Councillor
From Freepedia
A councillor is a member of a council (such as a city council), particularly in the United Kingdom, Canada, and other parts of the Commonwealth. The US equivalent is councilman or councilwoman.
Contents |
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, all local authorities are overseen by elected councillors.
These include:
- unitary authorities
- county councils,
- district, borough or city councils,
- civil parish, town or community councils.
Councillors are typically elected as members of political parties. Once elected they are meant to represent all their constituents and not just those who voted for them. They are bound by a code of conduct enforced by standards boards.
Renumeration
Most councillors are not full time professionals, although most Councils do pay them a basic allowance and out of pocket expenses. In addition special responsibility allowances are paid to the small minority of Councillors who carry out more senior roles. The basic allowance (and special responsibility allowance) are theoretically paid to compensate Councillors for taking time off from their full time job to carry out Council duties. Parish, town or community councillors are volunteers who are not normally renumerated.
Regional government
The London Assembly is not regarded as a local authority but a regional devolved assembly and its members are refered to as Assembly Members. The National Assembly for Wales, Northern Ireland Assembly and Scottish Parliament are regarded as national authorities with their authority being devolved from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. All such members are renumerated on a full-time basis.
