Wrexham Council is holding an open evening for residents who are considering standing in next year’s local elections.
Candidates for election often understand the broader local government picture but realise they have underestimated the practicalities of being a councillor and how local councils are structured once they are elected.
The open evening will be an opportunity to gain an understanding of what is expected of a local councillor and how the local authority works and its community responsibilities. It will also focus on the election process and the needs of a newly elected councillor.
Trevor Coxon, Head of Corporate and Customer Services, said:
“This is the first time such an event has been arranged in Wrexham and we hope it will prove very successful. Once elected councillors have a huge responsibility to the both electorate of the community they represent and the wider community of Wrexham. In Wrexham we want to encourage residents to take up the challenges and opportunities of local government but we want to see them well prepared from the start of their period of office for the many demands that will be made on them.”
The event takes place on Monday 23 January between 6.00 and 8.00 pm. It will begin with presentations about the council and the challenges it currently faces, it’s corporate priorities and links with other authorities and organisations and the role of elected representatives in these initiatives.
Officers will be on hand to answer any individual questions and to give an insight into their particular departments. There will be information on the WLGA’s revised candidates guide, working in individual wards, the amount and variety of meetings scheduled throughout the year, working with the media, the training available, particularly to new councillors, and the type of support a local councillor can expect.
Anyone interested in attending should contact Peter Mullen, 01978 292235 or just turn up on the evening of the 23rd.
