Councillors have three main components to their work.

Decision Making – Through meetings and attending committees with other elected members , councillors decide which activities to support, where money should be spent, what services should be delivered and what policies should be implemented.

Monitoring – Councillors make sure that their decisions lead to efficient and effective services by keeping an eye on how well things are working.

Getting involved locally - as local representatives, councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. These responsibilities and duties often depend on what the councillor wants to achieve and how much time is available, and may include:

• Going to meetings of local organisations
• Going to meetings of bodies affecting the wider community
• Taking up issues on behalf of members of the public
• Running a surgery for residents to bring up issues

How much time does it take up?

Quite often councillors say that their duties occupy them for about two or three hours a week. Obviously there are some councillors who spend more or less time than this. But in the main, being a councillor is an enjoyable way of contributing to your community, and helping to make it a better place to live and work.

Will I get paid for being a Councillor?

Councillors do not receive a salary. However, there may be an entitlement to reclaim mileage incurred while on council business.

What training and support is available?

An induction pack is issued to all Councillors upon being elected. Training sessions are regularly arranged by the Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils.

Am I qualified?

Yes – most people are. However there are a few rules:

You have to be:

• A British subject, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union and be 18 years of age or over; and
• A local government elector for the council area for which you want to stand; or
• Have during the whole of the 12 months preceding that day occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the council area; or
• Have during that same period had your principal or only place of work in the council area; or
• During that 12 month period resided in the council area

You cannot become a Councillor if you:

• Are subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order
• Have, within five years, been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence and have had a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine
• You work for the council you want to become a councillor for (but you can work for other local authorities, including the principal authorities that represent the same area).

Our councillors are all elected or co-opted onto the Council, if you would like to become a councillor or find out more about what they do then please follow the links below. Or simply contact the Parish Office.

To meet legislative requirements, each Parish Councillors' Registration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Interests Form must be made publicly available. Each Councillor's declaration can be viewed via Melton Borough Council website:

Councillors' Code of Conduct

Somerby Parish Council, as a public authority, believes in promoting the highest standards in public life and therefore has adopted the 'Nolan principles', which are the basis of the ethical standards expected of public office holders:

1. Selflessness. Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity. Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity. Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability. Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness. Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty. Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership. Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

The Members' Code of Conduct

In order to underpin these ethical standards and in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, the Council has adopted a Code of Conduct for Parish Councillors (whether elected or co-opted), who required to abide by the code:

Cllr Leigh Higgins

Cllr Joe Orson

Edward Argar

Click on the "I would like to make contact with" if you wish to contact your District or County Councillors, your Member of Parliament or your European Member of Parliament