What is a councillor?
A councillor is elected by voters (constituents) in local elections to represent (serve) specific communities (divisions). A councillor is elected (stands) for four years (or the next scheduled council elections if you are elected at a by-election) and can stand for election as an Independent or a party-political candidate. Devon has 60 elected county councillors representing a population of over 830,000.
A councillor plays a crucial role in Local Government, serving and representing the interests of their community. To ensure a diverse and representative local council, we need councillors from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect the communities they serve.
What do councillors do?
Councillors are community advocates, working to make their area the best place it can be. They are an important link between Devon and local communities, ensuring the voices of local people are heard whilst balancing the needs of local people, their political affiliation (if any), and council business.
The key responsibilities of a councillor are:
- Representing your local area: A councillor represents the interests of their community, engages with local people and businesses, listening to their views, answering emails and phone calls and addressing local concerns.
- Community leadership: A councillor is uniquely placed to provide leadership within communities, supporting local projects, attending events and encouraging collaboration to help address the needs and aspirations of a community.
- Developing council policy: Councillors work together to develop and review Devon’s policies, strategies, budget and Council Tax, influencing how Devon’s responsibilities are delivered.
- Helping with local projects: Councillors are sometimes able to help with funding and supporting projects or activities that benefit the communities they represent.
- Attending to council business: Time spent on council business includes attending county council and committee meetings, representing the Council at meetings with other local authorities such as district, town and parish councils, liaising and working in collaboration with other partners and organisations, and reading council reports to understand issues and participate in discussions and decisions.
Some councillors have extra responsibilities like positions in the Cabinet, Committees or Boards and there are opportunities to also be involved in specific council projects.
If you’d like to find out more about council meetings, visit Democracy in Devon or read our Guide to Committee Meetings.
If you’d like to know what Council meetings are like, many of the main Council meetings are webcast.
Next steps
Still have questions? Join one of our free information sessions online or in person, download our printable information guide or, if you’re ready to take the next step, learn more about the nomination process.
