How to become a councillor

The Borough of Swindon extends beyond the town of Swindon and includes surrounding villages and the town of Highworth. From 2026, it will consist of 25 wards represented by 57 borough councillors, each serving a four-year term of office. 

Elections will be held in May 2026 and then once every four years.

Standing as a councillor

Swindon Borough Council

If you're interested in standing as a borough councillor at the next elections, please contact us.

Email: elecreg@swindon.gov.uk
Telephone: 01793 464601

Parish Council

If you are interested in standing as a parish councillor you will need to contact the election office or the clerk of your parish council.

For contact details for the parish council clerks, please visit Mod.Gov website - Parish and Town Councils

Qualification

To become a borough councillor, you must be:

• A British, qualifying commonwealth, or European Union national with retained rights, and be resident in the United Kingdom
• Aged 18 or over on the day of nomination
• Either on the electoral register for the Borough of Swindon or have lived or worked or have owned property in the borough for at least the last 12 months

What it means to become a councillor

• You will be representing residents of a particular area at a borough-wide level
• You will be asked by residents within your ward to help with problems relating to services or issues within the ward
• You will need to obtain a working knowledge of the Council’s services and any issues affecting those services
• You will be involved in either decision-making or in scrutinising any decisions
• You may be appointed to represent the Council on one or more organisations and bodies either within or outside the borough

Help you will get

• You will receive a basic annual allowance (currently £8,940) and fundiing for travel and subsistence. This amount is set out in the Members' Allowance Scheme, which is reviewed annually by an independent panel which makes recommendations on any changes to the scheme. You will receive help with an induction programme and training opportunities and mentoring subject to budget availability.
• If you belong to a political group, then colleagues on the group will support you. The two largest groups on the Council (Conservative, and Labour) each have a political assistant.

Applying to become a councillor

To stand as a prospective councillor at borough or parish council elections, you need to complete a nomination paper signed by two electors from the area you wish to represent.