	Electoral Services Torbay Council Town Hall Castle Circus Torquay TQ1 3DS
	electoral.regist ration@torbay.go v.uk
	01803 207171
	01803 207112

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Councillors & Decisions
How to Stand for Election
Prospective Candidate Events

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Electoral Commission

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Become a councillor?

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 all of the above, you could become one of 36 borough councillors or one of 12 Brixham Town councillors.

STOP PRESS: All prospective candidates are invited to attend our prospective candidate events.

You may want to know a little more about what is involved so we have compiled some useful information to help you decide if it is right for you.

Frequently asked questions

How does the council work?

Torbay Council provides over 700 local services such as education, road maintenance, leisure facilities and refuse collection to approximately 135,000 residents and the many visitors to Torbay each year.

The council is run by a mayor and 36 councillors who are elected by the residents of Torbay every 4 years. They are responsible for making decisions on behalf of the community about the services provided by the council.

What is a councillor?

Local councillors represent the view of the community in set areas (wards). They are your representative on Torbay Council.

As a councillor you will be a:

Representative for individuals and groups within your ward. You will act as a source of information or point of access to public services, often through regular surgeries which are usually held in public places such as schools or libraries
Community leader, developing links with all parts of the community and supporting local partnerships and organisations. In this role you will be able to campaign on local issues.
Policy maker,attending council meetings on issues such as housing, social services, schools, planning and the environment. The mayor may invite you to become a member of the Cabinet to oversee the implementation of the council’s policies.
Scrutineer, you may become involved in Overview and Scrutiny, which acts as the council’s “watchdog” to improve services for local people by reviewing how services are provided, investigating issues of local concern, holding decision-makers to account and making recommendations for improvement.

How much of my time will it take up?

It will depend on the extent of your involvement, your political activities and how much you want to be involved in particular issues. The minimum is likely to be equivalent to one day a week and this can involve weekends. However, the leading councillors spend much more time than this. A councillor’s term of office lasts for a maximum of 4 years when elections are held again to elect or re-elect a councillor for a new term.

What other involvement is there?

The council works in partnership with many other organisations which provide community services. Councillors are appointed to represent the council’s view on many of these bodies.

Do I have to belong to a political party?

No. Councillors either represent a political party or are independent. If they are a member of a political party, their priorities whilst in office are influenced by the priorities of the party.

What support will I get?

Staff in the Democratic Services team are on hand to provide support with correspondence, photocopying, expenses, etc. You can also get information and advice from all senior council staff. All councillors are connected to the council’s email network and are provided with a personal computer. An internet line at your home is also provided. Post is delivered to the councillor’s homes twice a week.

Can I afford it?

All councillors currently receive a £7,680 basic allowance plus travelling and subsistence expenses. Those with special responsibilities such as Cabinet Members and Committee Chairmans receive additional allowances.

Will this affect my benefits?

The allowances you receive may affect any benefits you are being paid. If you receive any benefits you should contact the agency that provided them to find out how you may be affected.

Is there any training?

Being a councillor will give you the opportunity to develop many skills such as public speaking, debating and problem solving. To assist you in your new role a carefully prepared induction programme on the council, its priorities and challenges will be provided. Further extensive training and development will also be available to you throughout tour term to help you develop your skills as a councillor such as personal coaching and IT training.

When are councillors elected?

Each councillor is elected for four years and the next local elections for Torbay Council will be held on 3 May 2007.

How can I become a councillor?

Anyway is entitled to stand as a candidate provided they meet the following principal qualifications. If you wish to stand as a candidate, you must be at least 18 years old and you must be a British citizen, a citizen of the Irish Republic, the Commonwealth or another Member State of the European Union. You must also meet at least one of the following qualifications:

be a registered elector for the area of the Borough of Torbay at nomination and on polling day; or
for the whole of the previous twelve months have:
1. lived in that area; or
2. occupied, as owner or tenant, any land or premises in that area; or
for that twelve months, have had your principal or only place of work in that area

How do I put my name forward?

If you wish to stand as a candidate you must contact the Electoral Services office to request a nomination pack. For an overview of the nomination process please click here.

How can I find out more?

We are holding two prospective candidate events, one for prospective Torbay councillors and one for prospective Brixham councillors.

If you wish to find out more about being a councillor please visit Councillors and Decisions.

You can also visit the Electoral Commission’s website for more information on being a candidate. The Electoral Commission are an independent body that was set up by the UK Parliament.