St Keyne and Trewidland Parish Councillors
Becoming a Parish Councillor
Full Parish Council elections are held every four years and the next are due in 2029. However, in the interim, if there are vacant seats on the council, you can apply yourself and ask to be 'co-opted'. This means that you can volunteer to be a councillor by asking to be considered as a candidate. There's an application form you'll need to complete and be interviewed by the other councillors. If you'd like to know more, contact the Clerk's Office here. Read more about the being a councillor in these guides below.
Qualifications for standing for election
To be able to stand as a candidate at a parish council election in England or a community council election in Wales you must:
• be at least 18 years old
• be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any member state of the European Union, and
• meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
a. You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the parish/community in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.
b. You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish/community area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
c. Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the parish/community area.
d. You have lived in the parish/community area or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
Disqualifications
Apart from meeting the qualifications for standing for election, you must also not be disqualified. There are certain people who are disqualified from being elected to a parish or community council in England and Wales. You cannot be a candidate if at the time of your nomination and on polling day:
a. You are employed by the parish/community council or hold a paid office under the parish/community council (including joint boards or committees).
b. You are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.
c. You have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the five years before polling day.
d. You have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which covers corrupt or illegal electoral practices and offences relating to donations). The disqualification for an illegal practice begins from the date the person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for three years. The disqualification for a corrupt practice begins from the date a person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for five years.
Read more about this in the Local Government Associations Guide.
You can also read about the day to day work of a parish councillor this guide produced by the National Association of Local Councils All About Local Council 2024.
We also produce a profile for people considering making application. This is not the same as the one you would see for a job application, but it sets out the broad areas of experience that would be useful to have. Download a copy of the profile here.
Being a Parish Councillor
As part of their preparation for taking an active role in the Parish Council, all Councillors need to undergo a period of induction. This will give them the opportunity to learn more about the way in which the Parish Council works, what its obligations and legal responsibilities are and how they can make the best use of their time as a councillor.
Listed on our Documents page are a series of Quick Guides on the essential things a new Councillor will need to know before taking part in their first meeting. We ask all new Parish Councillors to take the time out to read through these guides before their induction. They are not expected to remember all of it – that will come with experience and practice, but it will be helpful for them to know this much about the background of their decision making.
Information for current and prospective councillors.
Induction Quick Guides
As part of your preparation for taking an active role in the council, all Councillors need to undergo a period of Induction. This will give you the opportunity to learn more about the way in which the parish council works, what its obligations and legal responsibilities and how you can make the best use of your time as a councillor. Listed below are a series of Quick Guides that will take you through the essential things you need to know before taking part in your first meeting. Please take the time to read through them before your induction. You are not expected to remember all of it - that will come with experience and practice, but it will be helpful for you to know this much about the background of your decision making. [23/4/21]
01 What the parish council does
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The Good Councillors Guide 2024
The easy-to-read booklet explains how your local council works, and who-does-what. View and download a copy.
Your Councillors
Councillors work together as a team for the benefit of the Parish and all its residents. In addition to their statutory duties, all councillors volunteers to take on additional responsibilities. This list shows their portfolio responsibilities for 2024/25.If you want to contact any of the councillors or Parish Clerk directly, their email addresses are listed below.
Members of the public are always welcome to attend parish council meetings, and if they wish, to speak on any topic of interest or concern to them.
St Keyne Parish Councillors
Chairman Cllr Sarah Whiting
Email
Represents the parish council on the South East Cornwall Community Area Partnership; Scrutiny Committee; Member of Scrutiny Committee; B3252 Safety Group; Designated Person for the council's Safeguarding Policy.
Vice Chairman Cllr Lindsey Ellis
Email
Represents the parish council on the South East Cornwall Community Area Partnership, Trewidland Village Hall Committee and Informer Newsletter Working Group.
Cllr Martin Cluer
Email
Representative on St Keyne Village Hall Committee
Cllr Jonathan Ellis
Email
Member of parish council's Scrutiny Committee, Paths & Stiles Working Group and B3252 Safety Group.
Cllr Mark Featherston
Email
Responsible for maintaining and checking the defibrillator at St Keyne Parish Hall and member of Green Team Working Group.
Cllr Mark Gibbons
Tel: 07342-530644
Email
Cornwall Councillor for Looe East & Deviock (and Trewidland ward).
Cllr Patricia Hopwood
Email
Manages council's social media account and publishes The Informer newsletter; member of Green Team.
Cllr Jane Pascoe
Tel: 01579 348442
Email
Cornwall Councillor for Liskeard South & Dobwalls (and St Keyne ward)
Cllr Kevin Shovelton
Tel: 07471 816604
Email
Responsible for Community Emergency Plan; member of Paths & Stiles Working Group; Informer Newsletter Group; B3252 Safety Group; Green Team Group.
Parish Clerk John Hesketh
Lambest Cottage
Menheniot
Liskeard
PL14 3RE
Email
Proper Officer for the Parish Council; Responsible Financial Officer; Data Protection Manager; Safeguarding Lead.