The only legal requirement to be a councillor are as
follows. You must be:
- British, from the Commonwealth or the EU
- At least 18 years old
- Registered to vote in the area or have lived/worked/owned
property there for a year
You are ineligible to stand as a councillor if you currently
work for Alton Town Council, hold a politically restricted post, have been
previously convicted of a corrupt or illegal practice or have been sentenced to
prison for three months or more during the five years before election.
Many councillors are members of political parties, but there
is no obligation to do so – independent candidates are just as welcome.
You do not need any formal qualifications to be a good
councillor, just skills and experiences that best represent your local
community. Examples of these could include, skills gained through volunteering
or working with community groups.
You need to be well organised and someone who can apply
themselves to problems. You will also need to be able to communicate well with
a wide range of public and professional bodies.
Please click here for a copy of the Good Councillors Guide, produced by the National Association of Local Councils.