Application for Co-Option
Closing Date – Friday 4th October 2024
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Parish Councillor. Please provide the information requested below to assist the Council in making its decision.
Full Name
Full Postal Address
Telephone Number
Email Address
In a separate Word document, please provide the Parish Council with some information about yourself and your reasons for wishing to become a member of this Council. You will be invited to attend the Full Council meeting on Wednesday 23rd October 2024 when co-options will be considered. It is not essential for you to attend and will not affect your application if you are unable to do so, but if you do attend you should be prepared to answer any questions that members may wish to ask you.
NOTE: any personal information given in this document will be retained by the Parish Council until the meeting at which the co-option is discussed. It will not be used by SMPC for any other purpose and will be securely destroyed after that meeting unless you are successfully co-opted in which case it will be retained.
Co-Option Eligibility
To be eligible for co-option as a Parish Councillor you must be a British subject or a citizen of the Commonwealth or any member state of the European Union and on the day of the co-option you must be 18 years of age or over. Additionally, you must be able to meet one or more of the following qualifications. Please tick which apply to you:
I am registered as a local government elector for the parish; or
I have, during the whole of the twelve months preceding the date of my
application, occupied as owner or tenant land or other premises in the parish; or
My principal or only place of work, during the whole of the twelve months
preceding the date of my application, has been in the parish; or
I have, during the whole of the twelve months preceding the date
of my application, resided in the parish or within 3 miles of it
Please note that under S.80 of the Local Government Act 1972 a person is disqualified from being elected as a Local Councillor or being a member of a Local Council if they:
- a) are employed by the parish/community council or hold a paid office under the parish/community council (including joint boards or committees).
- b) are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.
- c) 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 the day on which the co-option will take place.
- d) have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which covers corrupt or illegal electoral practices and offences relating to donations). The disqualification for an illegal practice begins from the date the person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for three years. The disqualification for a corrupt practice begins from the date a person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for five years.
If co-opted, you will be required to comply with Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council’s Code of Conduct and to complete and sign a Declaration of Acceptance of Office. You will also be required to complete and sign a Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Interests form which will be open to public inspection on the Parish Council’s and Uttlesford District Council’s websites.
I, , hereby confirm that I am eligible to be considered for the vacancy of Parish Councillor and the information I have given on this form is true.
Signature Date