Prospective candidates for the upcoming Scarborough Town Council elections are being invited to attend an online meeting in March to learn more about the role of a town councillor.
The session will cover the responsibilities of the newly elected members, the relationship between the new town council and North Yorkshire Council, and details about the election and nomination processes.
The election to form the new town council will be held on May 1. The elected councillors will serve a two-year term. Subsequent elections will be held in 2027, aligning with North Yorkshire Council and other parish council elections, and will be for a four-year term.
North Yorkshire Council’s chief executive, Richard Flinton, said:
“The creation of the new town councils is a major milestone in North Yorkshire.
“They will mean that all parts of the county will be represented with parish or town councils, meaning all of our communities have a voice in local democracy at a grassroots level.
“I would urge anyone who is eligible to vote to make sure that they are registered so they can take part in the elections in Harrogate and Scarborough.
“The online session next month is an important event to provide more information about the elections, especially for anyone who is considering standing as a candidate.
“The two new town councils will join the 662 parish and town councils that already exist across North Yorkshire, showing our commitment to ensuring our communities are represented at the most local level.”
When North Yorkshire Council was launched in April 2023, one of the central pledges was to ensure that town and parish councils would be allowed to take on greater responsibilities to allow local communities to have a greater say.
Town councils can be responsible for providing and maintaining local amenities such as open spaces, allotments, public clocks, village halls, footpaths and litter bins.
They also provide community buildings and a wide range of facilities from cemeteries and allotments to grants to community groups, while responding to planning applications and accessing grant funding for projects.
Town councils can influence local laws and policies that address community needs, such as zoning regulations, public safety measures, and environmental policies.
They also raise a precept which is a form of council tax and oversee the allocation of funds for various services, ensuring taxpayers’ money is spent effectively.
In July 2024, following a community governance review, North Yorkshire Council agreed to the creation of the two new town councils, one for the currently unparished part of Harrogate, and one for the currently unparished areas of Scarborough.
Scarborough Town Council will have five wards, with three councillors elected per ward, for a total of 15 councillors. The wards are
- Castle,
- Falsgrave and Stepney,
- Northstead,
- Weaponness
- Ramshill
- Woodlands
The online event will be held at 5pm on Wednesday, March 5. Those interested in attending should register by emailing returningofficer@northyorks.gov.uk
The deadline to register to vote in the town council elections is Friday, April 11. More details about registering to vote, postal and proxy voting, and voter identification requirements are available at https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/HGSBTownCouncils
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