Your county councillor is the person elected every four years to represent your area
Following the Local Government Act 2000, the role of councillors changed with the introduction of a cabinet and scrutiny system. This is similar to the system in central government, with a cabinet to make major decisions and policy proposals, and scrutiny committees to examine these decisions in detail and develop new policies for the cabinet to consider.
Councillors can help if you are dissatisfied with a county council service by advising or directing you to someone who can help sort out your problem and can sometimes progress the case on your behalf. This is often done in advice surgeries where you can meet with the councillor for your ward and discuss your problem.
As community leaders they put forward proposals to improve their ward, which may include bringing together different community groups to develop a case for change.
Are you interested in becoming a County Councillor?
Councillors are elected every 4 years to represent their local area. They help if people are dissatisfied with a council service by advising or directing them to someone who can help sort out the problem and can sometimes progress the case on their behalf.
To become a County Councillor you would need to be elected to one of the 73 seats on the Council, representing a local electoral division. If you wish to stand for Election you must be:
- A British citizen, a citizen of the Commonwealth, the Republic of Ireland or of another European Union State;
- 18 years of age; and
- included on the Register of Electors for Northamptonshire, or have either lived or worked in Northamptonshire for 12 months preceding the election.
You cannot stand as a Councillor if:
- In the last 5 years you have been in prison or on a suspended sentence for 3 months or more;
- you have been declared bankrupt;
- you are an employee of Northamptonshire County Council;
- you have been disqualified.
To stand as a candidate for election you must be formally nominated by two electors on the electoral division as your proposer and seconder and eight other electors supporting your nomination. You do not have to be a member of a political party to stand as a candidate.
Do Councillors get Paid?
Councillors do not receive a salary but they are entitled to receive an allowance. All County Councillors receive a Basic Allowance plus travelling expenses. Those County Councillors who also hold a position of special responsibility such as a member of the Cabinet or the Chairman of a Scrutiny Committee, receive an additional allowance known as a Special Responsibility Allowance.
If you are interested in standing for election as a Councillor please contact us using the details on the right hand side of this page
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