Becoming a Councillor is a great way to represent and make positive changes to your local community.
The next Tandridge District Councillor election will be in May 2026. Tandridge have 43 elected councillors representing 18 wards across the district.
The Local Government Association provides advice and guidance to those interested in being a councillor.
To become a councillor, you will need to stand for election. You can either stand as an independent, or as a representative of a political party. If you want to represent a party, you will first need to join one and ask them to select you as their candidate for your area.
Can you stand for election
There are no formal qualifications that you need to become a councillor. However, you need to meet some legal criteria to be eligible to stand for office. If you wish to stand at a local election, you must be:
- A British citizen, a citizen of the Commonwealth, the Republic of Ireland or of another European Union State.
- 18 years of age or older.
You must also meet at least one of the following four qualifications on the day you are nominated and on polling day:
- Be registered as a local government elector for Tandridge.
- Occupied as an owner or tenant any land or other premises in the District during the 12 months before the day you are nominated.
- Your main or only place of working during the 12 months before you are nominated has been in the local authority area.
- Lived in the District during the last 12 months.
You cannot stand as a councillor if:
- In the last five years you have been in prison or on a suspended sentence for three months or more.
- You have been declared bankrupt.
- You are an employee of Tandridge District Council.
- You have been disqualified.
There are other disqualifications, and the Electoral Commission has published a full list. It also has guidance and useful links to help you find out more about what is involved in becoming and being a councillor.
What does it cost?
No deposit is required to stand as a candidate in local council elections. However, you will need to consider the cost of your campaign. You should keep records of all campaign costs, as these must be accounted for at the end of the process.
Being nominated
You need to complete a nomination paper before you can be accepted as a candidate, and two people must sign it. These people must be on the electoral register for the ward in which you wish to stand.
If you are standing as a candidate for a registered political party, you would also be required to submit a certificate, from the party's nominating officer, authorising your candidacy and use of the party's description.
If you are standing independently, the ballot paper would either describe you as "Independent" or give no description at all for you.
You must also give, in writing, your consent to your nomination.
All these documents must be submitted to the Returning Officer by noon, 19 working days before polling day. Once an election has been called, the deadline will be published on our elections webpage.
Support for elected members
The Democratic Services team provide support to Councillors once they are elected.
If you are elected you will be invited to take part in an induction programme, introducing you to the workings of the Council. Training for Councillors continues throughout their term of office on a variety of relevant topics.
The officers working at the Council will assist you in any way they can, such as advice about Council procedures or issues raised by the residents in your ward.