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This is a temporary page to help Parishioners consider standing for the role of Councillor. Please see the Parish Council page for further details. Please consider standing.
Please read down the whole page as information is added as it arises.
Get your nomination form here or from David Walker (781660, chair@holcotvillage.co.uk).
Update 6 March
West Northamptonshire Council held a Candidate’s Briefing on Wednesday 3 March and if you missed it you’ll find the video here or below.
There’s quite a bit of information, and much of it is only relevant to the unitary election, so Northants CALC (the support and representative body for Parish Councils) has created a “Key Facts” document for member councils that extracts the most important data: that extracts the most important data.
Northants CALC is holding an Elections Q&A on Monday 22 March 2021, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. aimed at prospective candidates who wish to learn more about the role of parish or town councillor, and how to become a candidate for election.
The link to register is here.
Update 2 March
We now have a stock of nomination forms. Contact David Walker (781660) for yours!
Update 18 February
Nomination forms are now available. You can either print off your own here, or contact Ruby (clerk@holcotvillage.co.uk) and she will arrange a hard copy for you. You may need some information from Ruby, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
When you have completed the form, you have two options;
- arrange to take your own form to Daventry before 8 April;
- get it to Ruby before Sunday 28 March and she will take it to Daventry.
If you decide to take your own you will need an appointment.
Ruby has prepared a summary of the questions she has been asked so far, with the answers. Read it here.
It’s election time at Holcot Parish Council!
Elections will be held on 6 May for the 8 Councillor roles on our Parish Council.
Holcot Parish Council is responsible for practical things like the playing field and street lighting, representing the views of the Parish on planning applications and local issues. It also promotes the community and deals with local government on such issues as road safety, footpaths and the rural environment.
By the time elections are held Daventry District Council and the County Council will no longer exist – their will be a single tier of local government impacting us in Holcot with the creating or West Northamptonshire Council.
As a Councillor representing Holcot you will help keep it a great place to live. You will be supported in your role and will be able to undertake training. You should be comfortable working electronically, and have a positive outlook and a can-do attitude. You must be willing to work as part of a team.
The Parish Council meets in the evening on the third Monday of each month, normally for 10 months of the year. There are other activities outside of these meetings, taking a few hours each month.
If you would like to discuss the role of Councillor please contact David Walker on 781660, or talk to any of the other current Councillors – details are on the Parish Council page. For anything else, please email Ruby clerk@holcotvillage.co.uk
Expressions of interest are welcomed from anyone who is over 18 years old and on the electoral register. Nomination forms are expected to become available soon, with submission due by 8 April at 4pm. The Clerk helps with the submission process.
Read the Electoral Commission’s guidance for candidates.
A summary of Parish Councils and the role of councillors is available HERE (from Northamptonshire County Association of Local Councils – NCALC)
NCALC’s thirteen excuses for not joining the Parish Council….
THIRTEEN EXCUSES FOR NOT JOINING THE PARISH COUNCIL
1. “I’m too young.”
If you are eighteen (the age limit dropped from 21 to 18 way back in 2007) you are old enough (and see point 5 below.)
2. “What’s the point of just joining a talking shop, they don’t do anything.”
Have you ever been to a meeting? Basing your judgement on watching ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ is definitely not valid.
3. “I haven’t got any planning applications in at the moment.”
Putting in for planning permission has got nothing to do with sitting on the council, whatever may have happened years ago. In fact, if your own application is discussed by the council, you would have to follow the council’s Code of Conduct and national ethical standards, and the restrictions on participating in such circumstances.
4. “I’m too busy, and couldn’t commit to attending every single meeting”.
Meetings are rarely more frequent than one evening a month, and missing the occasional one is acceptable. Most meetings only take a couple of hours.
5. “I’m concentrating on finding a job or furthering my career.”
Being a local councillor is a definite plus point to add to a CV – it shows you can make decisions, work in a team, are community minded and proactive. Prospective employers will be impressed.
6. “I haven’t lived here very long and don’t know the area well.”
If you are a Commonwealth/EU citizen and have lived or worked in the parish for a year or already have your name on the electoral roll, you are eligible….. Your views as an ‘incomer’ should be welcomed, as you will probably see things more objectively.
7. “I’m worried that I won’t get many votes, and look silly.”
Even if you are not voted on this time, you may well be approached if a vacancy occurs in the future and have to opportunity to be co-opted to the council.
8. “Our parish council is full of old fogeys.”
Join up and change it then.
9. “I’d look a fool because I won’t know what’s going on.”
You will be eased in gently; there is help, advice and training available. The clerk is the officer of the council, and he or she will be able to explain the rules.
10. “I’ll have to sign that code of conduct thing that the press keep on about.”
The code of conduct is nowhere near as onerous as made out in the press – and is there to protect you – i.e. the code stops situations like the planning one above.
11. “I’ll have to let everyone know all about my business and personal affairs.”
The declaration of interest form completed at the outset asks you to list business interests within the parish area, to guard against bias when parish issues are debated. As for personal affairs, get real, everyone knows about those already!
12. “I’m too lazy, and not interested in my community.”
An excellent reason for not joining.
13. “I prefer to let others do the work, and then criticize from the sidelines afterwards”.
Also a valid reason for not joining, but do bear in mind, that expounding your views in the pub, rather than the council chamber, will not change a thing in your parish – and if you can’t be bothered, does that mean it’s fair game to criticize those who do make the effort?
