October 28, 2026 - 278 views
With local elections due next May, Conwy County Borough Council is encouraging residents to consider becoming councillors, with training and support available to help people from underrepresented backgrounds enter public life.
The council says it is important that elected representatives reflect the communities they serve, bringing different experiences and perspectives to decisions affecting people across the county.
But the importance of the recruitment drive extends beyond finding candidates. Local councillors play a central role in holding public services to account, scrutinising decisions and ensuring residents have a voice in how their communities are run.
Conwy County Borough Council has 55 councillors representing 30 electoral wards. They help set the authority’s policies and priorities, agree its budget and monitor how decisions are implemented. Councillors also represent residents’ concerns and can raise questions about the delivery of local services.
Those responsibilities can affect everyday life, from schools, social care and housing to roads, planning, waste collection and support for local communities.
Local democracy also provides a direct link between residents and the people making decisions on their behalf. Councillors have a particular responsibility to the people in their own ward, including those who did not vote for them, while also considering the interests of the wider county borough.
That relationship is important when councils face difficult choices over public spending and competing demands for services. Residents need opportunities to question decisions, raise concerns and understand how priorities are set. Having elected representatives who know their communities can help ensure local experiences are heard when those choices are made.
Conwy is now encouraging people who care about their neighbourhoods, want to make changes or are interested in public service to find out more about standing in the May 2027 elections.
The council says being a councillor can be challenging as well as rewarding, involving work with residents, community organisations, businesses and other public bodies. Candidates can stand through a political party or as independents.
Support is also available to help address barriers that might otherwise prevent people from standing.
Women interested in becoming councillors can access guidance and training through Elect Her, while Race Equality First offers support for candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds through its Representing Wales – Empowering Community Leaders project.
Disability Wales has also published an Access to Politics Toolkit to help disabled people understand and navigate political life. Its Access to Elected Office Fund Wales can help meet additional disability-related costs, including British Sign Language interpreters, personal assistants, accessible transport and assistive technology. The fund is available to eligible candidates standing for principal and community councils in the 2027 elections.
The support is intended to make participation in local democracy more accessible, recognising that the cost of campaigning, accessibility requirements and unfamiliarity with the political process can present obstacles to prospective candidates.
Residents considering standing do not need to have previous political experience to begin exploring the opportunity. Conwy County Borough Council provides information about the role, the process of becoming a candidate and the experiences of serving councillors on its website.
With the next local elections approaching, the council’s message is that people who want to influence the future of their communities should consider whether becoming a councillor could be one way to do so.
Further information is available at the council’s Become a Councillor website.
Women can find resources and training through Elect Her, while information about support for disabled candidates is available from Disability Wales.
The next local government elections across Wales are scheduled for May 2027.
