Become a Councillor

Interested in becoming a Councillor?

Do you have the passion and drive to help your local community?

If so - put yourself forward and stand as a Councillor.

Councils provide local services to people living or working in their areas. It is an important role and we actively encourage people from all walks of life to take an interest in local democracy and to think about putting themselves forward for election.

Standing as a Candidate at a Local Election

To stand for election, on the day of nomination and the day of poll, you must be:

aged 18 years or over and either a UK or qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Irish Republic, or a citizen of another Member State of the European Community.

In addition, you must meet at least one of the following qualifications:

on the day of nomination and on the day of election you are and thereafter will continue to be registered as a voter in the Borough; or

for the whole of the twelve months before the day of nomination your principal or only place of work has been in the Borough; or

for the whole for the twelve months before the day of nomination and the day of the election you have resided in the Borough.

You will be unable to stand if you:

are a paid employee of Redditch Borough Council;

hold a politically restricted post for another Local Authority;

are subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order;

you have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the five years before polling day.

On 9th July 2012, the Government announced the launch of the Access to Elected Office Fund. The fund offers individual grants of between £250 and £20,000 to disabled people who want to be selected as candidates for an election, or who are standing for election. This is to help meet the additional support needs that are associated with their disability.

To apply for the fund or to find out more please visit the Access to Elected Office Fund website.

For more information please take a moment to read through the Councils Members Roles,  the Councils Members Code of Conduct