Hampshire County Council information for candidates
Congratulations on being nominated to stand for election to Hampshire County Council
The information on these pages will give you an idea of what to expect if you are elected as a County Councillor on 7 May.
It includes brief information about County Council services, policies and protocols you will need to be aware of, and some key dates for upcoming meetings, including the Council's Annual General Meeting.
If you have any queries, please contact us at [email protected].
County Councillors represent the people within their County Electoral Division, and work to secure high quality services for the residents of, and visitors to, Hampshire. Councillors have a responsibility to keep in touch with the people they represent about Council policies and decisions that affect them.
Councillors must act in line with current legislation; national codes of conduct and standards; and the County Council’s Constitution. Details of these are included within the County Council’s Constitution and briefings will be offered to all Councillors within the first few weeks following election.
Depending on Councillors’ skills and preferences, and which committees, panels and bodies they are appointed or elected to, the time commitment could be a few hours, or several days per week. Meetings of the County Council and its committees and panels are held during office hours, at our offices in Winchester. Other less formal meetings are often held remotely, using Microsoft Teams.
Councillors receive an annual allowance, called the 'basic' allowance, and may claim for eligible travel expenses. Councillors who take on more challenging roles may also receive a Special Responsibility Allowance. The County Council's Members' Allowances Scheme can be found in part 4 of the Constitution.
Democratic and Member Services together with other County Council officers will provide advice and assistance about the County Council's services, and help Councillors find their way around the organisation. All Councillors have access to an online Portal which provides a wealth of helpful information and resources, along with signposting to County Council key contacts across the organisation.
Hampshire County Council is committed to innovation and making use of technology to drive the best value through our services. We have been running paperless meetings since 2017, and all Councillors are provided with a laptop to enable them to access meeting agendas and reports electronically.