BEXHILL-ON-SEA TOWN COUNCIL – KEWHURST WARD
VACANCY FOR A TOWN COUNCILLOR
WHAT IS A TOWN COUNCIL?
Town (and Parish) Councils are the first tier of local government and are statutory bodies. They serve electorates, are independently elected and raise their own precept (a form of Council Tax).
Parish and Town councils work towards improving community well-being and providing better services. Their activities fall into three main categories: representing the local community; delivering services to meet local needs; striving to improve quality of life and community well-being.
Through an extensive range of discretionary powers local councils provide and maintain a variety of important and visible local services including allotments, bridleways, burial grounds, bus shelters, car parks, commons and open spaces, community transport schemes, community safety and crime reduction measures, events and festivals, footpaths, leisure and sports facilities, litter bins, public toilets, planning, street cleaning and lighting, tourism activities, traffic calming measures, village greens and youth projects.
ROLE OF A COUNCILLOR
As a local Councillor you can become a voice for your community and make real change. Local Councillors are the champions of their community who invest their time in local projects and issues to the benefit of residents and our town.
Local Councillor responsibilities fall into 3 main categories:
- Decision-making at Council and Committee meetings
- Monitoring the work of the Council
- Getting involved locally in key issues and community life.
CAN I STAND?
To be eligible to be a Town Councillor you must be:
A UK or Commonwealth citizen; or be a citizen of the Republic of Ireland; or be a qualifying EU citizen with retained rights
AND
At least 18 years old
AND
Meet at least one of the following criteria:
Live in Bexhill or within 3 miles of the parish boundary
OR
Have your main place of work in Bexhill
OR
Be on the electoral register for Bexhill
OR
Have occupied land or property in Bexhill as owner or tenant for the last 12 months.
In addition, you cannot stand as a Cllr if any of the following apply:
- You work for the Town Council.
- You are subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order.
- You have been sentenced to prison for three months or more in the last 5 years.
- You have been disqualified under electoral law for corrupt or illegal practices or under the Audit Commission Act 1998.
- You are subject to certain notification requirements related to sexual offences.
HOW TO APPLY
Please download and complete the application form below, then email it to:-
town.clerk@bexhilltowncouncil.gov.uk
OR post it to:-
Town Clerk, Bexhill Town Council
35 Western Road
Bexhill-on-Sea
TN40 1DU
Closing date: 6thJuly at 10am.