There are 54 councillors making up Wokingham Borough Council, all of which serve one of the borough’ s 25 wards. Each of the wards is represented by either 1, 2 or 3 councillors (dependent on the size of the ward and electors.) As a borough councillor you would be representing the people of your ward. The council is elected each year by thirds, which means that one third of the seats will be up for election each year. Once elected, a councillor will serve for 4 years.
Interested in becoming a councillor?
If you are interested in becoming a Councillor, read our guide to becoming a councillor. This will give you important information about what councillors do, how much time is involved and financial compensation. Briefing meetings for candidates and agents are held in advance of each election. For more details about this year's election, please see below.
Who can become a councillor?
To be a councillor you must be:
- 18 years old or over
- A British, Commonwealth or Irish citizen or a citizen of another member state of the European Union
and
- Registered as a voter in the Wokingham Borough Council area, or
- The owner or tenant of any land or premises in the area, or
- Your principal or only place of work for the last 12 months or more has been in the Wokingham area, or
- You have lived in the Wokingham area for the past 12 months.
You can't stand as a candidate if you:
- Are employed by the local authority or hold paid office under the authority (including joint boards or committees)
- Hold a politically restricted post
- Are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order
- Have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 3 months or more (including a suspended sentence) without the option of a fine, during the 5 years before election day
- Have been disqualified from holding office by order of an election court.
For more details about disqualifications contact the Electoral Commission for advice.
How to become a councillor
Having qualified you would need to be nominated. Once the election has been called, nomination packs are available from electoral services or can be downloaded from the Electoral Commission website. The nomination paper will need to be signed by 10 registered electors from the ward in which you want to stand. You will also need to complete a form which gives your consent to the nomination. You may appoint someone to act on your behalf as your agent, who would help you with your election campaign.
Scheduled Borough elections for 2012
On 3 May 2012 there will be Borough elections in the following wards: Bulmershe and Whitegates, Charvil, Emmbrook, Evendons, Finchampstead North, Finchampstead South, Hawkedon, Hillside, Hurst, Loddon, Maiden Erlegh, Norreys, Remenham, Wargrave and Ruscombe, Shinfield South, Twyford, Wescott, Winnersh and Wokingham Without.
Scheduled Parish elections for 2012
On 3 May 2012 there will be Parish elections for the following Parish Councils: Charvil, Finchampstead, Hurst and Ruscombe.
Pre-nomination meeting on 19 March 2012
There will be a pre-nomination meeting for agents, potential candidates and parish clerks on Monday 19 March at 5.30pm in GF2 at the Civic Offices at Shute End. The meeting will be an opportuntity to learn about the nomination process and to ask questions. Nomination packs will be available for collection at the meeting. They can also be collected from Electoral Services' public counter at Civic Offices from Tuesday 20 March onwards.
Request your free copy of the Electoral Register
As a candidate or agent, you are entitled to a free copy of the Electoral Register for the area in which you intend to stand. The request form for full Register of Electors should be completed and sent to Electoral Services. You are also entitled to receive a list of postal voters. If you want to receive this, complete and return the absent voter list request form. Help and advice for candidates and agents is available from the Electoral Commission website.
Notice of Election
The Notice of Election will be published by 27 March. This officially starts the election process. Completed nomination forms can be submitted during office hours from 27 March until noon on 4 April. There will also be a second meeting for candidates and agents on 24 April at 5pm at Shute End.
Other key election dates:
- Publish Statement of Persons Nominated: noon 10 April
- Deadline for postal vote applications: 5pm 18 April
- Deadline for applications to register to vote: 18 April
- Postal votes will be issued between 20 to 24 April
- Postal votes will be opened from 25 April to 3 May
- Polling Day: 7am to 10pm on 3 May
- Borough and Parish Counts: 9.30am on 4 May
More details
You can request further information from us, using the forms, below:
