Join Harston Parish Council

Parish Councils are the first tier of local government, and as such have a large range of discretionary powers to spend public money, as well as a number of duties they have to perform. As a parish councillor, you will be involved in a variety of areas, such as managing Harston’s green spaces or considering planning applications. You will represent the council at local events such as litter picks, and be an active participant in committees and working groups, using your specific skills and interests for the benefit of the council.

Parish Council Elections May 5^th 2022

Do You…?

• want to make a difference and be involved in shaping the future of your local community?
• have concerns for the local area and want to ensure the community gets the right services?
• want to represent the views of local people and ensure that community interests are at the heart of decision making?

Do you have….?

• 2-3 hours per week to spare;
• communication and presentation skills to express needs of local residents during meetings and become a voice for the Council;
• interpersonal skills for managing surgeries and conversing with the community;
• a commitment towards representation of the electorate;
• an objective, analytical and critical mind;
• IT/Social Media skills

Then you should consider becoming a Parish Councillor!

Becoming a councillor is rewarding and is also a privileged form of public service. You will be in a position to make a difference to the quality of other people’s daily lives and prospects. A council will draw on the skills and experiences of its councillors to ensure that as a whole it is a strong team so the more varied skills brought to the council by its representative the stronger it will be.

What do you need to do?

If you’ve decided you would like to become a councillor, there are THREE things that need to be done: –

1. You need to Qualify
2. You need to Complete Nomination Papers
3. You need to Stand for Election

To Qualify you need to be: –

• British, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or European Union
• At least 18 years of age;
• Registered to vote in the area OR
• Have lived in the parish (or within 3 miles of it), worked or owned property there for at least 12 months before an election.

The Nomination process…

You must obtain and complete a valid Nomination Paper. These are available from the Returning Officer at South Cambridgeshire District Council or from the Clerk to the Council.

Completed forms must contain details of your name and address and must be signed by 2 registered electors of the parish.

The Election Process

Ordinary elections for local councillors take place on the first Thursday in May, every four years.

For Harston Parish Council, elections are due to be held on Thursday 5^th May, 2022.

Your nomination papers will need to be lodged with the Returning Officer by 4pm on Tuesday 5^th April 2022 at the latest. There are no mitigating circumstances for missing this deadline and the responsibility for submitting the paperwork on time falls to you! However – you will find the Clerk to the Council extremely helpful and they will guide you through the process.

So…

If you have a few hours to spare each week and would like to put them to good use to serve your local area, then why not Become a Councillor!

Good Luck!

If you would like to find out more about what is involved in being a Councillor, why not come along to one of our meetings? Members of the public are always welcome – we meet on the first Thursday of the month, 7.30pm in the village hall, High Street, Harston.

Or you could write, email or contact us using the contact details below. We’ll be happy to send you an information pack on standing as a councillor in the 2022 local elections.

clerk@harstonparishcouncil.org.uk

01353 664632

Harston Parish Council, PO Box 330, Ely, Cambridgeshire. CB7 9GF

A full Parish Council meeting is held on the first Thursday of every month at the Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm. The meetings usually last around 2 hours.

The meeting is a chance to ‘catch up’ on, and discuss, ongoing matters and vote on any decisions required. There are opportunities to join either the Finance or Planning Committees, or one of the  working parties, and many Councillors take on ‘special projects’ in which they have a special interest or expertise.

The main criteria for becoming a parish Councillor is to have an interest in local issues and a desire to promote the best interests of the local community.

Councillors have three main components to their work

1. Decision making – through meetings and attending committees, Councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented.
2. Monitoring – Councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working.
3. Getting involved locally – As local representatives, Councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. These responsibilities and duties often depend on what the Councillor wants to achieve and how much time they have available.

Successful application to the County Council for funding for local highways improvements outside the school.

A new play tunnel in the childrens play area and repairs to the BMX ramps

Installation of a VE Day 75 Commemorative Bench in the Churchyard.