerk?
Specific qualifications, skills and experience needed will depend on the employing council, but ideally you will have administrative experience and be IT literate.
You will be able to work towards obtaining a professional qualification known as the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA). The CiLCA is a foundation level qualification, which will test all aspects of your work. If you achieve the qualification, it will demonstrate that you have all knowledge and skills you need, and give you extra confidence in your role.
What responsibilities does the role entail?
As a clerk you will have a statutory duty to carry out all the functions of the role, and in particular to serve or issue all notifications, as per legal requirements. You will be seen as a professional adviser to the council and will be required to assist with developing policies and procedures to ensure that the council conducts their business and makes decisions within the constraints of the law and with best practices.
Sometimes, depending on the size of the council and the number of employees they have, you may also be the responsible financial officer (RFO) and asked to manage the council’s financial records and auditing procedures. Larger councils tend to have a separate RFO among a team of staff, while smaller councils often combine the RFO and clerk roles.
Why be a clerk?
Becoming a clerk can be tremendously fulfilling as it is a key role within the local government sector. A competent clerk is a true asset to both the parish council and the community in which it serves. You will learn new skills and knowledge that can build your confidence and you will have the opportunity to gain a recognised qualification.