HAVE you ever considered standing for election as a county councillor and representing your local community?

If so, there is no better time than now with local government elections taking place on 5 May this year to choose who will be our next county councillor on Ceredigion County Council.

A webpage for candidates and agents was launched this week which includes a guide on the role of a county councillor and how to become a councillor.

Councillors are elected for five years to represent their local community in the running of the county council.

Councillors help determine how local services are provided, funded and prioritised including having to choose between the different demands on services and allocation of resources.

It’s important that councillors can speak on behalf of everyone in the community.

As well as being qualified for the role, a local councillor must:

• sit on the council’s committees (responsibilities may vary dependent on the committee you’ve been chosen to represent)

• understand reports in order to make decisions and recommendations

• agree to abide by the Members’ Code of Conduct

• be able to represent their community, have good people skills and a willingness to listen

• be able to work from a computer, although equipment will be provided and appropriate arrangements made for accessibility

• be available three days a week on council business. However, not all council’s commitments are during the working day, especially some Ward duties.

A full list of the eligibility criteria can be found in the Candidate’s Guide.

Nomination papers will be available on the council’s website shortly. Candidates wishing to stand for the Election need to have had their nomination papers approved by the Returning Officer by 4pm on 5 April.

Eifion Evans, Returning Officer for Ceredigion said: “We are pleased to be able to launch the website and the Candidate’s Guide today and hope they will provide the information for those who are possibly thinking about standing in the Local Elections in May. We hope that by providing this information, more people come forward as candidates to provide a more diverse choice for electors when it comes to representing them on the Council for the next 5 years.”

The Candidates and Agents webpage will be updated regularly and can be accessed here: www.ceredigion.gov.uk/candidates-agents