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Our members are the lifeblood of the Labour Party – they campaign, they argue, they get involved on behalf of the Labour cause. And more often than not they have great fun doing it.

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Labour Councillors
 

What does being a Councillor involve?

What is a Councillor? A councillor is someone elected to represent their local area, known as a ward, on their local council. Each ward is represented by either one elected member (single member wards), or two or three elected members (multi-member wards).

In Sheffield there are 28 wards. They are all 3-member wards. Local elections in Sheffield take place on a four year cycle. This means that each year for three years in a row, one councillor is elected to each ward. The fourth year there is no election.

What do councillors in Sheffield do?

Councillors have a number of very varied roles:

1. They work to develop the policies of the City Council.

2. Councillors represent the interests of their ward at Council meetings.

3. They make decisions about Sheffield and their local area which are then carried out by officers who work for Sheffield City Council.

4. Councillors monitor the work of Sheffield City Council to ensure the best possible services are being delivered for Sheffield.

5. Councillors attend many local meetings in their ward on any number of issues, these could include school governing boards, tenants associations, community groups and youth services.

6. Councillors also carry out local surgeries and talk to local people who live in their ward. They work on the problems that people raise with them and try to find solutions.

What skills will I gain by being a councillor?

• Leadership

• Negotiation

• Team Work

• Conflict Resolution

• Advocacy

• Chairing Meetings

• Community Ambassador

• Casework

• Research

What requirements are there for becoming a Labour Party councillor?

There are a few legal and party requirements you must fulfil to be able to stand for the council:

1. You must have been a current member of the Labour Party for 2 or more years.

2. You must be over the age of 18.

3. You need to have been on the electoral register for or worked in the area in which you wish to stand for the preceding 12 months.

4. You cannot stand for election if you have been bankrupt or have served a prison sentence of three months within the last five years.

What are candidates expected to do in an election campaign?

As a candidate for the Labour Party you will be expected to gain a public profile in the ward in which you are standing. This will involve you talking to voters and campaigning on local issues in a number of different ways in order to familiarise your name, policies and beliefs with the electorate. Your local Labour Party will provide support by delivering leaflets and talking to voters on the doorstep and the phone to boost your profile. They will also help to provide you with information about what is happening in the ward.

Will I receive any training or help if I get elected?

Yes. On first being elected you will receive an induction course from the council which consists of several half days of training and briefings. You will also have the opportunity to attend many training sessions run by the council on issues such as:

• Developing a ward profile?

• The influential councillor?

• Reaching out to our communities?

• Managing casework effectively?.

On being elected you will also receive support and guidance from the Labour Group on the council.

How much are councillors paid?

Councillors receive remuneration from the council rather than a wage. In Sheffield councillors currently receive a basic allowance of £10,516. Councillors can also be paid additional allowances known as Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs), these are given to councillors who take on addition responsibilities, for example chairing a committee or being a member of the cabinet.

What other benefits are there?

Childcare: Councillors can claim a childcare and dependent carers allowance from the council. This is currently issued at a rate of up to £22.55 per half day (4 hours)
Pension: Councillors can join the Local Authority pension scheme in South Yorkshire. More information is available at http://www.sypensions.org.uk

Is being a councillor a full time job?

Whilst being a councillor can be a full time job it doesn't have to be. You will be required to attend council and party meetings but most councillors combine a part time job with their council responsibilities. The level of work depends on the amount of responsibility that you choose to take on. Some councillors serve on scrutiny panels or become cabinet members which are more time consuming roles.

How can I become a Labour councillor in Sheffield?

First and foremost the best thing to do is to get in touch with your local Labour Party and attend some of their meetings. This will give you the opportunity to talk to sitting councillors and active members which may help you decide whether you would like to be a councillor.

If you decide to stand for selection to become a councillor for the Labour Party you have to take part in a selection process which works like this:

• You should first put your name forward to the District Labour Party as someone interested in becoming a councillor. At this point you will be asked to complete an application form and later attend an interview to ensure that you share the values of the Labour Party. (The best time to put your name forward is after the local elections when the party begins to search for new candidates for the next year, but we will welcome interest at anytime of year).

• If your application and interview are successful you will be put onto a panel of potential candidates to become councillors.

• Ward Labour Parties then may ask you to come to their selection meeting for an interview to discuss why you want to become a councillor and to determine whether you would be a suitable candidate for their ward. This will involve you giving a short presentation and taking questions.

• If you are successful at the selection meeting you will have been selected as the Labour candidate to stand at the next election in that ward. Congratulations!