Election Day is May 4 2023
This May, ‘all-out’ elections will take place at Congleton Town Council. Those wishing to stand as a Town Council for the next four years have until 4pm on April 4 to get their completed nomination forms to Cheshire East Council at Westfield, Sandbach. Nomination papers must be delivered by hand and an appointment booked with the election staff so that they can check the application with you. Cheshire East Council is expecting more than 1,000 nomination forms and you can start delivering your town councillor nomination papers from March 16 and Cheshire East Borough Councillor nomination papers from the March 27.
There will be 22 spaces for Councillors on the Town Council.
Congleton North Ward (roughly Lower Heath) – 4 seats
Congleton Central Ward (roughly Town Centre and Newcastle Road) – 4 seats
Congleton West Ward (roughly West Heath) – 4 seats
Congleton North East (roughly Bromley Farm and Buglawton) – 5 seats
Congleton South East (roughly Mossley) – 5 seats
Key Dates for Voters
16 January – site went live for Voter Authority Certificates for those without photo id – you can see more on the government website for voter authority certificates if not able to go on-line then the staff at Congleton library can help you apply, including taking the photo.
16 March – Notification of the Town Council elections – Town Council goes into the pre-election time. People wishing to stand as a town councillor can start to hand their nomination papers in at the Cheshire East Westfields building in Sandbach. Please book an appointment 01270 685922 (CEC is encouraging people to return asap as may have a couple of thousand to process!) Deliver between 9.30am and 5pm. Monday to Friday – not including Bank Holidays.
27 March – Notification of the Borough Election (Cheshire East goes into the pre-election period) and nomination papers can be submitted for people wishing to stand as a Borough Councillor.
27 March – Poll Cards will start to be delivered (voting cards)
4 April (4pm) – Close of nominations, and last chance to withdraw the nominations. NOTE THERE WILL BE NO TIME EXTENSIONS GIVEN.
6 April – Town Councils expected to get the names of all the candidates standing
17 April (midnight) – last chance for the public to register to vote. Can do so online at the .gov website
18 April (5pm) deadline for requests for new postal votes applications
18 April – expected date when postal votes will start to be dispatched
22 April – expected date to start opening postal votes (candidate or appointed agent may attend). It will not be possible to see how people have voted as all ballot papers will be kept face down.
25 April (5pm ) deadline for new Proxy applications
26 April (5pm) deadline for appointment of polling and counting agents
4 May (7am – 10am) 292 Polling Stations Open (if all elections contested)
4 May – 10pm – verification of all polls will commence and be completed
5 May – 2pm – start the Borough Council count
7 May – 10am – start the town and parish counts.
12 June (tbc) – latest date for candidate expenses returns – including NIL returns if no money spent.
Could you be a Councillor
To qualify to become a councillor you must be:
- a Commonwealth citizen (which includes being a British subject) or a citizen of a member state of the European Union
- over the age of 18
- an elector of the parish and in addition
- have been either during the whole of the twelve months before the day of nomination or the day of election resided in the parish or within three miles of it or occupied as owner or tenant any land or premises therein or had principal or only place of work
For full details of qualifications and disqualifications can be see at the Electoral Commission website section on standing in a parish council
It is therefore possible to sit on more than one council.
Candidates can represent a political party – in which case you will need the formal backing of that party – or can stand as an independent candidate.
Once elected, the 22 councillors will be expected to work together on policy and direction, attend regular council meetings and make decisions on services and budgets. Councillors can expect to be contacted by residents about local issues, and they may be appointed to outside groups.
Town councillors are not paid.
Potential Councillors can find out more about the role of a Councillor from the ask your Council website where there a downloadable copy of the Good Councillor 2016 guide.
Get ready to vote on 4 May 2023
Voters in Congleton will elect 22 councillors to serve on Congleton Town Council and six councillors to serve on Cheshire East Council from May 2023 until May 2027. To vote you will need to be 18 and registered on the electoral roll.
Cheshire East Council maintains the electoral database. If you are new to the area or not registered you can register on line at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. If you need a postal or proxy vote you can use the .gov website or email electoral.information@cheshireeast.gov.uk. This year the government has ruled that everyone voting at the polling station must show original official photo ID, such as passport, driving licence, proof of age, blue badge scheme. If you do not have valid photo ID you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. For full details see: www.electoralcommission.org.uk
