Are you interested in representing your local area on our Town Council?

If you're the type of person who;

• Cares about the Local Environment, the Moors, The Glen etc
• Wants to see more local activity for Children and Young People
• Wants to make Baildon safer for all ages
• Wants to support our local economy
• Wants to conserve what's best about our Town

Then you might be just the kind of person we'd like to hear from.

Complete the form below and someone will contact you for an informal chat or 'phone the Town Council Office on 01274 593169. There are some links to documents below that may help you to make a decision/find out more about the role.

The Council meets 5 times a year for the full council meeting which lasts approximately 2 hours depending on the issues being discussed. You would probably also sit on at least one committee such as the environmental or community committee and these will also meet around 3 times a year. In addition to the regular meetings, councillors may be involved in other things e.g. helping develop a new project for the community. It's not a huge time commitment and, like anything, the more you put in the more you will gain from the experience.

Some of the projects that Town Councillors have been involved with in recent years..

Manage Baildon Benches - the installation and ongoing maintenance of a selection of benches, available for memorial/sponsorship, around the village.

Deliver a Hybrid Library Service - Baildon Town Council has worked in partnership with Bradford Libraries since June 2017 to provide a hybrid library service with the help of a team 40 volunteers

Funded Youth Work - The popular youth groups at Baildon Link are funded by the Town Council.

Baildon Public Toilets - Delivered a complete upgrade to the disabled toilet using grant funding of 10K .

Grit Bins - provide grit bins in and around the village.

Play Areas - refurbished the Thompson Lane play area and currently in consultation to refurbish the Jenny Lane Play area

Cost of Living Grants - provided cost of living funding to assist Baildon Schools to help those in financial difficulty

Supported various local organisations with financial and practical help to tackle issues of local concern: Litter-free Baildon, Neighbourhood Watch, Walkers are Welcome, Friends of Baildon Station.

If these are the types of project you would enjoy being part of then call the Clerk for an informal chat on 01274 593169.

Candidates must be qualified to stand for election.

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 who's 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 have 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.

For more information relating to these qualifications, please see the Electoral Commission's Guidance or give us a ring on 01274 593169.