Frequently Asked Questions

What's involved in being a Councillor?

You don't need any formal qualifications to become a councillor, but you do need to be a good listener, have an enquiring mind, have the confidence to speak in public and have a commitment to working with others.

Being a councillor is time-consuming and hard work. It involves lots of reading reports and correspondence and lots of contact with the public. Councillors have to make tough decisions faced with a number of conflicting interests. But being a councillor is also a very rewarding way of serving the local community, and there is support available. For example, the council will provide office accommodation, a venue for meeting constituents, secretarial services, telephone and computer facilities, access to research and information, induction and ongoing training, and advice from the council's professional officers.

Most council meetings take place on two evenings per month, but there are also some day-time commitments. How much time these take up depends on the responsibilities each member takes on, within the council (for example as convener of a committee) and on outside bodies. Councillors receive a basic salary, with some members receiving additional payments to reflect the positions and responsibilities they hold.

Councillors have to follow a strict code of conduct which governs how they behave, particularly over matters where they have a personal or financial interest.

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