Kingsbridge Town Council have a vacancy for a town councillor and are looking for applicants.

A ‘casual vacancy’ was recently advertised but an election has not been called and therefore it falls to current Town Councillors to select a new member. In local government speak this is known as co-option.

The position is available up to May 2019 when the next local council elections will take place and therefore expressions of interest are now being invited.

Martin Johnson, Kingsbridge Town Clerk, explained: “Applicants much be over 18 years of age, a British, Commonwealth or EU citizen, a Kingsbridge elector or have worked in the area for the preceding 12 months; or have occupied land or other premises as owner or tenant, or lived in the town or within three miles of Kingsbridge during the same period.

“No formal qualifications are required and the Town Council is made of people from all walks of life with various professional backgrounds. What you do need however, is a passion for Kingsbridge and its community with a commitment to attend various meetings to make your voice heard.

“People often ask what local councils do and ultimately it’s quite simple: the aim is to sustain Kingsbridge as a great place to live, work and play. The Town Council’s task is therefore to engage with the local community, to take on board the needs and wishes of residents, and to try, whenever and wherever it can, to make sure that something is done about them.

“If it’s not within the gift of the Town Council to directly help then hopefully it can support and lobby on behalf of local residents.”

If you would like any more information please speak to a current town councillor - contact details are available at www.kingsbridge.gov.uk, or contact Martin Johnson on 01548 857073 or email [email protected], or drop into the Council Offices at Quay House.

Being a Town Councillor is a big responsibility but incredibly rewarding; if you are interested then Kingsbridge Town Council wishes to hear from you by Friday, June 16. It is likely that informal interviews will be held shortly afterwards.