The role of a Councillor is an extremely rewarding way of serving the local community with the primary role being to represent their ward and the individual people within it. Councillors get the chance to contribute to improving the quality of life for local people in many ways, from supporting individual residents in something that is hugely important to them on a personal level, to being part of the decision making that will shape the lives of people living across the whole borough.
Further information regarding the eligibility to stand as a councillor can be found at the Electoral Commission website. When an election is due, vacancies for councillors to serve on Borough and Parish/Town Councils are published on the Councils website and at the Municipal Buildings, Church Road, Stockton-on-Tees. In the case of vacancies for Parish/Town Councils, notices are also put up within the relevant area. Stockton Council have also produced a document called "A Guide to Member Roles" which you can access at the bottom of the page.
Every authority is required to adopt a Code of Conduct that sets out rules and procedures that govern the behaviour of elected members (councillors). The Code of Conduct covers issues such as members not abusing their position or their authorities resources. There are also rules covering disclosure of interests at meetings and the recording financial and other interests on a public register.
Further information on councillor's and committee's they attend can be found under the "Related Content" heading.
