Are you passionate about your community? Do you want to help make a long-lasting change? Do you have innovative ideas for the Parish Council? Do you have concerns about a specific issue and want to do something about it.  The Parish Council is seeking to fill two councillor vacancies.

No special qualifications are required. Training for new councillors is available to help you to understand and fulfil the responsibilities of the role.

For more information get in touch with David Naylor Parish Clerk (email: clerk.napc@gmail.com) or call 07717 244537 he will be happy to talk with you about the role.

What do Parish Councillors do?

The full complement of Nether Alderley Parish Council is made up of 8 councillors. They meet once a month to discuss and act on issues that are important to the local community.

The Parish Council sets a precept which is raised by Cheshire East Council in the annual rates bill levied on all households in the Parish. This is spent in the parish. The Parish Council comments on all planning applications in the Parish and run projects that help maintain, improve, or enhance the local area.  Local Government is changing, and parish councils are seeing an increase in the responsibilities and opportunities to influence decisions that affect their local community.

Becoming a councillor is a rewarding experience.  

It’s true to say that on their own, parish councils have limited powers to make decisions.  But they can be a strong voice for their local community and can negotiate and influence the decisions taken by organisations such as Cheshire East Council, health authorities and the police etc. In this respect parish councils can be very powerful.

How much time of my time will it take?

The Parish Council meets once a month for a council meeting, to which members of the public are also invited.  Meetings last about two hours. You may also be acting as a representative on an outside body, involved with community activities or helping develop a new project.

Am I eligible to be a Parish Councillor?

You have to be:

• a British subject
• over 18 years of age

and additionally, you have to be one of the following:

• a local government elector for the council area for which you want to stand.
• have during the whole of the last 12 months occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the council area or within 3 miles of it.
• have during that same period had your principal or only place of work in the council area or within 3 miles of it.

You cannot stand for election if you:

• are the subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order.
• have, within five years before the day of the election, been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence and have had a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine.
• work for the council you want to become a councillor for (but you can work for other local authorities, including the principal authorities that represent the same area).
• You don’t have to be connected to a political party.

Come along to a Parish Council meeting. Or speak to the Parish Clerk or one of our councillors and find out what they think of the role.

See also the Notice of Election above from the Returning Officer dated 22^nd September 2023 which explains the option for an election to be called rather than a co-option.