Prospective Candidates Seminar Local Government Elections 3 May

Prospective Candidates Seminar Local Government Elections 3 May 2018

Becoming a Councillor Duties, Responsibilities and Support Available John Bailey, Head of Electoral Services Andrew Charlwood, Head of Governance John Hooton, Returning Officer

Role of a Councillor The three primary roles of a councillor are: 1. Act as a Member of the Council, for example, at Full Council or as a member of a committee. 2. Act as a representative for residents of their ward. 3. May represent a political party, especially at election time. Councillors may also be appointed to outside bodies, such as school governing bodies, community organisations, charities and trusts to act as a representative of the Councillors are ‘corporate parents’ to looked after children. 3

Council Governance • Full Council is the ultimate decision-making body. It agrees the council’s strategic and policy direction, sets the capital and revenue budgets each year, decides each year’s level of council and agrees the Constitution. • Barnet’s governance arrangements are a Committee System model. Cross-party committees with specific responsibilities determine many key policy and resources decisions. No delegated authority to individual councillors. Officers have delegated authority (via the Constitution) to make more minor decisions. 4

Support • Political Assistants (for Groups over 10 Members) • Group Rooms at Hendon Town Hall • IT provision (laptop, tablet, mobile phone) • Members Allowances – basic allowances and special responsibility allowances • Members Surgeries (use of public buildings or hire of community spaces) • Member Development Programme • Members Enquiries • Chief Officers and Governance Service 5

Obligations • Adhere to Nolan’s Principles of Public Life • Observe the Members Code of Conduct • Adhere to the Planning and Licensing Codes • Register of Interests / Gifts and Hospitality • Adhere to IT and Information Management Policies • Undertake Learning and Development • Attend Council and Committee Meetings • Case Work (e. g. complaints, Members Enquiries) 6

Key Dates • Member Induction Day – Tuesday, 8 May (9. 30 am – 4. 30 pm) • All Member Mandatory Training: Ø Children’s Services: Corporate Parenting, Safeguarding Children and Role of Ofsted and Improvement Plan – Thursday, 31 May (7 pm – 9 pm) Ø Safeguarding Adults – Thursday, 28 June (7 pm – 9 pm) • Subject Specific Mandatory Training* Ø Pension Fund Committee – Tuesday, 29 May (5. 30 pm – 6. 45 pm) Ø Planning Committees – Wednesday, 30 May (7 pm – 9 pm) Ø Licensing Committees – Monday, 4 June (7 pm – 9 pm) Ø Audit Committee – Tuesday, 17 July (5. 30 pm – 6. 45 pm) Ø Treasury Management – Wednesday, 3 October (5. 45 pm – 6. 45 pm) * Initial sessions listed. Other mandatory sessions to take place in first six months as per agreed Member Development Programme 7

Things to Think About • Evening meetings (council, committees, party group, training, etc. ) • Daytime meetings (outside bodies, partnerships, etc. ) • Civic Events (Remembrance Sunday, Civic Service, Holocaust Memorial Day, Civic Awards, etc. ) • Case Work • Training • Surgeries • Outside Bodies • Public Profile / Public Scrutiny • Special Responsibilities 8

Questions ? 9

Becoming a candidate in the London Borough of Barnet at the Local Government elections in May 2018 John Bailey – Head of Electoral Services

Using the Electoral Commission’s ‘Guidance for candidates and agents’ This presentation will cover: • Part 1 of 6 – Can you stand for election? • Part 2 a of 6 – Standing as an independent candidate • Part 2 b of 6 – Standing as a party candidate

Qualifications for standing for election: To stand as a candidate at these elections you must: Guidance for candidates and agents Part 1 of 6 • Be at least 18 years old on the day of your nomination • Be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of a member state of the European Union • Meet at least one of the four qualifications for the local authority area: • Registered local authority elector • Occupied any land or premises in the area during the whole of the preceding 12 months • Only or main work for preceding 12 months has been in the area • Lived in the area during whole of preceding 12 months

Disqualifications from standing for election: You cannot be a candidate if: Guidance for candidates and agents Part 1 of 6 • You are employed by the local authority (this includes some school positions, health service positions and the period whilst serving notice etc. ) • You hold a politically restricted post (i. e. at another local authority) • You are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order • You have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more within the past five years (includes suspended sentences) • You have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 or the Audit Commission Act 1998

Completing your nomination papers: Guidance for candidates and agents Part 2 a of 6 Part 2 b of 6 A completed set of nomination papers must be submitted by 4 pm - 6 April 2018. This deadline is set out in law and cannot be changed for any reason. The nomination papers are comprised of: • The nomination paper • Your consent to nomination and to stand on behalf of a registered political party you also need: • Certificate of Authorisation • Emblem Request Form

Nomination Paper: 1 a

Nomination Paper: Must be completed in English and must contain: Guidance for candidates and agents Part 2 a of 6 Part 2 b of 6 • Your full name • Surname and other names in full • No prefixes or suffixes (unless a title) • Your full home address • In full without abbreviations • Must be current home address • Must not be a business address • Signatures of 10 registered electors (subscribers) from the ward

Nomination Paper: Optional elements: Guidance for candidates and agents Part 2 a of 6 Part 2 b of 6 • Commonly Used Name: if you wish this to appear on the ballot paper • Description: Party Candidates: • Either the Party’s name or one of the party’s descriptions as registered with the Electoral Commission Independent Candidates: • May have the word ‘independent’ appear on the ballot paper

Consent to Nomination: 1 b

Consent to Nomination: You must formally consent to your nomination in writing Guidance for candidates and agents Part 2 a of 6 Part 2 b of 6 The content of this form is fixed by law and you must: • State that you are qualified and not disqualified from standing for election • State your date of birth • Sign and have your signature witnessed • The witness must sign the form and give their full name and address • You are not allowed to sign the form earlier than one calendar month before submitting your nomination papers

Political party candidates: Certificate of Authorisation 2 Request to use an Emblem 3

Political party candidates: • Certificate of Authorisation Guidance for candidates and agents Part 2 a of 6 Part 2 b of 6 • Must state that the named candidate can stand on their behalf and allow use of one of the following: • The exact party name as registered with the EC • One of the party’s registered descriptions • Request to use an emblem on the ballot paper • You must make the request for an emblem in writing • The request must state the name of the party and describe the emblem (as listed on the EC’s register)

Submitting Your Nomination Papers All nomination papers… Guidance for candidates and agents Part 2 a of 6 Guidance for candidates and agents Part 2 b of 6 • Nomination Form • Consent to Nomination • Certificate of Authorisation Political party candidates only • Emblem Request Form must be submitted to the place specified on the Notice of Election by 4 pm on 6 April 2018 - this will be the Election Officer, 1 st Floor, Building 2, North London Business Park. The papers must be submitted in person and you should do this as early as possible to allow the Returning Officer’s staff an opportunity to conduct an informal check and for you to re-submit the papers if they should be found to contain any errors.

Submitting Your Nomination Papers Arrangements put in place by the Returning Officer for Barnet: • Nomination papers to be delivered by appointment • Maximum of two candidates / agents will be dealt with at a time • Appointments will be taken between 10 am and 4 pm* on each of the seven working days available *3 pm on xx April 2014 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 --18 --19 -- 20 --21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 -- Easter Weekend (office closed) Non-working days during Passover

After the close of nominations: Guidance for candidates and agents Part 2 a of 6 Part 2 b of 6 The Returning Officer will publish a statement of persons nominated for each ward no later than 12 noon on Monday 9 April 2018, which will include: • Full (or Commonly used) names of all candidates validly nominated • Names of candidates who no longer stand nominated (with the reason they are no longer standing) • The address of each candidate • Each candidate’s description (if any)

After the close of nominations (cont. ): Guidance for candidates and agents Part 2 a of 6 Part 2 b of 6 • By law, from the close of nominations until the day before the poll, nomination papers are open to inspection and any member of the public can take a copy of them • You may withdraw as a candidate by submitting a signed withdrawal notice by 12 noon on Tuesday xx April 2018 • If you are nominated in more than one ward, you must withdraw from all but one ward or you will be deemed to have withdrawn from all of the wards

Notification of election agent: 4

Notification of election agent: Guidance for candidates and agents Part 2 a of 6 Guidance for candidates and agents Part 2 b of 6 • The election agent is the person responsible for the proper management of your election campaign and for its financial management • If you do not appoint an agent you will become your own agent by default • Only the election agent can make payments for election expenses • You can also appoint other agents to observe the following electoral processes (you and your election agent can observe all of these processes): • the opening of postal votes • the poll • the count

Using the Electoral Commission’s ‘Guidance for candidates and agents’ Further guidance available: • Part 3 of 6 – Spending and donations • Part 4 of 6 – The campaign • Part 5 of 6 – Your right to attend key electoral events • Part 6 of 6 – After the declaration of result

www. electoralcommission. org. uk