Become a Parish Councillor
Could you make a difference in Collingham and Linton?
Being a Parish Councillor is a great opportunity to get involved in your local community, represent the views of residents and help shape the future of Collingham and Linton.
You don't need previous experience of being a Councillor. What matters is that you care about our community, are willing to listen to residents and want to contribute to making the parish a better place to live.
The Parish Council welcomes people from all backgrounds and with a wide range of skills, experience and ideas.
What does a Parish Councillor do?
Parish Councillors play an important role in representing local residents and helping the Parish Council make decisions about matters affecting the community.
The role can include:
- attending Parish Council meetings;
- listening to and representing the views of local residents;
- considering local issues and proposals;
- helping to make decisions about parish facilities and services;
- contributing to community projects and initiatives;
- considering planning applications and other local matters; and
- working with residents, community groups and other organisations.
Training and support are available to Councillors, so you don't need to know everything about local government when you join the Council.
Who can become a Parish Councillor?
To stand for election as a Parish Councillor, you must:
- be 18 years of age or older;
- be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights; and
- meet at least one of the following qualifications:
- You are registered as a local government elector for the parish;
- You have occupied land or premises in the parish as an owner or tenant for the whole of the 12 months before the relevant day;
- Your principal or only place of work has been in the parish for the whole of the 12 months before the relevant day; or
- You have lived in the parish, or within three miles of it, for the whole of the 12 months before the relevant day.
The Electoral Commission provides full guidance on the qualifications and disqualifications for candidates.
Are there any reasons why I might not be able to become a Councillor?
There are certain circumstances in which a person may be disqualified from standing for election or holding office as a Parish Councillor.
These include certain employment, bankruptcy restrictions, criminal convictions and electoral offences, together with other statutory disqualifications.
The rules are detailed, so if you are unsure whether you are eligible, please check the Electoral Commission's guidance or seek independent legal advice.
Electoral Commission – Guidance for Candidates at Parish Council Elections
Current Parish Councillor Vacancies
There are currently six vacancies on Collingham with Linton Parish Council.
The vacancies can currently be filled by co-option. If you are interested in becoming a Parish Councillor, please contact the Parish Clerk for further information about the role and the co-option process.
What is co-option?
Co-option is a process that allows the Parish Council to fill a vacant seat between elections.
Where a vacancy is to be filled by co-option, the Council invites interested residents to apply. Applications are then considered by the Parish Council and, where appropriate, a candidate is formally co-opted onto the Council.
If you would like to find out more about the current vacancies, you are welcome to attend a Parish Council meeting to see how the Council works and meet the existing Councillors.
Co-option Policy
Please contact the Clerk for an application form:
clerk@collinghamlintonparishcouncil.gov.uk
Looking ahead
The next Parish Council elections will take place in May 2027. Councillors elected at that election will serve a four-year term.