What happens if I am elected?

What happens next

Immediately after the election, you will be contacted by the council and asked to sign a legal form, the Declaration of Acceptance of Office. Arrangements will be made for you to meet the Chief Executive and you will also be invited to attend a new councillors welcome and training day.

You will be given an information pack designed to help you through your first few weeks and give you a feel for the council. It will include the names of people you can contact for help and who will support you in your new role.

Welcome and training

The new councillors training day will tell you about your role as a councillor. Following your nomination, you will receive a letter with information on dates you will need to put aside for this, other briefings and meetings of the council. Our training programme is designed to help you in your new role. Over the years councillors have told us how vital these have been to them in becoming quickly effective. We strongly recommend that you book training dates in your diary - even if you have been a councillor before.

Induction training has three parts:

• An introduction to Local Government for people who have never been a councillor before.
• An introduction to the council, its services, and the political management structure.
• Short talks on the services the council provides.
  

First meeting of the council

This will be your first official duty as a councillor.

The first full meeting of the council will take place on Wednesday 16 May 2007 at 6.30 pm and will be held at Norton Manor Camp, Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton. This is our Annual Meeting at which the Mayor is elected. The Chairs and members of the Council's Executive, Review Board, Committees and Review Panels are also decided at this meeting.