A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

How to become a county councillor

What is a county councillor?

The roles and responsibilities of a county councillor include:

  • setting corporate policies which are then followed by officers
  • informed decision-making on behalf the whole community
  • scrutiny of the decisions taken by the Cabinet/Executive
  • scrutinising and helping develop policies
  • representing the ward for which you are elected
  • community leadership and engagement
  • regulatory, quasi-judicial and statutory duties

Councillors play an important part in decisions about council services and may be nominated to sit on a number of committees.

Most of these committees currently sit in the evenings:

  • Full Council
  • Cabinet
  • Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee
  • Audit and Risk Committee
  • Planning and Licensing Committee
  • Employment and Appeals Committee
  • Conduct Committee
  • Constitution Commission

As you're elected by the public to represent a specific area within the county, one of your key roles will be listening to your community.

Members of the public – your constituents – may approach you for advice or information and you'll work with our officers to resolve these queries and report back to them.

Equally, you'll have a role in being the Council’s voice and sharing information with your community. This may include:

  • directing people to specific services
  • explaining policies and decisions
  • encouraging participation in consultations and other forms of engagement

You may also play an active role on any parish councils within your area - attending meetings, informing them of developments which may affect them and helping provide information about the delivery of council services.

In some cases, you may be appointed as the Council’s representative on various external bodies. Examples include:

  • representing the Council and county’s interest at national and regional bodies, such as the Local Government Association or East Midlands Councils
  • contributing to the governance of key public services across counties as the Council’s representative on the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Fire Authority or Police and Crime Panel
  • advising relevant bodies on public rights of way on the Countryside Access Forum
  • advising on the format and delivery of religious education on the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education
  • attending partnership bodies with local stakeholders, such as the Rutland Water Partnership

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