- local councillors

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Your local councillors

Councillors are your local elected representatives. Normally they are members of a political party; those who are not members are called 'independents'.

Brighton & Hove is divided into 21 wards and each ward is represented by two or three councillors. In total there are 54 local councillors elected to Brighton & Hove City Council. 23 are Green, 18 are Conservative and 13 are Labour & Co-Operative.

• Find out which ward you are in by entering your postcode into our Brighton & Hove map and then clicking on 'local information' on the left-hand-side.
• If you know your ward find your councillors using the councillor finder.

Councillors carry out a variety of roles. First and foremost they are elected to represent their ward and bring residents' views into the council decision-making process. Some also guide council policy through the cabinet, while others scrutinise the work of the council through Overview & Scrutiny. Many councillors represent the council in outside bodies such as Age Concern, the Local Government Association and the Citizen's Advice Bureau.

Councillors have regular contact with the general public through council meetings, telephone calls or surgeries. Surgeries provide an opportunity for any ward resident to go and talk their councillor face to face and these take place on a regular basis.

Although councillors are not paid a salary, as elected representatives they are entitled to an annual allowance that is reviewed by the Independent Remuneration Panel. A table of councillors’ allowances is also published annually for public viewing.

Anyone can become a councillor. If you are interested in doing so yourself, find out more about standing as a candidate.

The next local election is on the 5th May 2015.

If you have any queries please contact Democratic Services:

• by phone: (01273) 291066
• or email: democratic.services@brighton-hove.gov.uk