There will be full District and Parish elections on Thursday 4 May 2023. This opportunity to influence your local democracy only comes round every 4 years. For Parish Councils, elections are only held if there are sufficient candidates. In this area there have been few Parish Council elections in the last 10 years. This means that the majority of your representatives may never have been elected (see Co-option). Make sure you are able to vote and consider whether you would like to represent your community.
Full information is available here and local details are given below:
https://www.horsham.gov.uk/council-democracy-and-elections/elections
4 May elections
District Councillors for all Horsham District wards are up for election including:
- 3 councillors elected by voters of Storrington & Washington
- 3 councillors elected by voters of West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington
- 3 councillors elected by the voters of Pulborough, Coldwaltham and Amberley
The term of office is 4 years, Parish Councils are elected in full every 4 years at the same time as the District Council elections, but only if there are more candidates than the allotted seats on each council.
Parish Councillors for all Horsham District parishes are up for election including the Storrington & Sullington Parish (and the other local parishes: Amberley; Ashington; Coldwaltham; Parham; Pulborough; Thakeham; Washington; West Chiltington; Wiston).
- 15 councillors elected by the voters of Storrington & Sullington
- If more nominations are received than there are seats for the parish (i.e. more than 15 nominations in the case of Storrington & Sullington Parish), a poll will be held on 4 May
Make a change – become a councillor
Are you passionate about your community? Do you want to help make a long-lasting change? Do you have innovative ideas for the council? Do you have concerns about a specific issue and want to do something about it? If this is you, then we (everyone who lives and works here) need you. We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect their community to put themselves forward for election. Make a change and become a councillor.
You have from 10am 24th March until 4pm on 4th April to submit your nomination. Nominations must be submitted by hand to the Returning Officer, Election Office, Horsham District Council, Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham, RH12 1RL.
Help is available at these website pages:
https://www.horsham.gov.uk/council-democracy-and-elections/elections/upcoming-elections
https://www.nalc.gov.uk/elections#how-to-become-a-councillor
or by calling the Elections Team at Horsham District Council on 01403 215 581
Have your say on who you want to represent you – make sure you vote
At the last District Council election, 64.5% of the Storrington & Washington electorate did not vote! The deadline to register to vote is midnight on 17 April.
Voter ID
May 2023 will be the first time that voter identification will be required to be shown by all voters at a polling station. This has been introduced under the Elections Act 2022.
Voters need to show an approved form of photo identity before voting in a polling station, the ID does not have to be current, provided the likeness is still true. The document must be an original document.
See https://www.horsham.gov.uk/council-democracy-and-elections/elections/upcoming-elections for full information including acceptable forms of photo ID
HDC provides…
- Refuse Collection & Recycling
- Leisure
- Services for the vulnerable
- Licensing
- Planning –
– Development Control
– Enforcement
– Building Control - Local Land Charges
- Council Tax Collection
- Housing Benefit Administration
- Electoral Services
- Environmental Health
- Street Cleaning
- Car Parks
- Parks and Open Spaces
Parish Councils…
Your local council has an overall responsibility for the well-being of your local neighbourhood. Their work falls into three main categories:
- representing the local community
- delivering services to meet local needs
- striving to improve quality of life in the parish.
They normally take responsibility for:
- allotments
- public clocks
- bus shelters
- community centres
- play areas and play equipment
- grants to help local organisations
- consultation on neighbourhood planning
They also have the power to issue fixed penalty fines for things like:
- litter
- graffiti
- fly posting
- dog offences
BECOME A COUNCILLOR! MAKE SURE YOU VOTE!
We are grateful to the following for their information:
The Electoral Commission https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information
The UK Government https://www.gov.uk/understand-how-your-council-works
Horsham District Council https://www.horsham.gov.uk/council-democracy-and-elections
The National Association of Local Councils https://www.nalc.gov.uk/
Ask Your Council http://askyourcouncil.uk/
Institute for Government https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/
This news item contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence