Overview of elected representatives

The borough is part of four parliamentary constituencies. They are:

• Basingstoke
• North West Hampshire
• North East Hampshire
• East Hampshire

During a General Election, which usually takes place every five years, voters in each constituency will vote to elect a single person to represent them as their Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons. The candidate with the most votes will be elected.

Three councils will administer the general election for the borough:

Hampshire County Council is the education, social services and highways authority for the area which includes the borough. There are 78 county councillors each representing a division of the county, there are 10 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 four years. They agree the policies to be followed in delivering 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.

View Hampshire County Council website for more information about our County Councillors.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council deals with:

• economic development
• housing
• environmental protection and improvement
• town and country planning
• cleansing and waste collection,
• leisure and recreation
• other services in the borough.

Currently there are 54 councillors. Each councillor is elected to represent a ward of the borough by the voters within that ward, each ward is represented by three councillors.

Borough councillors are elected for four years. There are elections almost every year as a third of the council comes up for election each year. There are no borough council elections when there is a county council election.

Borough councillors agree the policies to be followed in delivering its services. It agrees 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.

Find out who is your borough councillor
Councillor attendance at meetings

Within the borough there are 42 parish and town councils, all of which are outside the town of Basingstoke. They 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 show an interest in development proposals affecting their areas and make representations to the relevant bodies.

Parish and town councils vary in size. Elections are held every four years. Voters have the same number of votes as there are vacancies to be filled. The candidates with the most votes are elected.

Find your parish and town councils in Basingstoke and Deane

Parish councils

They are independent of other levels of government, but maintain a close working relationship with borough and county councils. The powers of Parishes vary depending on how large and how active they are. Some meet infrequently (at least four times a year, including one public meeting) and are responsible for very few matters. Other, larger, parishes undertake many duties such as street lighting, managing cemeteries, allotments, commons, village halls and war memorials.

Parish councillors

Councillors have an active interest and concern for their local community. They represent local people and work in partnership with them and others when necessary. They help facilitate the provision of local services and facilities and take decisions that form the policy of the Council.

Councillors are not paid. They have to abide by a local government Code of Conduct and declare their financial interests in the parish. Councillors must also declare a personal or prejudicial interest in any matter under discussion at a parish council meeting.