How much time of my time will it take up?

Unfortunately it’s pretty hard to say.There are some things that you have to go to (committees and full council for example) and this might take up to 10 hours every month.You may also do an advice surgery every month for an hour, and then there is also casework, reading, and meeting community groups, as well as campaigning in your ward.Previous surveys estimate about 16 hours a week – and obviously some weeks will be busier than others, and/or you may decide to take on extra responsibilities if you wish.

I hate long meetings – does it matter?!

Local councils have become more disciplined at keeping their meetings short! Some councils have long Full Council meetings but only an average of 6 per year.Most of the meetings that you will have are about finding out about problems and issues and discussing with officers how to solve them – far from boring when things get done! And for the fidgeters among you, you will find an adequate balance between meetings and other activities…

I am not a good public speaker – is that a problem?

No – it is not an important skill for being a great councilor, although if you did want to improve your public speaking skills, this role gives you ample opportunity to do so. We obviously welcome those who are great public speakers and who love to stand up and deliver punchy political speeches.But equally, some of the most powerful speeches are those from councillors who simply want to share what the community have told them, and do it in their own words!

I’m interested in politics, but I don’t see why I should get involved in a party?

There are a lot of independent councillors across the UK, but at some point they have to come together to discuss shared values and policies.Being in a political party means that the structure for that internal discussion and negotiation is already there, and that you already know of some of the principles that will guide your decision-making. The most important thing is that you find a party with whom you share fundamental values and vision with– once you have done that you can advocate for things you think are important within your community.With political parties also come a great deal of support – we help with running and winning your election, training and development, and a network of other Lib Dems to learn from.You also get the chance to influence our national policy as we still make decisions about policy at our annual conferences.

Is it okay for me to just work in my patch?

Nobody will force you to do things you don’t want to do.Of course, there are council-wide responsibilities that you will need to adhere to at some level, but the rest of your role and responsibilities are very flexible, and largely down to you.We would encourage you to see where your skills and interests best fit.

Is standing for an election difficult?

How hard you work depends on how determined you are to win and how hard elections are fought in your area.For example, in metropolitan areas, elections can involve masses of flyering, door-knocking and campaigning.But as hard work as they may seem, they are also fun and rewarding – invoking a real sense of camaraderie and achievement.And the sooner you get involved the easier it will be!

I’m a bit worried about my background – can I still stand?

During the approval interview you will be asked if there is anything embarrassing that has happened in your past that may be exposed during an election.This question doesn’t mean you will be prevented from standing, butit is good to highlight anything that worries you about your past.While it may highlight behaviour that would be against the Councillors Code of Conduct, the important thing to remember is that we will not make any judgements against you.

I am disabled, can my council support me?

The Liberal Democrats are very keen to encourage anyone with a disability to stand and help make sure that your council makes the right adaptations for you so that you can do the job.We will make sure we tailor our campaigning techniques to suit you, meet in a more accessible venue, and take care of other practical arrangementsthat would be of benefit to you.All we ask is that you commit to working hard to get yourself elected!

I’m not very good at reading English - does it matter?

Being a good councillor is more about asking the right questions, and speaking up for your residents, than it is about reading reports.But if you do struggle with reading problems or dyslexia, the council can help with software that can read the relevant reports to you.There are also courses you can go on that help you understand reports better and where all the information is, and your colleagues will also support and help you

I am a council officer/teacher somewhere else. Can I stand?

It is possible to stand for election in a different authority from the one you work, and your job does not have any political restrictions attached to it.

How long is the term of office?

Four years.

Are there any standards I will have to sign up to?

All councillors have to sign up to the Code of Conduct.

Do I have to stand where I live?

No, the qualification for standing is that you either live or work in the Borough. If you change jobs out of the borough you would have to step down at the next election but once elected you are considered to be working in the borough by being a councilor

Do I need to tell my employer?

By law Section 50 of the Employment Rights act 1996 your employer must allow you to take a reasonable amount of time off during working hours to perform your duties as a councillor. The amount of time off will depend on when your council meets, your responsibilities and the effect of your absence on your employer’s business. But we do still advise that you check that it is something your employer would be okay with.Before you discuss it get an idea of the time commitment on your council, find out when the meetings are and which ones you will be expected to attend. You will probably find most of your activity will take place at evening and weekends and your can reassure your boss that some flexibility or days off would be minimal.It is also worth discussing with them access to your council emails and taking personal calls during the day – that way you will know how they would feel about these things and you an save up your casework till lunch time or after work if necessary. Also remind them that you will gain lots of skills being a councilor which will help you at work!

Will I get training?

Councils provide lots of training for members.Not only can you take advantage of training developed for staff in general, but also gain tailored training specific to you and your role.Some councils will develop a Personal Training programme with you, and they can help you access external training if you have a specific training need.Organisations such as the Improvement and Development Agency (IDEA) can also help provide you a mentor (an experienced councillor from elsewhere) and they run the leadership academy and other councillor training.

There are no Lib Dems in my area – is it really worth it?

The answer will always be YES! Even if there are few Lib Dems where you are the party will support you in fighting your local seat.ALDC provides lots of support, training and advice to get you started and give you the best chance of winning.Once you start campaigning you will soon find other people willing to help.

I’ve got kids – will I have time?

It is important that residents with children do become councillors. Most councils run education and youth services and your experience as a parent is important. Most councils offer financial help with childcare and if you talk to the rest of the Lib Dems on the team you can make arrangements to be involved at times that are suitable for you.The important thing is not to rule yourself out just because you have children - talk to people, look at when meetings are and make a decision after you have explored all the options and help available.

I want to know more! What should I do?

To help you find out more we have brought together the best of our Lib Dem Councillor blogs so you can get an idea of what they do and how they do it, allowing you to virtually shadow them! Just click on the links to bring up RSS feeds.