The next local elections will be held on Thursday 2nd May 2024.  In 2024 there will be elections for Police and Crime Commissioners and in 2025 there will be County Council and other elections.

If you are standing as an Independent candidate and would like help contact Support@TheDemocraticNetwork.org.

How Councils Work

Local Councils are responsible for decisions about education, health, local infrastructure, housing, planning, refuse and the environment.  In most places there are two tiers of local government.  In the shires these are typically County Councils and District or Borough Councils.  In cities or metropolitan areas there may be a City Council and local Borough Councils.  There are also currently 58 Unitary Authority areas where there is a single layer of local government; four more areas will be forming Unitary Authorities in 2023.

Local Councils are overseen by elected Councillors.  The election cycle varies by area.  Once elected Councillors are supposed to represent the interests of all residents and businesses.

Getting Involved

The easiest way to get involved if something concerns you is to contact your local Councillor.  They may refer you to a relevant colleague or department.

If you want to support a Councillor in their election campaign you can join a local party or offer to help at election times.  Getting to know your local Councillor, and your local MP, may be helpful further down the line.  Parties will often have meetings or discussion forums where you can make your views known.  It may be that there is one dominant or winning party in your area; you could be ‘pragmatic’ and join them.  To join a Westminster Parties you should contact their local constituency or association office.  Whilst these tend to be structured on the basis of parliamentary constituencies, they are responsible for local election campaigns.  These offices are different to the MPs constituency office.

If you do not want to support a Westminster Party we can help you find a local or independent candidate to support.  In many areas there are Independent Candidates, some of whom belong to local groups or parties, or to the national Independent Network.  We published a guide to independent candidates in advance of the election in May 2022 and again in 2023.