Becoming a councillor gives residents the chance to represent the local community, deliver services to meet local needs and strive to improve the quality of life in the local area. By becoming a councillor you will gain more insights into your local community, have influence over local decisions and be in a position to help local people build a stronger identity and better future.
The next election for council (when all 16 seats will be up for election) will be in May 2027.
As a Councillor you are in a great position to help identify the needs of your community and to deliver projects and initiatives that will help to make your local area a better place to live. Local councils are best placed to identify the needs of the local community and show great imagination in developing ideas to tackle the issues most relevant to their local area.
Through attending meetings and committees with other elected members, Councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented.
Councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working.
As local representatives, Councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. This often depends on what the Councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available.
Going to meetings on Outside Bodies that affect the wider community, such as the police, the Highways Authority, schools and colleges
Taking up issues on behalf of members of the public, such as making representations to the district or borough council
Holding a surgery for residents to bring up issues
Meeting with individual residents in their own homes
Councillors are elected by local residents every four year. All 16 town council seats were up for election is in May 2023; the next elections will be in May 2027.
Beccles is divided into electoral wards known as Beccles Centre, Beccles Darby, Beccles Common and Beccles Rigbourne. Each ward is treated as a separate election and each area has four seats, so when grouped together the 16 seats form the Beccles Town Council.
To stand as a councillor (whether via election or co-option), you must meet the following criteria:
You must be at least 18 years of age; AND You must live in the parish of Beccles OR own property or land in the parish of Beccles OR work in in the parish of Beccles OR live within 3 miles (as the crow flies!) of the boundary of the parish of Beccles.