Whilst you don’t need specific qualifications to be a councillor, having or being able to develop the following skills and experience will help you in the role. Don’t worry if you don’t yet feel you have them all though, the Council will provide lots of training and support for new councillors and further development opportunities during your term.
- Communication skills: A councillor needs the ability to engage and listen to constituents, express their concerns, and effectively convey your ideas and proposals.
- Problem solving skills: A councillor will often face difficult challenges. Being able to analyse situations, ask critical questions, and find practical solutions is essential.
- Partnership and team working: Collaborating with other councillors, council officers at all levels, community groups, and stakeholders is vital. Building partnerships helps address local issues effectively.
- Organisational skills: Balancing council business with other commitments requires effective time management. Organisational skills help a councillor stay on top of responsibilities.
- Leadership: A councillor is a leader and advocate for their local area. Having the ability to inspire and guide others is important.
- Life experiences: To reflect the communities they serve, a councillor needs a range of skills and life experiences. These could be gained through raising a family, caring for a sick or disabled relative, volunteering or being active in faith or community groups.
- Local knowledge: A councillor who understands their communities’ needs can make informed decisions that align with local interests.
- Political understanding: Political awareness can help a councillor deal with policies, regulations and decision-making processes, but it’s not an absolute requirement.
- Integrity and ethics: As a councillor, being honest and transparent is crucial to building trust and commitment to your local community. High ethical standards and an advocate of democracy, contributes to the reputation of all councillors and trust in Local Government.
- Being flexible and open-minded: Council work can be dynamic. Flexibility allows a councillor to respond to changing issues. Being open-minded to different perspectives ensures a councillor fairly represents their community.
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.
