Co-option Application Form – Hinton Blewett Parish Council

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the Parish Council. When the Parish Council has a vacancy, this may be filled by co-option. This means the Parish Council will consider your application and vote at a Parish Council meeting to co-opt you as a new member. Please check the qualification requirements at the bottom of this form and then fill in these details to introduce yourself to the Parish Council. These details will be sent to the Clerk and shared with the Parish Council and Councillors, but will not be shared with any other third parties. You will be invited to attend the Parish Council meeting to meet the current members and present your application with a short discussion.

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Phone (required)

Personal Information:
Please introduce yourself and details why you consider you would be the best candidate for the vacancy. Points you may like to cover include your connection with the Parish, membership of any community groups, voluntary work within the Parish or elsewhere, particular interests relating to the Parish:
(Required)

Skills:
Please detail any skills or experience you have that may be relevant to the Parish Council. This may be professional, and might include any skills you may have from other activities you are involved with:
(optional)

Any other information:
Is there any other information you would like to disclose regarding your application:
(optional)

Please tick to confirm the following statements:
(Required)

I am 18 or overI am a British citizen, or a citizen of a commonwealth*I am not disqualified from standing for any of the reasons listed at the end of this form below
*An eligible Commonwealth citizen is a Commonwealth citizen who either:
• does not need leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or
• has indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom

You must meet at least one of the following four qualifications, please tick which ones apply:
(Required)

I am registered as a local government elector for the parish in which you wish to be co-opted from the day of my co-option onwards**I have either occupied or owned/rented premises in the parish for the whole of the 12 months prior to this applicationI have resided within 3 miles of the boundary of the parish for the whole of the 12 months prior to this applicationMy principle or only place of work for the whole of the 12 months prior to this application is in the parish or within 3 miles of the boundary of the parish

**To be able to use this qualification, your name must appear on the register of local government electors for the
parish at the time of your co-option and throughout your term of office should you be co-opted. Unlike the other qualifications that must only be satisfied on the day of your co-option, this is an on-going qualification. We therefore recommend that if you meet any of the other qualifications as well, you also indicate this on your application

Disqualification

There are certain people who are disqualified from being elected to a parish council. You cannot be a candidate if:

a. You are employed by the parish council or hold a paid office under the parish council (including joint boards or committees)

b. You are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order

c. You have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the five years before co-option and the ordinary period allowed for making an appeal or applications in respect of the conviction has passed.
A person who is in the process of making an appeal or application in relation to the conviction is not disqualified at any time before the end of the day on which the appeal or application is disposed of, abandoned or fails by reason of non-prosecution.

d. You have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which covers corrupt or illegal electoral practices). The disqualification for an illegal practice begins from the date the person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for three years.
The disqualification for a corrupt practice begins from the date a person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for five years, unless at any time within that period a court determines that the conviction should not be upheld, in which case the disqualification ends at that time.

e. You are subject to the notification requirement of or under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and the ordinary period allowed for making an appeal or application in respect of the order or notification has passed. A disqualification set under s.81A of the Local Government Act 1972 will only apply to a person who is subject to any relevant notification requirements or relevant order made on or after 28 June 2022. A person who is in the process of making an appeal or application in relation to the disqualification is not disqualified at any time before the end of the day on which the appeal or application is disposed of, abandoned or fails by reason of non-prosecution.

A person may also be disqualified from being or becoming a member of certain authorities following a conviction under the Localism Act 2011.

Note:

The full range of disqualifications is complex and if you are in any doubt about whether you are disqualified, you must do everything you can to check that you are not disqualified before submitting your application.

You must be sure that you are not disqualified as you will be asked to confirm that you are not disqualified.

It is a criminal offence to make a false statement on your nomination papers as to your qualification for being elected, so if you are in any doubt you should contact your employer, consult the legislation or, if necessary, take your own independent legal advice.

The Clerk and Council will not be able to confirm whether or not you are disqualified.

Further details and legal references can be found on the guidance for candidates at: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent/parish-council-elections-england

Posted: 7th February 2023