How to become a Councillor

Why did I become a Parish Councillor?

Councillor David Truesdale – Chair of the Parish Council

Councillor Greg Smith – Member of Climate Emergency, Planning, Facilities and Finance and General Purposes Committees

Councillor John Wheeler – Chair of Facilities and Sporting Facilities Committees

 Notice of Election - 18th March 2025

Buckinghamshire Council Elections

Join Haddenham's Parish Council – Help Shape the Future!

 The Parish Council elections are coming up on 1st May, and we're inviting local residents to get involved and make a real difference in the future of Haddenham. This is your opportunity to play a key role in the decisions that will shape our community, now and in the years to come.

Haddenham Parish Council is forward-thinking, with ambitious plans to ensure the best possible outcomes for parishioners in the face of new housing growth. As our community expands, it’s more important than ever that we maximise the benefits for residents and build a future that reflects the values and needs of all who live here.

Important Dates:

 NOMINATIONS MUST BE handed in by 4PM ON THE 2ND APRIL 2025

Application	Deadline for receipt
Last date for registration to vote	Friday 11 April 2025
Deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes	5pm on Monday 14 April 2025
Proxy vote application deadline	5pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025
Last day for Voter Authority Certificates and Anonymous Elector Documents	5pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025
Receipt of emergency proxy vote applications	5pm on Thursday 1 May 2025

For more information on Town and Parish Council elections, visit the Electoral Commission's website.

Being a councillor requires commitment and hard work but the role can be done flexibly around employment, studying, caring, and other voluntary commitments.

The amount of time you spend on your duties as a councillor is largely up to you and will depend on the different roles and commitments each councillor takes up.

You will need to be available on Monday evenings to attend Parish Council and Committee meetings. The Parish Council has four standing committees, Facilities, Finance and General Purposes, Planning, and Climate Emergency as well as sub-committees for Personnel, Sporting Facilities, the Allotments and Community Orchard. Councillors are not not required to site on all committees and can choose those that interest them most. 

Meetings generally take place every third Monday. See the Parish Council meeting schedule for more information.

To be able to stand as a candidate at a parish council election you must

1. be at least 18 years old
2. be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any member state of the European Union, and
3. Registered to vote in the Parish, or have lived, worked or owned property in Haddenham (or within 3 miles) for at least 12 months before an election
   

Apart from meeting the qualifications for standing for election, you must also not be disqualified.

Please note that it is the applicant's responsibility to check they are eligible to stand as a Parish Councillor. It is a criminal offence to make a false statement on your nomination papers as to your qualification for being elected, so if you are in any doubt you should contact your employer, consult the legislation or, if necessary, take your own independent legal advice.

For further information, please see the Electoral Commission's website.

We need YOU to be a part of the Parish Council in these exciting and challenging times. Whether you're passionate about community development, the environment, or supporting local services, your skills and ideas are valuable.

Ready to make a difference? Get in touch with us today to find out how you can stand as a candidate, or to learn more about the election process. Together, we can create a better future for Haddenham!

If you're interested in applying to be a Councillor, please contact Sue Gilbert - Clerk to Haddenham Parish Council.