notice-of-vacancy-within-6-months-of-election-acre-rigg-ward-of-peterlee-parish
A casual vacancy has arisen in for a position as Local Councillor for the Acre Rigg Ward for Peterlee Town Council.
On 21st November the Town Council resolved to fill the position by co-option until May 2017 when full elections for all seats of office on the Council will be held.
If you are interested in becoming a Councillor on Peterlee Town Council please contact Ian Morris, Town Clerk by email clerk@peterlee.gov.uk, telephone (0191) 5862491 or at the following address:
Shotton Hall, Old Shotton, Peterlee, County Durham SR8 2PH
The closing date for initial expressions of interest is Wednesday 30th November 2017.
Candidates who wish to be formally considered for the post will be asked to submit a brief written statement setting out their skills, knowledge and experience that they believe are relevant for the post. The closing date for these written statements will be Friday 2nd December.
Candidates will also be invited to a special meeting of the Town Council at 6.30pm on Monday 5th December. At this meeting they will be invited to say something about themselves in support of their application and Councillors will have the opportunity to ask questions of the candidates. Each candidate will have a maximum of three minutes in which to make their statement.
If there is more than one candidate the matter will be put to the vote. Each Councillor will have one vote. Voting will be in accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders by a show of hands and will continue until one candidate has received an absolute majority of those Councillors present. At this stage the successful candidate will be declared as co-opted and will be asked to join the meeting.
The successful candidate will be a councillor for Peterlee Town Council in their own right and is no different from any other member; co-option is a legitimate form of election onto the Council.
Frequently Asked Questions:
– what is a Town Council?
– How can I find out about what being a Town Councillor entails? Please feel free to contact the Town Clerk or read this useful guide from the National Association of Local Councils: www.nalc.gov.uk/library/publications/801-good-councillors-guide/file
– How much time is required to fulfil my duties as a Town Councillor? It can vary, but you’ll be asked to attend meetings most Monday evenings (usually 6.30pm until 9pm at the latest), and occasional other meetings on weekdays during the day. You will probably do other work in the local community such as meeting with individual members of the public, local community groups, etc. Quite often councillors say that their main duties occupy them for about three hours a week. Obviously there are some councillors who spend more time than this – and some less, but in the main, being a town councillor is an enjoyable way of contributing to your community and helping to make it a better place to live and work.
– Can I be a Town Councillor if I have a full time job? Absolutely! Many of our Councillors work full-time, part-time or are self-employed. Some of them struggle to attend meetings during office hours and will give their apologies for those meetings.
– Am I qualified for the job? Most people are. However there are a few rules.
You have to be a British citizen, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union, and 18 years or older on 5th December 2017. You cannot be a candidate for this co-option if you are the subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order, or if you have been convicted in the UK of any offence and have had a prison sentence (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine, within the last 5 years.
Anyone on the electoral register, who is not otherwise barred from standing for public office as above, who lives in Peterlee, or conducts the majority of their business in the town or parish, or lives in a neighbouring parish but within three miles of the town council’s boundary, may apply. You do not have to live in the Acre Rigg ward, although obviously local knowledge and connections could be an advantage in your role of representing the views of local people on the Town Council.
– I am interested but unsure, what should I do? Phone or email the Town Clerk, Ian Morris, on 0191 5862491 or clerk@peterlee.gov.uk for an informal chat about the role.
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