GRISTON

The Role of a Councillor

Councillors are elected to represent the interests of the local community, usually on a four yearly cycle. They represent their community as a whole and promote a harmonious local environment.

The number of elected Councillors depends on the size of the area, and in Griston we are able to have seven Councillors.

Local Councils are the first tier of governance and are the first point of contact for anyone concerned with a community issue. They are democratically elected local authorities and exist in England, Wales and Scotland. The term 'Local Council' is synonymous with ' Parish Council, 'Town Council' and 'Community Council'.

Local Councils are made up of locally elected Councillors. They are legally obliged to hold at least four meetings a year, but most meet on a monthly or two monthly cycle to discuss council business and hear from local residents.  District and County Councillors regularly attend parish meetings and report at the Annual Parish meeting. Councillors are expected to attend meetings on a regular basis.​

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Councillors must abide by a Code of Conduct, a set of rules on how Councillors are expected to behave. They must also declare their financial interests in the parish, details of which are kept by the District Council.

Council meetings are run under a set of Standing Orders, which define the protocols and procedures for council business.

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Both the Code Of Conduct and Standing Orders can be viewed on the 'Documents' tab of 'The Council' page.