How do I become a Parish/Town Councillor?

Within the borough there are 40 parish and town councils, all of which are outside the town of Basingstoke. Parish and town councils usually focus on development of their areas.

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.

View a complete list of Parish and Town Councils.

Eligibility criteria

Candidates must be qualified to stand for election. The Local Government Act 1972, Section 79, sets out the qualifications for standing as a candidate and the grounds for disqualification of a candidate.

On the day of nomination and the day of poll, you must:

• be at least 18 years old
• be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any other member state of the European Union, and
• meet at least one of the following four qualifications:

a) Your name must appear on the register of local government electors for the parish/community at the time of your nomination and throughout your term of office should you be elected.

b) You have occupied any land or other premises as owner or tenant in the parish/community during 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.

c) Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the parish/community area. You do not have to have paid employment to qualify, as long as your main or only place of work is in the parish/community area. For example, Councillors who’s main or only job is being a councillor would be able to use this qualification, if their council office is within the parish/community.

d) You have lived in the parish/community area or within three miles of it during 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.

You may be disqualified as a candidate if:

• You are employed by the parish/community council or hold a paid office under the parish/community council (including joint boards or committees).
• You have been declared bankrupt in the last five years and has not repaid your debts.
• You have been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to at least three months imprisonment (including any suspended sentence) within the previous five years.
• You are disqualified due to corrupt practices under the Representation of the People Act 1983 or the Audit Commission Act.

For more information relating to these qualifications, please read the Electoral Commission’s Guidance.

Nomination process

To stand as a candidate at any election a nomination paper must be submitted. The nomination paper gives details of name, address and political description (if any). You can contact the Electoral Services team for a nomination pack.

All nomination papers require a signature from two (one proposer, and one seconder) registered electors within the parish. The proposer and seconder must be on the Basingstoke and Deane electoral register that is in force on the 25th working day before the poll.

For more comprehensive information regarding parish elections, please visit the Electoral Commission’s website.

Guidance notes

Full name and home address must be included on the nominations. If desired, a description can be included. The description, if any, must consist of either:

• the word "Independent". This word must be used on its own and cannot accompany any other word
• a description (of not more than six words in length) which is the registered political party description.

You can leave the description blank if you would prefer.

Candidates cannot submit a nomination paper using a political party description unless they have their permission to do so and a certificate from them saying that they are authorised to use their description.

If you are standing as an independent candidate, please take a look at the Guidance for Candidates and Agents - standing as an independent candidate for further information.

If you are standing as a party candidate, please take a look at the Guidance for Candidates and Agents - standing as a party candidate for further information.

We would advise prospective candidates to attend the Parish Candidates and Clerks briefing run by the Electoral Services Team.

A successful candidate would be expected to follow the Councillors Code of Conduct.

Application process

The nomination form to stand as a candidate is available from the Electoral Services Team. To request a nomination pack, please contact the Electoral Services team at electoral.services@basingstoke.gov.uk or call 01256 845467.

There is no charge to stand as a candidate for election. However, any costs incurred by a candidate in standing for election will have to be paid by the candidate. Details of expenses will be supplied with the nomination form.

If you would like to stand as a Parish Councillor in the 4 May 2023 election, there is a Parish Candidates and Clerks briefing at 6.00pm Wednesday 15 February 2023.

We would advise you to attend this briefing if possible. For more information or to book onto the briefing, please email electoral.services@basingstoke.gov.uk

Please note the introduction of Voter ID will be covered in this briefing.

If you require a copy of the register, you will need to formally request one by completing the form below:

Form to request a copy of the Electoral Register(PDF) [18 kb]

Nomination Pack - Election of Parish Councillors(PDF) [497 kb]