Local Elections 2025

Elections will be held for Kettering Town Council on Thursday 1 May 2025. There are vacancies for 20 councillors to be elected to cover nine wards in the parish:

Avondale Grange - 2 councillors
Hanwood Park - 1 councillor
Ise Lodge - 3 councillors
Kettering Central - 4 councillors
Kettering North - 3 councillors
Pipers Hill - 2 councillors
St Michael - 2 councillors
St Peter - 2 councillors
Wicksteed - 1 councillor

If you're passionate, proactive and want to make a difference then becoming a town councillor could be for you. It's an opportunity to represent the views of local people and shape the future of your local community. Becoming a councillor is a rewarding experience. It gives you the opportunity to help your local community and be part of a dedicated team providing key services for your area. Being a councillor is a great way to gain political experience and useful skills in public speaking, debating and problem solving. It is a voluntary role, none of our councillors get paid.

What do councillors do?

The day-to-day work of a parish councillor may include:
• going to meetings of local organisations such as tenants' associations
• going to meetings of bodies that affect the wider community, such as the police, the Highways Authority, schools and colleges
• taking up issues on behalf of members of the public, such as making representations to the principal authorities
• running a surgery for residents to bring up issues
• meeting with individual residents in their own homes

Am I eligible?

Most people can stand for election, however there are a few rules. You have to be:
• a British citizen, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union, and
• 18 years or older on the day you become nominated for election
You cannot stand for election if you:
• are the subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order
• have, within five years before the day of the election, been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence and have had a prison sentence (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the option of a fine
• work for the council you want to become a councillor for
There are specific rules around candidacy. The full range of disqualifications for candidates is quite complex and some exceptions may apply.

Do I have the time?

It is possible to spend much of your time on council work but the vast majority of councillors have full-time jobs, families and hobbies. Unless you take on responsibility as a Chairman or Vice-Chairman of a committee, your work for Kettering Town Council should not involve more than a few meetings a month (although this depends on the number of committees/panels you serve on). In addition to this there are community consultancy discussions and public forums all of which you enable you to engage actively with the community and local issues.

How much do I need to know?

The main qualifications are an interest in your community and a willingness to learn. You will receive support from the Town Clerk and Council Officers who are there to help you, they are professionally trained staff who are employed to carry out the lawful functions and duties the Council.

What should I do if I am interested?

You may like to consider attending our council meetings which will provide you with experience of how the council conducts business, giving you a better understanding as to the work of a councillor and the commitment involved.

North Northamptonshire Council will be running the and town and parish council elections on Thursday 1 May 2025.

Make sure you're election ready and have ID to vote. You can register to vote, apply for a postal vote, apply for a proxy vote and find your polling station on the link below.

Key Dates

Friday 11 April 2025
Last date for registration

5pm on Monday 14 April 2025
Deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes

5pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025
Deadline for New Proxy vote applications (not postal proxy or emergency proxies)

5pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025
Deadline for receiving applications for Voter Authority Certificates and Anonymous Elector Documents

Friday 25 April
First date that electors can apply for a replacement for lost postal votes

Thursday 1 May 2025
Polling Day 7am to 10pm on

5pm on Thursday 1 May 2025
Deadline for electors to apply for a replacement for lost or spoilt postal votes

5pm on Thursday 1 May 2025
Deadline for emergency proxy vote applications