Interested in becoming a councillor?
If you want to serve as a councillor, you’ll need to stand as a candidate and be elected at the local council elections in 2026.
A councillor’s role
Councillors represent everyone living in the area they are elected to serve. Their role often involves working closely with local schools, community groups, residents’ associations, and youth organisations to help improve life in both their ward and across Hounslow.
As a councillor, you give residents a voice by shaping what the council does and how it operates. Councillors deal with a wide range of issues and can make a real, positive impact on individuals and the wider community. While they do not manage the council’s services directly, they make key decisions about what those services will look like.
Residents will often turn to you for help with their problems, even when these issues are not directly related to the council. Expect to receive letters, emails, and phone calls, sometimes at unexpected times!
Councillors attend various meetings to fulfil their duties and formal council committee meetings are usually held in the evenings. Many councillors also represent the council on external bodies, such as local charities and community organisations. For most meetings, you will need to read papers and prepare in advance.
Despite the hard work and long hours, being a councillor can be very rewarding!
Support and Training
New councillors take part in an induction programme to learn how the council works. This includes a series of training sessions in the weeks following the election. Ongoing training is also available throughout your term on a range of relevant topics.
Council officers are on hand to provide advice and support, particularly on council procedures or ward-related issues. Officers must remain politically impartial, so they cannot assist with matters that could be seen as supporting a political party or pressure group.
Your commitment
The time commitment varies depending on your responsibilities, it can range from a few hours a week to several hours a day. Councillors with cabinet or chairing roles will have a heavier workload.
The standard term of office is four years. You remain a councillor until you retire or lose an election.
Allowances
Councillors may receive three types of allowance:
- Basic Allowance
- Special Responsibility Allowance
- Dependants’ Carers’ Allowance
In Hounslow, the basic allowance is £13,048 per year as of 2025/26, subject to review. Each local authority sets its own allowance scheme, based on recommendations from an independent panel.
Further information
For further details about becoming a councillor, please visit the Local Government Association website.
