Your Councillors

What Councillors do

The role is varied. Councillors help to plan for the area’s future and listen to residents’ problems and ideas. They also work with local groups and talk with residents about what the Council is doing.

Decision-making and monitoring: Councillors decide which activities to support, where money is spent, which services to deliver and which policies to put in place. They do this by attending meetings and committees. They also check that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services.

Getting involved locally: As local representatives, Councillors support residents and local organisations. What this looks like depends on what each Councillor wants to achieve and how much time they have.

How long Councillors serve

A Councillor’s term usually lasts four years from the election, though this is not always the case. If a Councillor is unable to continue, a new one is either elected in a by-election or co-opted. Co-option means a panel of current Councillors and the Clerk interviews candidates and selects the person best suited to the role. Councillors who join through a by-election or co-option serve until the next election.