Becoming a councillor (Member)
Councillors are elected by local people to represent their division and are the link between the community and the council. You will need to keep residents informed about council matters which will affect them. Councillors can make a huge difference to local people's quality of life.
If you’re considering becoming a councillor, you will find everything you need to know to make your decision on the Local Government Association's Be a councillor webpage. It explains what councils and councillors do, what you will need to do to take your first steps and all about the role and the support you can expect.
The Council has role descriptions at the bottom of the page, which have more detail on the role and responsibilities of a Member (Councillor).
The Chair of the Council, Councillor Sebastian Kindersley, explains his civic role and his work as a divisional councillor in the video below.
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What does the council do?
The Chief Executive, Stephen Moir, provides an overview of the council’s services and explains its vision.
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Council structure
Cambridgeshire County Council is made up of 61 elected members, the chief executive and executive directors.
Council structure – details about council directorates
Meetings and decisions – information about different committees
County Council meetings on YouTube
Code of conduct
All elected and co-opted members of local authorities, including parish councils and fire authorities, are covered by a code of conduct. At Cambridgeshire County Council, every councillor, on election to the authority, is required to undertake to observe a code of conduct that sets out rules governing the behaviour of councillors whilst in public office.
Elected councillors must consider their personal or business commitments and, where they could have a direct interest on a matter or they may have some influence over a decision being taken by the council, they must openly declare this interest and not participate in discussions about it.
The rules relating to the disclosure and registration of interests are set out in the Members' Code of Conduct. The document is contained within the Cambridgeshire County Council's Constitution.
Allowances
The role of councillor is voluntary and members do not receive a salary for the work they do but they can claim allowances to compensate for expenses incurred.
All councillors receive a basic allowance of £11,565.51 which is paid in equal monthly instalments and is subject to tax and national insurance deductions where appropriate.
Travelling expenses are payable for certain journeys undertaken on council business. Claims can only be made for attendance at events classified as approved duties. The rates paid are the same as those paid to council officers and include a cycle allowance. The current mileage rate for all cars (irrespective of engine capacity) is 45p per mile. Fares on public transport are also reimbursed. Alternatively, a cycle allowance of 20p per mile is also payable.
Councillors with care responsibilities in respect of dependent children under 16 or dependent adults certified by a doctor or social worker as needing attendance will be reimbursed, on production of valid receipts, for actual payments to a registered or professional carer. Where care was not provided by a registered or professional carer but was provided by an individual not formally resident at the member’s home, a maximum hourly rate based on the Real Living Wage will be payable.
A Special Responsibility Allowance is paid to members who are office holders.
Training and development
There is an induction programme with sessions for newly elected councillors to attend, which are designed to help them get to know their way around the council, to find out about how it works and to meet key officer contacts.
There will also be training sessions to help them understand more about the role of a councillor and the responsibilities and duties this involves.
An open morning will take place between 10.00 am and 12.00 noon on Saturday, 3 May 2025 at New Shire Hall to provide an opportunity to meet fellow councillors and the chief executive and his senior management team.
The council is committed to providing ongoing training and development for all councillors, which includes external training provided by the Local Government Association. A Member Development Panel is responsible for ensuring that the council has effective and efficient arrangements in place to support member development.
The Democratic Services Team provide ongoing support and advice regarding training needs, co-ordinating training provision for members, and supporting councillors on any committees that they may sit on.
Role descriptions for councillors
The 'All members role description' document indicates the skills you may need and responsibilities you will have during your term of office.
There are additional roles which attract Special Responsibility Allowances as detailed in the Members' Allowances Scheme in The Council's Constitution.
IT provision
The council will issue you with a laptop which can be used for County Council related business at home, at a council office or from other locations. We strongly recommend this option as it will give you secure access to the council’s network, to your council email and calendar, and will be fully supported by our IT and Digital Service.
You will be set up with and must use a Cambridgeshire County Council email address for council related emails (security restrictions mean that email cannot be auto-forwarded from Cambridgeshire County Council accounts to external accounts). Due to the increase in cyber attacks and the frequency of cyber security updates the use of a council email address is required to ensure prevention and management of potential cyber related risks so they can be dealt with as quickly as possible.
More information and support will be available on election.
Who can be a councillor?
We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect the communities they serve to put themselves forward for election. You don’t need any experience or special qualifications. Your life experience, everyday skills, passion and commitment to people and communities are vital, and it’s important that councils reflect the local population.
The Local Government Association has information on support for disabled councillors.
You do not need to be a member of one of the three main political parties to stand for election. You can join one of the smaller parties, or as an independent councillor.
You need to be:
- British or a citizen of the Commonwealth. You may also be eligible as a citizen of the European Union, however the criteria has changed now that the UK has left the European Union. Please check on the gov.uk website for advice about EU citizens’ voting and candidacy rights in local elections.
- at least 18 years old.
- registered to vote in the area or have lived, worked, or owned property there for at least 12 months before an election.
You can’t be a councillor if you:
- work for the council you want to be a councillor for, you can work for another local authority as long as you are not in a political restricted post.
- are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.
- have been sentenced to prison for three months or more (including suspended sentences) during the five years before election day.
- have been convicted of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court.
- are subject to any relevant notification requirements, or a relevant order, in respect of a sexual offence.
How to become a councillor
There is Electoral Commission guidance for anyone who wants to stand as a candidate. This includes the stages you need to go through and ensuring that you comply with the law.
Information on becoming an councillor is also available from your district council: