Are you passionate about making a difference to your local community of Stoke sub Hamdon?  If the answer is yes why not think about standing as a Parish Councillor?  We are a very proactive council and councillors are expected to take an active part in working groups and the various council led projects as well as being prepared to submit and read written reports prior to each meeting.

 

Parish Council Elections

Parish Council elections are held every four years and the next one is due in May 2022. This has been brought forward a year to align with the Somerset Unitary Council elections.  The subsequent elections will take place five years later in 2027.  

There are 11 Councillor seats available in total; 10 in the Hamdon Ward and 1 in the St Michael Ward.  An election will be held if more candidates come forward than there are seats.

To find out more about how rewarding it can be to serve as a Parish Councillor, take a look at the attached Guide below, produced by the Somerset Association of Local Councils

 

Co-opting a Parish Councillor

Co-option is a way of appointing a Parish Councillor when no election has been called.  During a normal four year term, a vacancy comes up when a Councillor resigns, fails to attend Parish Council meetings for six consecutive months, or passes away.  If this happens, Stoke sub Hamdon Parish Council must ask the electorate if they wish for an election to be held.  A minimum of ten electors need to respond from the electorate for an election to go ahead.  After fourteen working days with no response from the electorate, we can advertise the post.  Anyone who is eligible and interested in being co-opted can then apply and can find out what's involved from the Chairman or Parish Clerk.