Becoming a councillor

If you care about your community and are looking for a rewarding way to help, becoming a councillor could be the perfect choice for you.

As a Solihull Councillor you can make a real difference to our the borough and wider society. For example, you could:

• represent the views of local people to ensure the community gets the right services
• support a resident with an issue
• help to shape the future of the borough by creating new ideas 

These pages will provide you with an outline about what you need to know about becoming a councillor and how to proceed once you have made the decision to stand for election.

What do councillors do?

Councillors are elected to represent residents in a local area of the borough known as a ward. 

The role of a councillor can be varied and it is up to each councillor to decide how they work. Councillors have responsibilities to:

• their ward
• the Council
• the community

Councillors work with local people and partners, such as community groups, businesses and other organisations, to agree and deliver on local priorities which are delivered by Council staff. The role of a councillor is to serve and represent everyone in their elected ward. Some councillors are also appointed to additional roles in the Council such as being a cabinet member.

Councillors work with a diverse range of people from their community and have Council Officers to support them in their role. Councillors lead the local conversation, and you can be part of that to make your area the best place it can be.

Councillors Code of Conduct

Councillors must follow the Code of Conduct which sets out the standards and behaviours expected of councillors and elected members. The Code of Conduct is based on the Seven Principles of Public Life (Nolan Principles). 

Building on these principles, the following general principles have been developed specifically for the role of a councillor. 

Our general principles

In accordance with the public trust placed in me, on all occasions I will: 

• act with integrity and honesty
• act lawfully
• treat all persons fairly and with respect
• lead by example and act in a way that secures public confidence in the role of councillor

As a councillor I will:

• impartially exercise my responsibilities in the interests of the local community
• not improperly seek to give any person an advantage or disadvantage
• avoid conflicts of interest
• exercise reasonable care and diligence
• ensure that public resources are used carefully in accordance with my local authority’s requirements and in the public interest

Why are councillors important? 

Councillors play an important role in the borough as they: 

• are a voice for the community and represent local people and communities
• are champions of those who use local services
• help shape future services for the benefit of local people
• work in partnership with other organisations such as:
  • police
  • voluntary and community sector
  • other public bodies
  • the private sector
• play a major role in improving the quality of life for people in Solihull 

Why become a councillor?

People choose to become councillors for a variety of reasons. For example, you may: 

• feel strongly about a particular issue or the wellbeing of your community and would like the opportunity to influence decision-making on these issues
• see yourself as a good spokesperson for your community and feel you could represent the views of the people living in your area
• want to pursue political beliefs
• have specific skills and knowledge that you would like to use to benefit your community
• be part of a local organisation and feel that becoming a councillor would be a natural progression 

Some people see becoming a councillor as an extension of what they are already doing. For example, you may already be active in a political party, trade union, or school governing body, and the next step for you is to become a councillor.