IF you fancy standing for election to a brand new council covering the whole of Somerset you'll be able to put yourself forward in just under two months' time.

The poll for the new countywide unitary authority replacing the existing district and county councils takes place on Thursday, May 5.

If you would like to run to become a councillor you'll need to get your nomination in between March 22 and April 5 via your district council.

A total of 110 councillors will be voted in at the election to serve for a five-year term.

The new council will come into existence on April 1 next year.

During their first year of office, the chosen councillors will take responsibility for current county council services such as education, libraries and social services, while also overseeing the local government reorganisation to establish the single unitary council.

The district councils - Somerset West and Taunton, Sedgemoor, South Somerset and Mendip, which are responsible for services such as waste collection, environmental health and planning - will remain until March 31 2023, with councillors serving in their roles until that date.

After that date, the 110 unitary councillors will be responsible for services currently delivered by the county and district councils.

City, town and parish council elections are also taking place across Somerset on May 5 this year, with successful candidates installed for the next five years.

Elections for Somerset County Council had been scheduled for May 2021 but were postponed for a year by the Government while consultations took place on unitary authority proposals.

KEY DATES.

  • Notice of election published: March 21, 2022;
  • Nominations accepted from: March 22, 2022;
  • Deadline for candidates’ nominations: April 5, 2022;
  • Statement of persons nominated published: April 6, 2022;
  • Deadline to register to vote: April 14, 2022;
  • Close of postal vote applications: 19 April 19, 2022
  • Polling Day: Thursday, May 5, 2022;
  • Count of votes and declarations of results for 110 councillors: May 6, 2022.

If you are interested in standing for election at county or city, town, and parish level you can find out more via:

  • www.somerset.gov.uk/how-the-council-works/elections/
  • www.local.gov.uk/be-councillor
  • www.nalc.gov.uk/our-work/local-elections