Elections

Information for Candidates

More information for Dorset Council Elections

More information for Parish Council Elections

The Electoral Commission also provide guidance for candidates - Part 1 Can you stand for election P and C?

Videos to help you decide if being a Councillor is for you:

• What do parish and town councils do in your community?
• What do parish and town councils do across Dorset?
• Why becoming a parish or town councillor in Dorset matters
• Parish and Town Councils are for Everyone

Qualifying Rules:

Candidates must satisfy criteria on the day they are nominated and on polling day:

• be at least 18 years of age
• be a British, qualifying Commonwealth citizen, or qualifying national of an EU member state.

The candidate should check the most up-to-date guidance on the Electoral Commission website with regard to qualifications.

A prospective candidate must also meet at least one of the following four qualifications on the day they are nominated and on polling day:

• they are registered as a local government elector for the parish or town council area in which they wish to stand; or
• they have, during the whole of the previous 12 month period, occupied as owner or tenant any land or premises in the parish or town council area; or
• their main or only place of work during the whole of the previous 12 month period has been in the parish or town council area; or
• they have, during the whole of the previous 12 month period, lived in the parish or town council area (or within 4.8 km/3miles of it)

A person cannot be a candidate if at the time of their nomination or their election:

• they are employed by the parish or town council or hold a paid office under that council; or
• they are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order in England or Wales; or
• they 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 election day (ie, since 2 May 2019); or
• a person may also be disqualified from election if they have been convicted or reported guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court, or if they have been disqualified from standing for election to a local authority

Nomination Timetable

• Notice of election will be published on Monday 11 March 2024
• Nominations can be received from Tuesday 12 March 2024
• Nomination forms must be delivered by hand
• By appointment – in a variety of locations (Dorchester, Weymouth, Wimborne, Blandford, Wareham) – times and dates to be advised.
• Deadline for receipt of nominations by Returning Officer – Friday 5 April 2024 (4pm)
• This is also deadline for withdrawal of nomination

At close of nominations, the number of candidates for each council will be known. The 2 outcomes are :

• Uncontested = if the number of candidates is equal to or less than the number of seats on a town or parish council (or ward) All candidates are therefore declared elected* to the council but their term of office does not commence until the fourth day after polling day = end of process
• Contested = if the number of candidates exceeds the number of seats. Proceeds to a poll on 2 May 2024

A formal notice for publication will be shared by 4pm Monday 8th April.

Information about Voting

How to Register

To be able to participate in these elections you must have registered to vote - Register to vote - GOV.UK.

Postal Votes

You must apply by the latest by 5pm, 11 working days prior to the election - Apply for a postal vote - GOV.UK

Proxy Votes

How to vote: Voting as a proxy for someone else - GOV.UK

Photo ID

It is now a legal requirement to bring photo id to the Polling Stations otherwise you will be turned away. Please check the acceptable forms of identity.
How to vote: Photo ID you'll need - GOV.UK
If you do not have one of these forms of identity you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.
Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’) - GOV.UK

The Electoral Commission also provides the following information - Voter ID | Electoral Commission

Election Results

Following the polling day on Thursday 2 May (7am – 10pm), the count for Dorset Council will take place on Friday 3rd May and for Towns and Parishes on Saturday 4 May (unless a parliamentary election takes place, in which case this will take place on Friday 3rd and the aforementioned counts will take place the following 2 days, respectively).

Dorset Council Elections

Dorset Council will be holding its elections in May 2024. Here is more information for anyone interested in standing for election.

Dorset Council has a lot of information to guide you through this process; from completing the nomination forms to declaring expenses.

The webpages give an overview of:

• the role of the councillor
• standing for a political party or as an independent
• the support that is available to candidates and councillors
• how to stand for nomination
• where to find additional information

Interested individuals are welcome to email the council’s Democratic Services Team or Tel: 01305 252394 who will be able to:

• offer non –political advice
• suggest committee meetings that they might like to attend
• arrange meetings with serving councillors

Parish Council Elections

The Dorset Association of Parish & Town Councils (DaPTC) have produced an Election Toolkit, which is full of useful information.

