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BEING A COUNCILLOR

What It’s Like to Be a Town Councillor in Thetford

​What Do Councillors Actually Do? 

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  • Being a town councillor means being a voice for your community. Here’s what that involves:

  • Representing Local People

  • We listen to residents’ concerns, help raise issues, and work to improve local life in Thetford.

  • Attending Council Meetings

  • We take part in regular Town Council meetings to discuss, vote on, and influence decisions that affect the town.

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Making Decisions
on Local Services

 These include:

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  • Parks and green spaces

  • Cemeteries

  • Community buildings

  • Public toilets

  • Events and community grants

  • Shaping Planning Responses

  • We give the council's input on local planning applications                       (though final decisions are made by Breckland District Council).

  • Setting the Budget

  • We help decide how your local council tax precept is spent to benefit Thetford.

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How much do we get Paid?

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  • This is a Voluntary Role

  • Being a councillor is not a paid job.

  • We volunteer our time because we care about our community.

  • There’s no salary, no perks, and no personal benefit, just the satisfaction of helping Thetford thrive.

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What we Cannot do?

While we’re here to help, there are some important limits to our role. Here’s what Town Councillors do not have the power to do:

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​❌ We can’t act alone

Decisions are made collectively by the full council or its committees.

​​❌ We’re not “on call” 24/7

But we’re approachable and do our best to respond to residents’ concerns.

​​❌ Fix Roads, Streetlights, or Potholes

That’s the responsibility of Norfolk County Council, which handles highways, street maintenance, gritting, and traffic signage.

​​❌ Collect Bins or Manage Waste

Refuse collection, recycling, and street cleaning fall under Breckland District Council.

​​❌ Make Planning Decisions

We can review and comment on planning applications, but we don’t have the power to approve or reject them — that’s also up to Breckland District Council.

​​❌ Run Schools, Police, or Healthcare

Education, policing, social care, and health services are handled by other authorities such as Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Constabulary, or the NHS.

​​❌ Enforce Laws

We’re not enforcement officers and cannot intervene directly in legal or criminal matters. If there’s a crime or serious issue, it should be reported to the police or the relevant authority.

What You Don’t See

Behind the Scenes

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  • We spend time reading documents and preparing for meetings.

  • We often attend community events and meet with residents informally.

  • We collaborate with district and county councils to raise bigger issues.

  • Many of us serve on committees or working groups on key topics like youth, environment, or heritage.

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​​​​​​​How You Can Get Involved

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  • Come to a Town Council meeting (they’re open to the public)

  • Speak to a councillor – we’re happy to chat

  • Volunteer for community projects

  • Consider standing for election in the future

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