PARISH ELECTIONS – CANDIDATES REQUIRED
Elections are coming soon for the new unitary authority – Dorset Council. But of more importance for our local communities are the Parish elections being held at the same time. Both sets of elections will occur on the Thursday 2nd May 2019.
For the Parish elections, residents need to consider NOW whether they wish to stand as a councillor to take part in helping our communities develop and go forward. It is well known that over the years the number of candidates putting themselves forward for Parish Councils has reduced – but why? Parish council duties are not excessive, usually only a meeting every two months, where people, come together on a voluntarily basis, take an interest in local affairs and do their best for their communities. The vast majority of Parish Councils are not involved with political parties’ aims or have election manifestos; they concentrate on the local community, their fellow residents and neighbours. Yes, the paperwork describing who can stand for election, what legal powers the Parish hold, and who is answerable to whom can appear quite daunting, but when you speak to someone who has served as a councillor you will soon become aware of how easy and uncomplicated it really is.
Basic criteria apply, but if you are over 18 years of age and already on the Register of Electors for your Parish then you qualify to stand. The application forms are not difficult to fill in; a candidate requires two other registered electors in their Parish to nominate them and to complete another form accepting the nomination. For the election this year, the completed forms need to be accepted by the Electoral Registration Officer, West Dorset District Council at South Walks House in Dorchester, so, a process that at first glance can appear complicated and confusing is relatively easy. But what duties does a councillor have? That one is easy, too. Talk to an existing councillor, the current chairman of your parish council, or look at your parish council website. Indeed, several parishes are already planning open events for anyone interested in standing as a parish councillor to meet them at a local venue to explain the what, why and wherefores of being a councillor and any other questions anyone interested in standing may have. These or similar events will be advertised within the four individual parishes that make up the Chalk Stream area, so watch out for them.
However, there is a strict timetable which prospective candidates need to follow:-
Notice of the forthcoming Election will not be announced until Friday, 15th March 2019, after which nominations to stand as a candidate can be submitted; the last date on which nominations can be accepted is 4:00 pm on Wednesday 3rd April 2019. So, beware – only a two and a half-week gap. The Registrar of Electors will carry out various administrative processes in pulling the election together, before the election takes place on Thursday 2nd May 2019. Candidate application forms will be available on the dorsetforyou website from the middle of February.
It is a vital part of our democratic system that people stand as candidates. It is preferable that enough candidates come forward for a ballot to take place when local communities then have a choice and can vote for whom they want as their representatives. If there are not sufficient candidates to fill all the councillor places, those who put their names forward are elected without any ballot taking place. They are still duly and legally elected. So, it is time for people to stand up and be counted. The existing councillors in our four parishes DO NOT want to see a no ballot election take place. They want to have an election where if they are successful in being elected they know they have the backing and support from their local communities to act on their behalf.
Nomination and acceptance forms and other literature is available through your local parish clerk or can be provided by the Register of Electors at West Dorset District Council as well as on the dorsetforyou website, as mentioned above.
This article has been written on behalf of the four parish councils of Bradford Peverell, Frampton, Stratton and Sydling St Nicholas.