INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
Committed politically independent people required to run as candidates for local government positions to represent their communities and consciences, not a political party. On successful election the candidate will be sworn in as a parish, town, county or district councillor.

While you don’t need any special or formal qualifications to be a councillor, having or being able to develop the following knowledge areas will help you manage your responsibilities:

•  arts, sports and heritage
•  community safety and crime reduction
•  education and lifelong learning
•  environment
•  finance, taxing and spending
•  housing
•  local government planning and regulation
•  social services and health
•  tackling disadvantage and building strong, stable communities

This list is by no means exhaustive. All councils have a responsibility for planning, delivering and communicating a large range of public services, and the responsibilities will be different depending on which type of council is involved.

You will be in a position to make a difference to the quality of other people’s daily lives and prospects. It is a weighty responsibility and will require both commitment and hard work. To gain endorsement from the Independent Network, candidates must commit to The Bell Principles:

• abide wholeheartedly by the spirit and letter of the Seven Principles of Public Life set out by Lord Nolan in 1995: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
• be guided by considered evidence, our real world experience and expertise, our constituencies and our consciences
• be free from the control of any political party, pressure group or whip
• be non-discriminatory, ethical and committed to pluralism.
• make decisions transparently and openly at every stage and level of the political process, enabling people to see how decisions are made and the evidence on which they are based
• listen, consulting our communities constantly and innovatively
• treat political opponents with courtesy and respect, challenging them when we believe they are wrong, and agreeing with them when we believe they are right
• resist abuses of power and patronage and promote democracy at every level
• work with other elected independents as a Group with a chosen spokesperson
• claim expenses, salaries and compensation openly so the public can judge the value for money of our activities.

Once elected the councillor may receive an allowance of between £0 and £72,214 although any expenses, salaries or compensation must be claimed openly so that the public can judge the value for money of the councillors' activities.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS: 18+, UK, EU member state or Commonwealth citizenship

Further information at: www.independentnetwork.org.uk

CLOSING DATE: 15/3/2011
CONTACT: secretariat@independentnetwork.org.uk