NEWS RELEASE

13 February 2023

Becoming a councillor

With elections taking place across the borough on 4 May 2023, there are lots of opportunities to stand as a borough or parish councillor.  The Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk is urging anyone interested in standing as a candidate to read the information on its website and to book a place on one of the forthcoming pre-election briefing sessions.

Councillors play a key role in the borough, representing the people that elected them and providing a voice for the community. They help shape services for the benefit of local people.

People become councillors for different reasons, including:

• they are concerned about the local area in which they live and want to ensure that their local community is provided with the services needed and its interest are taken into account,

• they want to pursue their political beliefs,

• they are concerned about one particular issue, for example care for older people, the need for facilities in an area or traffic congestion.

• they may already be in a political party, trade union or school governing body and they see the next step is to become a councillor.

Anyone interested in becoming a councillor can find out more by visiting www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/beacouncillor or www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/beaparishcouncillor.  There are links to nomination papers and further information from the Electoral Commission as well as guidance on who can stand, how to complete nomination papers, spending and donations and campaigning.

There is a pre-election candidates and agents briefing session for the borough council elections on 28 February at 3pm.

There are two pre-election candidates and parish clerk briefing sessions for the parish and town council elections on Wednesday 1 March at 7pm and Thursday 2 March at 3pm.

These briefing sessions will take place online on Microsoft Teams.  To attend any of these sessions you will need to register your interest by emailing [email protected] or calling 01553 616773.

Nomination papers need to be submitted to the Electoral Registration team at the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk offices, in person, from 21 March 2023 and by 4pm on 4 April 2023.  It is best to telephone to make an appointment and to submit papers well ahead of the deadline so that there is time to make any changes that might be required.

Issued by: Sharon Clifton, Communications Manager, on 01553 616711