Young persons' guide to Walsall Council
What is a council?
There are 150 councils or local authorities (as they are often called) across the country, which are responsible for providing a range of key services.
In Walsall the council has responsibility for planning, transport, regeneration, environmental services - including refuse collection, street cleaning, environmental health - social services, trading standards and leisure, including libraries and museums.
It is also responsible for collecting council tax, a local charge for all households in the borough, which is put towards providing these services.
Sixty elected councillors representing all parts of the borough decide how these services should be managed. The borough is split up into 20 wards with three councillors representing each one.
What is a councillor and what do they do?
A councillor is a person who has been elected by residents, over the age of 18, to represent them on the council. They are democratically accountable to residents in their ward, although they have an overall responsibility of working in the best interests of the borough as a whole. They are each elected for a four year term. They make decisions about how services, under its control, (see above) are provided. They will regularly attend meetings to make these decisions.
Councillors do not get paid but they do receive an allowance for their work.
How do I become a councillor?
If you are interested in becoming a councillor put yourself forward for election and if you get the most votes in your ward you are elected. (This electoral system is know as first past the post – the one with the most votes wins)
To stand for election to become a councillor on Walsall Council you must be:
- Over 21 or over on the day of nomination
- On the electoral register or have either lived or worked in the borough for the 12 months preceding the election
- A UK, Commonwealth EU or Irish Republic citizen
- Nominated to stand as a candidate by two electors from your ward and eight other electors, in support of your nomination.
You cannot stand if:
- You work for Walsall Council
- You are bankrupt
- You have served a prison sentence (including suspended sentences) of 3 months or more within 5 years prior to the election
- You have been disqualified under any legislation relating to corrupt or illegal practices.
You can either stand as a member of a political party or an independent candidate. You do not need any formal qualifications to become a councillor.
If I’m not old enough to become a councillor how else do I get involved?
Walsall Council is committed to providing high quality services for local people and everyone can play their part in shaping them. There are several ways you can get involved and express your views.
You can attend council meetings, raise petitions and talk directly to your local councillor. Nine Local Neighbourhood Partnerships have been set up to work with residents to discuss and make progress on key community issues. The meetings involve councillors and representatives from other organisations and help local people be more involved in matters that affect them in the area where they live.
At each partnership meeting local subjects or issues are discussed. Anyone can ask questions, raise motions and take part in debates. The nine partnerships are based in: - Aldridge South and Streetly; Blakenhall and Bloxwich; Brownhills and Aldridge North; Darlaston; Palfrey and Pleck; Pelsall and Rushall; Pheasey and Paddock; St Matthews and Birchills Leamore; Willenhall.
You can also become involved in groups such as Youth Opinions Unite.