What's expected of a councillor?

You will find that being a councillor is a rewarding form of public service.

You will be in a position to make a difference to the quality of other people’s daily lives both at local, district and occasionally regional level.

As a councillor, you would help to set the Council's budget, priorities and strategic goals every year.

What will I need to do?

You will represent the residents of a ward in Hart. You will develop and review Council policy and work with other councillors to take decisions, such as whether a planning application should be approved.

Constituents will want to meet you to discuss issues that matter to them, so you will need to make yourself available on a regular basis. They may ask you to contact our services to ask questions for them.

Councillors have to balance the needs and interests of residents, the political party they represent (if any) and the Council. This may create additional pressures that need to be managed.

You may want to discuss the idea of becoming a councillor with your family and friends. You’ll need their support as you’ll have to spend some of your spare time on council business.

Do I have the time?

Time commitments can vary greatly, from about five to 30 hours a week, depending on your responsibilities. Joining a planning committee, for example, will increase your workload.

You’ll need to attend meetings, which are usually held in the evening, so councillors can attend after work. 

If you are a member of a political party you’ll be expected to attend political group meetings, party training and other events.