If you’re passionate about the Saltford community, want to make positive changes, and can work alongside others to make Saltford a great place to be then consider standing as a candidate for Saltford Parish Council’s (SPC) elections. Elections take place every four years and they are next due in 2023. Nominations to stand as a candidate open on 21 March and close on 4 April (4pm).
Parish Council’s differ in size, interests and activity. For information about Saltford Parish Council please see our Parish Council page. SPC’s website contains wide-ranging information including agendas and minutes from meetings, council responsibilities, financial information, and regular news articles. General information about what Parish Councils do can be found on the Avon Local Council Association (ALCA) webpage.
Saltford Parish Council has 11 Councillors who offer their time voluntarily for the benefit of the local community. Please see the Councillors page of SPC’s website for an overview. Councillors on Saltford Parish Council ‘retire’ in early May, when the next Council is elected. Saltford Parish Council is supported by a part-time Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer.
SPC Councillors are summoned to attend meetings. Saltford Parish Council generally meets on the first Tuesday of the month (bar August) in the Avon Room at Saltford Hall. The meeting starts at 7:15pm, with Councillors arriving a little earlier. Due to the elections, the first meeting of the new Saltford Parish Council will take place on 16 May 2023 (7.15pm start, Avon Room, Saltford Hall). Meetings usually last about two hours.
For a summary of what Parish Councillors do (also referred to as ‘local’ Councillors – or Town Councillors), how to become a Councillor, recruitment resources and some ‘Councillor stories’ about what being a Parish Councillor can be like, visit the National Association of Local Council’s ‘Make a change, become a Councillor’ (NALC) webpage. There is also helpful information on the Avon Local Council Association ‘Become a Councillor‘ webpage. Plus please do chat to current SPC Councillors, their contact details can be found on the Councillors page.
The Electoral Commission
Please visit the Electoral Commission website if considering standing as a candidate for Saltford Parish Council. Their website provides relevant guides which candidates may find helpful including:
Can you stand for election? (eligibility, disqualifications etc)
Candidate spending (expenses)
The Electoral Commission website also has a timetable for the local government elections in England.
Key Dates:
20 March – B&NES Council will provide information to Saltford PC to display on its noticeboard and website.
21 March – Candidates can submit their nominations from 9am
4 April 2023 – 4pm deadline for candidates to submit three documents (listed below) at the Guildhall
5 April – Statement of persons nominated / Notice of results provided by B&NES Council and displayed by Saltford Parish Council (if uncontested election)
25 April – Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations provided by B&NES Council and displayed by Saltford Parish Council (if contested election)
4 May 7am-10pm – Polling Day. B&NES Council Ward Cllrs will be counted first (verification starts 10:15pm) Results expected in the following days (note: Monday 8 May is an extra Bank Holiday)
9 May – Official start date for new Councillors (also Saltford Parish Council Councillor training that evening, 7pm – the Clerk will be in touch with newly appointed Councillors)
16 May – Saltford Parish Council meeting – First Full Council meeting, to be held in the Avon Room at Saltford Hall at 7:15pm. Councillors will be formally summoned to attend three clear days before (usually the Thursday before the meeting).
1 June – Deadline for submission of expenses – everyone must do this who has submitted nomination papers no matter the outcome (This is to B&NES, not via Saltford Parish Council)
All enquiries to: elections@bathnes.gov.uk (Contact details for the Electoral Services team are below)
Helpful tips for those standing for nomination:
The following information has been provided by B&NES Council’s Electoral Services team but please do check all details with B&NES Council (SPC cannot take responsibility for any errors).
Check you are qualified to be a Councillor! See Electoral Commission guide on their website.
Three documents need to be submitted by candidates: ‘Nomination Form’, ‘Home Address Form’ and ‘Consent to Nomination Form’.
Delivery of Forms: Forms must be delivered by hand to the Guildhall (in Bath) by the candidate OR a trusted person. Reception staff at the Guildhall cannot take these documents and do not leave on their desk. Please hand in to the elections team in Brunswick Room (near the reception desk). They will check everything is in order in the forms so you do not have to go back to the Guildhall if there is an error. The Guildhall is open Mon-Thurs 8:30-5, 8:30-4:30 on Fri – but please check at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/guildhall-bath in case of any changes.
Nomination Form: Leave the ‘Ward’ section blank. This is only for the three Town Councils in B&NES.
Nomination Form: Commonly used name is what will be on the ballot paper. So if known as ‘Joe Bloggs’ not ‘Joseph Bloggs’ and you would prefer ‘Joe’, put THE shortened version of your name under ‘commonly used name’ UNLESS this is one of your middle names. If you go by your middle name please contact B&NES Elections Services team for guidance.
Nomination Form: Seconders MUST be on the electoral register for Saltford. It doesn’t matter who, so for instance it can be spouse or other relative.
Nomination Form: Candidates can access the electoral register. Access the register published after 1 April 2023 to ensure up to date information is used. The B&NES Council Electoral Services team can advise how to do this.
Home Address form: Use your full name, not commonly used name. Fill in your address. The witness can be anyone, they do not have to be on electoral register.
Home Address form: You can choose not to have your home address published publicly. If so, it will appear as ‘Address in Bath and North East Somerset’. You cannot have ‘Saltford’, by law it must be the name of the district i.e. ‘Bath and North East Somerset’.
Consent to nomination form: Ensure that the home address tallys with other form(s).
Consent to nomination form: You will only fill in the first page of this document but all five pages of the document must be returned by the candidate to the Guildhall.
The B&NES Elections office is able to advise candidates on all aspects of the elections process including completing forms and access to the Electoral Register (for candidates and seconder electoral roll numbers). Contact details for the team at B&NES area as follows:
Electoral Services
Guildhall,
High Street,
Bath
BA1 5AW
01225 477333
What is Saltford Parish Council’s role in the Parish Council elections?
Saltford Parish Council will display notices provided by B&NES Council throughout the process on its website and noticeboard on the day they are published (by 5pm), which will provide information about the Parish Council elections 2023.
Please note that SPC cannot advise candidates on elections including the completion of forms – the above is guidance on commonly asked questions, but please cross check the above if required with the B&NES Council elections office. SPC is unable to print or provide copies of forms for the elections. Candidates may be able to claim costs of these on expenses, please see the Electoral Commission’s guidance on this as linked above. Forms must be hand delivered to the Guildhall NOT to Saltford Parish Council.
Remember if voting at a Polling Station, from 4 May 2023 you will need to bring photo ID with you. See the Electoral Commission’s www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID page for information.