There are five layers of Elected Representative covering our Borough
Members of Parliament (MPs)
The Borough is part of two parliamentary constituencies. There are over 650 constituencies in the United Kingdom.
The voters in each constituency will elect a single person to represent them in the House of Commons. Whichever candidate gets the most votes is elected. This usually takes place at a General Election. These are held on dates fixed by the then Prime Minister but no later than 5 years since the last General Election.
MPs decide what the laws of the country should be, agree taxes and public spending plans and also keep the actions of the Government under review.
Members and Ministers list on the Parliament website
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)
The Borough is part of a constituency for the European Parliament. There are 626 constituencies across the European Union (85 in the UK).
There are 9 MEPs for the constituency. The voters in each constituency vote for their preferred political party and the available seats are shared between those parties depending on the proportion of the vote that they are given.
There are fixed terms of election for MEPs – the next election will be in May 2009.
MEPs have an increasing role in deciding what the laws of the European Union should be and also keep the actions of the European Commission and other Europe-wide bodies under review.
List of UK MEPs on the European Parliament website
County Councillors
Hampshire County Council is the education, social services and highways authority for the area which includes the Borough. There are 74 County Councillors each representing a division of the county, 9 represent divisions which cover the Borough.
The voters in each division will elect a single person to represent them on the County Council. Whichever candidate gets the most votes is elected.
County Councillors are elected for 4 years: the next election will be in 2009.
County Councillors agree the policies to be followed in delivering its services, the spending plans and the County Council’s part of the Council Tax. They also keep the actions of the Leader and Cabinet Members of the County Council under review. The Leader and Cabinet Members are appointed by the County Council to carry out its policies.
Hampshire County Council website for more information about our County Councillors
Borough Councillors (Council Members)
Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council is the authority for Economic Development, Housing, Environmental Protection and Improvement, Town and Country Planning, Cleansing and Waste Collection, Leisure and Recreation and other services in the Borough.
Currently there are 60 Councillors. Each Councillor is elected to represent a ward of the Borough by the voters within that ward. Depending on their electorate, wards have either 1, 2 or 3 Councillors to represent them on the Borough Council.
Borough Councillors are elected for 4 years: there are elections almost every year as a third of the Council comes up for election each year (except in the year when there is a County Council Election).
Borough Councillors agree the policies to be followed in delivering its services, the spending plans and the Borough Council’s part of the Council Tax. They also keep the actions of the Leader and Cabinet Members of the Borough Council under review. The Leader and Cabinet Members are appointed by the Borough Council to carry out its policies.
Councillors database
Parish and Town Councillors
Within the Borough there are 40 Parish and Town Councils, all of which are outside the town of Basingstoke. Those Councils can have responsibility for locally available public facilities like playgrounds, allotments and burial grounds. They can often supplement what the Borough Council provides in their local area. Parish and Town Councils usually take great interest in the development proposals which affect their areas and make representations to the decision-making bodies accordingly.
Parish and Town Councils vary in size. Their elections are held every four years and voters will have the same number of votes as there are vacancies to be filled. The candidates with the most votes are elected.
Parish Council contact directory