There are 16 seats on Cotgrave Town Council, so if more than 16 people stand for election, there will be a ballot and the 16 candidates with the most votes get elected.
The Council is a constantly changing body of people; once elected, Town Councillors can usually site on the Council for a maximum of four years, If they then want to stay in the post they must stand for re-election. Residents are actively encouraged to apply to join they Town Council, and it is always good to welcome new members. Ideally, all age groups and a wide demographic should be represented on a Council.
A Town Council is the local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the Town and makes representations on their behalf to other bodies (eg on planning matters). It is the level of government closest to the community with Rushcliffe Borough Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.
Who can become a Town Councillor?
Any resident of Cotgrave who:
- has occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the Town area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of nomination and the day of election;
- Is at least 18 years old;
- is a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any other member state of the European Union (this hasn’t changed!)
Also, you would need to meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
- You are, and will continue to be registered as a local government elector for the Town in which you would wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards;
- Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the parish/community area;
- You have lived in the Town or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election;
- You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
What do Town Councils do?
Town Councils make all kinds of decisions and make representations to other local and national bodies, on issues that affect the local community; from working with the Borough and County Councils, local Police, community groups, arranging mowing of grassed areas within Cotgrave, managing open spaces and play areas, engaging with other local parishes on matters that affect us all.
There are limited powers to make decisions, but Town Councils do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those other organisations that do make the final decisions.
For more information and a nomination form:
Please contact the Town Clerk, Julie Stephenson
email:clerk@cotgrave-tc.gov.uk
Suite F, Cotgrave Business Hub, Candleby Lane, Cotgrave, Nottingham, NG12 3US
Telephone: 0115 9893876
The Good Councillors Guide is a really good introduction to the work of Parish Councils.
And the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has also produced a booklet All About Parish Councils