c. Acceptance of office

On being elected (or co-opted) to office, a councillor must sign a declaration of their acceptance of office, in the presence of another councillor or the Clerk.  The declaration must be delivered before or at the first meeting of the council after election or, if permitted by the council at that meeting, before or at a later meeting fixed by the council. 

Although it is good practice for the declaration to be signed before or at the first meeting, the law does not prevent the councillor from taking part in meetings/voting etc. before it is signed. 

If a councillor fails to make the signed declaration by the due time, they thereupon vacate office and a casual vacancy arises. There is no provision allowing a declaration to be delivered retrospectively. 

A councillor who is elected as the Chair of a local council must also sign and deliver a separate declaration of acceptance of that office.  

The declaration of acceptance of office must be made in the form prescribed in the Local Elections (Declaration of Acceptance of Office) Order 2012.

There is NO REQUIREMENT to sign a copy of the council's Code of Conduct.

Use this link to access SALC guidance and application form