Croydon Parish Council, being directly funded by the electorate, exists to represent and work for the interests of the community, providing assistance and support to any residents who require it.
Croydon Parish Council has seven Parish Councillors, which are voluntary positions. The role includes regularly attending monthly meetings and any additional meetings called, such as to review a planning application. You may also be asked to attend training and events run for example by the District Council.
To stand as a councillor you must meet the eligibility requirements, follow the Code of Conduct and, once elected, be willing to complete a Parish Register of Interests form and abide by the Code of Conduct. Full details are at the bottom of the page.
Take a look at the minutes of previous meetings to get a feel for the scope of Parish Council responsibilities and the contribution you could make. You do not need any particular qualifications and we welcome candidates who represent the full diversity of our community.
There are currently no vacancies, but these can arise in two ways.
- If a councillor resigns, the vacancy can be advertised. Candidates can then put themselves forward to the Parish Council where they can be “co-opted” by the existing councillors if suitable. If more than one candidate applies the existing councillors will select the best candidate.
- Every four years a full election takes place. All existing councillors must put themselves up for election and any other eligible candidate may also stand. The village electorate will then vote for the candidates they prefer. If only seven or less eligible candidates stand, they will be elected unopposed.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must be qualified to stand for election. The Local Government Act 1972, Section 79, sets out the qualifications for standing as a candidate and the grounds for disqualification of a candidate.
On the day of nomination and the day of poll, you must:
- be at least 18 years old
- be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any other member state of the European Union, and
- meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
- a) Your name must appear on the register of local government electors for the parish/community at the time of your nomination and throughout your term of office should you be elected.
- b) You have occupied any land or other premises as owner or tenant in the parish/community during 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
- c) Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the parish/community area. You do not have to have paid employment to qualify, as long as your main or only place of work is in the parish/community area. For example, Councillors whose main or only job is being a councillor would be able to use this qualification, if their council office is within the parish/community.
- d) You have lived in the parish/community area or within three miles of it during 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
You may be disqualified as a candidate if:
- You are employed by the parish/community council or hold a paid office under the parish/community council (including joint boards or committees).
- You have been declared bankrupt in the last five years and has not repaid your debts.
- You have been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to at least three months imprisonment (including any suspended sentence) within the previous five years.
- You are disqualified due to corrupt practices under the Representation of the People Act 1983 or the Audit Commission Act.