Co-option

Following the resignation of Councillor Lyle as a Councillor for Rockspring Ward, Shropshire Council Elections have confirmed that there has been no request to hold an election, and in these circumstances, Ludlow Town Council invites applications for Co-option. 

Am I eligible?

Being a councillor is a position of responsibility, 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 co-option, 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 are 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.
• Candidates canvassing members of Council for co-option will be disqualified from standing for the vacancy.

Local Council Services

Ludlow has an active town council, and councillors make a real difference in Ludlow. 

The town council runs local services that include Ludlow’s 48-pitch market, which is open six days a week, street trading, maintaining the public toilets, and hosting the local museum at the Buttercross.  It also manages Henley Road Cemetery, The Linney Riverside Park, and other open spaces.

The council has recently worked with Connexus and Shropshire council to create a new Town Green at Sidney Road, worked with local partners to organise the town’s celebration of the Coronation, installed five new bus shelters since 2019; installed throwlines at the Linney Riverside Park and Dinham Millennium Green; undertaken refurbishment works to the grade I listed Guildhall; completed internal refurbishment of the grade I listed Museum at the Buttercross and repairs to Buttercross shop window; completed phase I upgrading of Ludlow market canopies; agreed a new twenty year lease for Wigley’s Field Allotments; and installed a teen shelter at Wheeler Road Skate Park.

The Role of a Councillor

The work of councillors is vital to the success of the town council and includes:

• engaging with local people, groups, and businesses to find out their needs;
• making decisions on the services and projects the council should take forward;
• and getting involved to ensure services are meeting the community’s needs.

If you are eligible and wish to be considered for co-option as Councillor for Rockspring ward, please complete the application form available below and return it to townclerk@ludlow.gov.uk by 26th February 2024. 

Ludlow Town Council will hold a Co-option meeting on 4th March 2024. Candidates will be required to attend.   Further details of the meeting will be supplied in due course.  

Rockspring Ward Application

Good Councillor Guide

Why become a Councillor?

Do you want to help local people and be a key figure of the local community?

Do you want to be a representative of your local community and be the voice of the people?

Do you have professional, business or personal skills that could be beneficial for working in a team and that can help your local community?

As a Councillor you would achieve this and you could make a difference. All you need to do is stand for election as a local Councillor and then maybe you could begin a job that is both very challenging, but also incredibly rewarding.

In order to achieve a successful Council it requires a well suited team of Councillors who offer a wide range of skills, talents and interests who can best reflect the local community as a whole. Being a Councillor means you will be in a position where you can make a variety of decisions about local issues and help influence future development within the local area.

Co-Option Procedure

What is the role of a Councillor?

The role of a Councillor is very unique and dependant on the Councillor themselves,
however they must try:

• To be a representative for residents and bring local thoughts and ideas into the Councils decision making process.
• Respond to resident’s enquiries and opinions.
• Through attending meetings and committees they must decide on policy implementation, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what activities to support.
• To monitor their decisions in order to deliver the most effective and efficient services through a greater understanding of how they are working in practice.

All this requires a lot of hard work and dedication, however if successful, the job can be very fulfilling and satisfying.

As a representative of the local community they must have good communication with the local residents, but also with the other Council Members . To do this they must attend council meetings, as well as Local Community Group Meetings, whilst keeping in contact with the local residents. Councillors are also chosen to represent both local and national interests, associations and committees.

Who can become a Councillor?

Almost everyone can become a Councillor as long as they:

• Are 18 years or over.
• Are a British Citizen, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or of the European Union.
• Do not work at the Council that they wish to stand for.
• Don’t work on a politically restrictive post.
• Are not subject to a bankruptcy restriction order.
• Have not served a prison sentence of three months or more within a five-year period of the election.
• Have not been disqualified under any legislation relating to corruption or illegal practices.

How much time will I need?

Councillors have to be able to manage their time to be successful. Many Councillors have to manage a full time career along with their job as a Councillor. Many of the meetings set by the Council are in the evenings, however some are held during the working day. This means that the employer must have a good understanding of your role as a Councillor and your responsibilities that go along with it.

Your work as a Councillor will vary from anywhere between 3 hours a week to several hours a day. This will also depend on your role within the Council as those with an executive or a chairing role will have a greater work load.

For more information on being a Councillor, follow the link below

The Good Councillor Guide