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Yarnfield and Cold Meece Parish Council

Vacancies

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Vacancies

Become a parish councillor

There is currently 1 vacancies on the council.

Application date: Friday 7 August 2026

Closing date: 5:00pm on 21 August 2026

What is a parish council?

A parish council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the parish. It is the level of local government closest to the community.

Why become a parish councillor?

By becoming a parish councillor you become someone your community will look to for help, guidance and support – a community leader with the power to influence decisions for the benefit of the people you serve.

What decisions do parish councils make?

Parish councils make all kinds of decisions on issues that affect the local community. Probably the most common topics that parish councils get involved with are planning matters (they are statutory consultees), crime prevention and roads and highways.

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 district or county council, health authorities, police etc.). In this respect parish councils are extremely 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 taken seriously.

How much time does it take up?

The Council meets once a month for a meeting to which members of the public are also invited. Meetings usually last for up to two hours, depending on what’s on the list of items to discuss. The council also has a Community sub-committee and Events Working Group.

In addition to the regular meetings Councillors are asked to give time for a monthly information briefing.

How long does a parish councillor serve for?

Once elected, parish councillors sit on the council for a maximum of four years. If they then want to stay in the post they can stand for re-election.

This does not mean that you have to stay for four years. If you find it’s not for you, or you can no longer meet the commitment, you can stand down.

Am I eligible to be a parish councillor?

Qualifications – To be able to stand as a candidate at a parish council election you must:

  • be at least 18 years old
  • be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights
  • meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
    • You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the parish in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.
    • You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
    • Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the parish area.
    • You have lived in the parish area or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
  • You don’t have to be connected to a political party.

When completing your home address form and consent to nomination form you will be asked to indicate which qualifications you meet. You should indicate on the forms all those qualifications that apply to you.

For further information on eligability please refer to advice nots on the Electoral Commission website: Electoral Commission

The best way to find out what it’s like to be a parish councillor is to come along to one of the council meetings, talk to one of the existing councillors, or the Parish Clerk.

If you do become a parish councillor you will have to sign up to the Code of Conduct.

Email: clerk@yarnfieldandcoldmeece-pc.gov.uk

Tel: 07786 948107

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