Life as a District Councillor and how to become one

Councillors are people who are elected to the local council to represent their local community. They must either live or work in the district (for other criteria see 'How do I Become a Councillor'?).

Being a councillor is a rewarding, and often challenging, form of public service. You will be in a position to make a difference to the quality of other people's daily lives and prospects. However, being an effective councillor requires commitment and hard work. On a daily basis, councillors have to balance the needs and interests of residents, their political party (if any) and the Council. These will all make legitimate demands on your time - on top of the demands of your personal and professional life.

As well as dealing with residents' letters, e-mails and telephone calls, you will want to go out and talk to people in the community and, sometimes, meet residents at home. Some councillors also hold regular drop-in surgeries, where residents can discuss their problems or concerns face to face. As well as attending Council and committee meetings, you will be expected to attend meetings of your political group (if you have one). All of these duties are likely to take up a sizeable amount of your time and should not be underestimated. That said, how much time you devote to Council work is largely up to you and depends upon the number of commitments you take on.

You can also find further information on the LGA website. (opens new window)