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Be a Councillor

Councillors are elected by the community they represent to decide how the council should carry out its various activities.

Councillors are entitled to different types of salaries, allowances and expenses dependant on the roles and responsibilities they have - a video from the Welsh Government is available to view on YouTube (opens new window).

Councillors act as decision makers, signposters, caseworkers, community volunteers, watchdogs and campaigners. Councillors make decisions about how council services are run; are involved in determining the councils overall budget; help set standards for the various services offered by the council, support constituents with problems they might have with the Council or other agencies and ensure that local services are properly provided.

If you would like to know more about being a councillor for the City and County of Swansea and its services you could attend one of our public committee meetings or speak informally to one of the current Councillors or political groups.

The next local government Elections will be in May 2022.

Legal requirements

To be elected as a councillor you must be:

  • 18 years of age or over at the date of nomination
  • a Commonwealth citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of another Member State of the European Community

and one of the following:

  • You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the local authority area in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.
  • You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
  • Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the local authority area.
  • You have lived in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.

You cannot stand as a candidate if any of the following applies to you:

  • You are employed by the local authority or hold a paid office under the authority (including joint boards or committees).
  • You hold a politically restricted post.
  • You are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.
  • You have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the five years before polling day.
  • You have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which covers corrupt or illegal electoral practices and offences relating to donations) or under the Audit Commission Act 1998.

Further information about the process of becoming a councillor and standing as a candidate in a local government election (including the full range of disqualifications) is available from The Electoral Commission (opens new window). Both the Welsh Local Government Association (opens new window) and the City and County of Swansea have produced information about being a councillor. In addition, a video from the Ombudsman is available to view on YouTube (opens new window).

Payments to Councillors

If you are thinking of seeking election to become a councillor, here are some facts on what payments you would be entitled to receive.
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