Upcoming Election – Thursday 2nd May 2024
Berkeley Town Council prides itself in using its powers to make a vibrant, forward-thinking Town Council to bring positive benefits to our community. Over the last few years, we have worked tirelessly to provide new facilities such as Canon Park Multi-Use Games Area, playground and fitness area. We work with a growing number of stakeholders to continue to create a happy community with socially active young people and provision for the elderly.
Local Elections will be taking place in Stroud on Thursday 2nd of May 2024, all District Council and Parish and Town Council Seats are up for election.
Would you like to know more about becoming a Town Councillor?
Town Councillors are community-minded volunteers who want to make a change in their communities and make a real difference. It’s an opportunity to be involved in the shaping the future of our town and use your life experience, personal skills, and commitment to manage a range of projects. Berkeley needs Councillors who represent a diversity of thinking and can work as a team – the Council acts as a body and all actions must first have the resolution of the Council.
The Council is the representation of people’s hopes and concerns, and focuses on making sure that local services provided are efficient, effective, and promote community wellbeing. A well-informed Council is aware of what its community needs and strives to provide this through teamwork and accessing grant funding, representation at other meetings or lobbying appropriate bodies.
What does a Town Councillor do?
A local councillor helps to tackle some big challenges of everyday life, and ensures that the council is properly managed. Councillors work together on projects to improve quality of life and tackling issues important to everyone e.g. youth club provision, creating accessible spaces, community safety.
- Councillors take part in Council Meetings and form sound judgements based on what is best for the community and then abide by majority decisions
- Councilors contribute to the management of budgets and decide how much money to raise through the Council tax to deliver Town Council services
- Listen and represent the views of the community when discussing council business and working with outside bodies
- Promote the economic, social and environmental well-being of Berkeley
- Providing community facilities and looking after all our council owned property
- Run and contribute to projects to manage bio diversity and climate change
- Participate in the governance, formation and scrutiny of Council policies, budgets, strategies and service delivery
CAN I STAND FOR ELECTION?
To stand for election to a local council you must be over 18, and a British, Commonwealth, Irish or European Union citizen
In addition, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Be registered as a local government elector for Berkeley
- Have lived in Berkeley or within a 3 mile radius for the preceding 12 months as either a property owner or tenant
- Worked in Berkeley for the preceding 12 months
- Place of work during last 12 months has been in Berkeley
The council would like to encourage potential candidates to attend a Full Council meeting, to experience what we do. The next meeting is on Monday 18th March 2024 at 7pm in the Town Hall.
Find out more: https://www.stroud.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections/becoming-a-councillor
How to submit your nomination
- To stand as a candidate, you will need to complete a set of nomination papers
- Your nomination papers will need to show that you have been formally nominated by proposer and secondee in the town
- Nominations open on Tuesday 19 March. You can collect nomination papers from the Berkeley Town Clerk at the Town Hall
- Nomination papers must be hand delivered to Stroud District Council by 4pm on 5th April 2024 for Council review
- All accepted nominees will be entered into the ballot as part of the election on Thursday 2nd However, if the number of nominees is fewer than the number of seats on the council (9), there is no election and all nominees are accepted as Councillors