Polling Stations

Please be advised that the Polling Stations for West Parley will be located at :
St Mark's Church on New Road
MS Centre on Church Lane.

What is a Parish Council and why become a Parish Councillor? What is a Parish Council?

A parish council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the parish and has an overall responsibility for the well-being of its local community. It is the first tier of government, with the County authority above it in the hierarchy. As it is the authority closest to the people, parish councils are invariably the first point of contact for people with concerns or ideas. For this reason they are a vital part of any community.

Its work is divided into three main areas:

• representing the local community
• delivering services to meet local needs
• striving to improve quality of life in the parish

Why become a Parish Councillor?

If you’ve never been to a parish council meeting before, you may be forgiven for having the perception that parish councillors are a group of people who meet now and then in a draughty village hall. If, however, you live in a community where something ‘big’ has happened, you’ll know that when people in the community need support and guidance, it is often the parish council people turn to first. By becoming a parish councillor you become someone your community will look to for help, guidance and support; a community leader who can help to influence decisions for the benefit of the people you serve. Seeing your community change for the better, as a result of decisions you have helped make, is something that can give you a sense of achievement and pride.

What decisions do Parish Councils make?

Parish councils make all kinds of decisions on issues that affect the local community. This includes planning matters (they are statutory consultees); crime prevention; helping local groups; managing open spaces; and campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities. It’s fair to say that on their own, parish councils have limited powers to make decisions. But they do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those other organisations that do make the final decisions (such as the unitary council, health authorities, police etc). In this respect parish councils are powerful. The organisations that make the final decisions know that a parish council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something, and its views will be given consideration.

How much time does it take up?

Councils usually meet once a month for the council meeting, to which members of the public are also invited. Meetings may last two or three hours, depending on the agenda set for that meeting.. Some councils have committees dealing with specific subjects, such as planning. In addition to the regular meetings, councillors are required to attend other meetings representing the council, for example acting as a representative on an outside body, community activities or helping develop a new project for the community.

How long does a parish councillor serve for?

Once elected, parish councillors sit on the council for a maximum of four years (five years for 2024-2029 in Dorset) but if they want to continue for longer, they can stand for re-election. Applicants should note that Councillors are expected to attend regular meetings and any additional meetings as may be arranged. This enables councillors to represent the electors of West Parley in raising and discussing those issues of interest and concern on which the Parish Council is empowered to act. Whilst the perception can be that councillors are volunteers; they are an elected representative, albeit without remuneration. If you do become a parish councillor you will have to sign up to and adhere to the Code of Conduct.

What powers do parish councils have?

They have a wide range of powers which essentially related to local matters, such as looking after community buildings, open spaces, allotments, play areas, street lighting, bus shelters, car parks and much more. The council also has the power to raise money through taxation, this is referred to as the precept and forms the parish council’s share of the council tax. The precept demand goes to the billing authority, Dorset Council, which collects the tax for the parish council and distributes it half yearly.

West Parley Parish Council

West Parley Parish Council has 11 seats; with 8 Councillors currently in post. It owns 30 acres of land which includes the recreation ground, playing fields, car park, West Parley Community Hub and Parley Wood.

The Council holds a full Council meeting on the third Wednesday of the month; and a Planning Committee meeting on the first Wednesday of the month, if required. The agenda is published a minimum of 3 clear days prior to the meeting date and councillors are formally summoned to the meeting. These meetings start at 7pm prompt and are open to the public. After some initial formalities, there is a public participation item when members of the public can raise concerns and ask questions, before progressing with the agenda items.

All meetings are advertised on the council notice boards and on this website. Residents can bring to the attention of the Parish Council anything that concerns them, either directly or through the Clerk. If matters raised are not the responsibility of the council, the Clerk can bring them to the attention of the principal authority, Dorset Council.

There is also an annual Parish meeting, hosted by the Parish Council, which all parishioners are invited to attend.

Don’t take our word for it!

The best way to find out what it’s like to be a parish councillor is to talk to someone who’s doing it now. Please get in touch with any of your current serving councillors.

Alternatively you can speak with the Council’s Proper Officer (the Parish Clerk) to find out more.

Or come along to a parish council meeting and see things first hand.