Being a Councillor
Being a councillor is an important and rewarding job.
As a councillor, you can help make life better for people in your area.
The job takes time and effort, but you can do it alongside work, studying, caring, or volunteering.
Attendance at meetings
The Local Government Act 1972 (Section 85) says that all councillors must:
- go to at least one official Council meeting every six months
Official meetings include Full Council meetings or any other meeting a councillor is asked to go to.
If a councillor does not go to a meeting in six months, they will stop being a councillor. This will happen automatically as stated in The Local Government Act 1972 (Section 85).
You can see a full list of planned meetings here: www.wakefield.gov.uk: Meetings, agendas, and minutes
What do you need to do when you are elected?
Acceptance of office
Before you can start the job of Councillor, you must sign a form called the Acceptance of Office, this is required by law.
You must sign it within two months of the election day (by 7 July 2026).
If you do not sign it in within two months, your seat will be declared vacant, and a new by-election will be held.
You must sign the form in front of the Proper Officer.
Information on how to arrange this are here: Declaration of acceptance of office
Register of Interests and Code of Conduct
Councillors must tell the Council about financial and registerable interests within 28 days of being elected.
By law you also need to share the financial interests of your husband, wife, or partner if you live together.
Most of this information is made public. But the Localism Act 2011 can allow for Registers of Interests exclusions from the public. You can contact the Monitoring Officer for more details on this.
Expenses forms
All candidates must tell the Council how much they spent whether they are elected or not.
Councillors cannot take part in meetings or vote until they send in their spending form.
If you do take part without sending it in, there is a £50 fine for each day.
Please be aware newly elected Councillors will have a short time to send their expenses forms as the first Council Meeting is on 20 May 2026.