In the normal run of events the term of all Baildon Parish Councillors will come to an end in May 2011 and nomination forms will have been distributed, completed and returned for elections to take place. Bradford Council have recently been asked if they could give expected dates for these things. At the moment they cannot answer the questions.
The questions asked were:-
I am already being asked about the dates involved in the Parish Councillor process for 2011. eg dates for requests for nomination forms etc.
Is there a webpage with this information on? Or can you send me the details? If the details themselves have not been finalised can you give estimates and also let me know when the final dates will be available?
The response from Electoral Services was:-
Unfortunately we can't tell you anything at the moment. With the prospect of the referendum for the alternative vote being held on the 5th May with the district election, discussions are currently taking place as whether or not to hold parishes on the same day or a later date. This decision is out of our hands and we have no idea when the decision will be made.
All I can suggest is that you email back in a couple of months as we may know more then.
Sorry I can't be of much help.
However I have looked into this a bit more and found the following time-scale. We do not have a election date as yet but the time-scale will probably be as indicated. In counting the days ignore the week-end and bank holidays etc. Please only take this as a guide. Bradford will be publishing the "official" dates in due course.
- Notice of election - no later than 25 days before the election.
- Delivery of nomination forms to electoral services - no later than noon on the nineteenth day before the election.
- Publication of statement as to persons nominated - no later than noon on the seventeenth day before the election.
- Notice of withdrawal of candidature - no later than noon on the sixteenth day before the election.
- Notice of poll -no later than sixth day before the election.
- Notice of appointment of polling or counting agents - no later than fifth day before the election.
The Representation of the People Act 1983 s.37 also states that the elections will be on the 1st Thursday in May unless another date is specified in February of the preceding year by the Secretary of State. Also the terms of the existing Councillors will come to an end 4 days after the election.
However (there is always a "but.." or a "However...") the Representation of the People Act 1985 s. 16 specifies a 3 week postponement of the Parish Elections if there is a general election (or European Parliament election) and district council on the same day. The Referendum would result in 3 votes that day so the postponement of the Parish Council election is being considered.
There are, of course, rules for eligibility for being a parish councillor:-
A Parish Councillor must be aged 18 years or over, be a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a citizen of another member state of the European Community, and
- Be on the electoral role in the parish; Or
- During the whole of the twelve months before he/she was nominated as a candidate, occupied land or other premises as owner or tenant in the parish; Or
- During the same period, resided in that area or within three miles (4.8km) thereof; Or
- During the same period, has his/her principal or only place of work in that area.
Note that this says Parish and not Ward within the Parish. It also says within 3 miles, so a resident in one ward is eligible to represent any other. At co-option the Parish Council can further refine these conditions if they wish.
A candidate must be nominated by 2 people and these 2 must be registered to vote in the ward the nominee hopes to represent.
