Plymouth City Council elections are due to take place on Thursday 6 May and if you have ever considered becoming a city councillor there’s a chance to find out more about what is involved next week.
The Council is holding three ‘Becoming a Councillor’ sessions where you can learn more about what the role entails, who is eligible and how to put yourself forward for election, as well as changes made to the nominations process this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Being an effective councillor requires commitment and hard work but it can be incredibly rewarding. There are around 20,000 local councillors in England (including 57 in Plymouth), each elected to represent their community and help improve residents’ quality of life.
Councillors come from all walks of life but have one thing in common – they care passionately about Plymouth, tackling the issues local people face and making a positive difference.
The sessions, led by Council Chief Executive and Returning Officer Tracey Lee, will also cover electoral processes including nominations, postal and polling station voting, the elections timetable, guidance on campaigning and more.
‘Virtual’ sessions will be held online on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 March, both at 5.30pm. There will also be a face-to-face session at the Council House on Friday 12 March at 5.30pm, although places are limited.
If you’d like to attend any of these sessions you must book in advance – to find out more or book your place please email elections@plymouth.gov.uk as soon as possible.
Police and Crime Commissioner elections will also be taking place on Thursday 6 May. For more information about the elections and registering to vote visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/votingandelections.