Parish Councillors
There are 22 seats available upon Minshull Vernon and District Parish Council, representing the ward areas of Leighton Rural, Leighton Urban, Minshull Vernon, and Woolstanwood.
Those representing specific wards may have a defined interest in that ward, for example they may reside or work in that area.
If you have a query, it may be more practicable to contact a Parish Councillor who is associated with a specific ward (as they may have better knowledge of that area), however ANY Parish Councillor can be contacted to discuss your issues or concerns.
A list of the Parish Councillors who currently hold seats can be viewed by clicking here:
MVDPC Parish Councillor List - February 2012
As of February 2012, there were nine (9) vacancies upon the Minshull Vernon and District Parish Council.
The 2011/12 Chairman of the Parish Council is Doug Forrest.
The 2011/12 Vice Chairman of the Parish Council is Terry Beard.
If you are interested in becoming a Parish Councillor, please read below, then contact the Clerk!
Who Can Become a Parish Councillor?
You do not need to have had experience of local government to get involved with your parish council, and the vast majority of parish councillors are independent of political parties.
To become a Parish Councillor you would generally need to stand at the main election, which takes place every four years (the last election was on 5 May 2011).
However, a person can serve on the parish council without having to go through the formal process of campaigning and standing for election. This is referred to as being 'co-opted'.
Co-opting can occur if:
· there are not enough candidates to fill all parish council seats at election time
or
· a seat becomes vacant mid-term and members of the public fail to call an election
In either of these situations the parish council is required to co-opt. This is when they collectively appoint new council members, filling the vacant seats. .
If you join the council this way you will be eligible to vote and therefore part of local decision making. For example, you could help provide such public services in your community as allotments, bus shelters and transport.
Becoming a Parish Councillor requires a commitment to your community, and a small amount of time (usually no more than an hour or two per week).
As a Parish Councillor, you should be prepared to attend Parish Council meetings (usually once every 6 to 8 weeks), be a focal point for concerns from parishoners, discuss and debate issues that are ongoing in the parish, etc.
Involvement can be very rewarding, and you CAN make a difference to life quality for yourself, neighbours, friends, and fellow parishoners.
Eligibility
The general eligibility requirements to become a Parish Councillor are:
· Persons aged over 18 years
· Persons who live in, or within three miles of the parish boundary
· Persons who own, or have tenancy of, property within the parish
· Persons whose sole or primary place of work is within the parish
(NB - Certain restrictions apply that could make a person ineligible to become a Parish Councillor, including bankruptcy, custodial sentences, etc.)
For further information please contact the Clerk to the Parish Council
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