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Welcome to your new role
Welcome to Your New Role
Congratulations on your election as a councillor and welcome to your new role in local government.
Being a councillor is a unique form of public service because you can make a real difference to the quality of other people’s daily lives and prospects. Councils are responsible for a whole range of services: waste, recycling and environmental services, schools, social services, planning, housing, benefits, libraries, transport, leisure facilities and many more.
Your Role as a Councillor
As a councillor, you will help determine the way these services are provided, funded, and prioritised. You will need to balance the best interests of the residents in your community, in the wider borough or county, in your region, across Wales, your political party (if you are a member of one), and the Council. You will also need to ensure that your authority is governed effectively and ethically. Clearly this is a challenging and responsible position, the information on this website will help!
Your First Days in Office
Your first days in office as a new councillor can feel like the start of any new job. You may not be sure who to speak to, what the business is all about or even exactly what your role is. You’ll know what you want to do, but not how to do it!
Find out more about what to expect from your first day in office.
Personal Safety: Guidance
As an elected official you will attend public events, private meetings, hold surgeries and be in the public eye. Whilst the chances of you or a member of your family becoming a victim of violent crime remains low personal safety is paramount, and here we highlight some key learning that aims to keep you safe. The more you do to protect yourself, the better protected you and your family will be.
Tips from Serving Councillors
“Expect to be daunted and don’t expect to change the world. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, we all do, you will learn from them.”
“Ask for a mentor, they won’t tell you how to do your job, but they can certainly help you find out how everything works!”
“Remember that councillors from across the political divide also want to make a positive difference in their communities.”