Induction for new councillors

Before you join

• Attend 2 or 3 parish council meetings (if you can)
• Contact the Clerk or Chairman to say you're interested.
• Read this page (our induction process).
• Have an informal chat with the Chairman

At your first meeting

Before you are called to be a councillor 

• Sit in the public seating area
• The Chairman will invite you to join the council
• Take a seat at the council table. 

During the meeting

• The Chairman will extend a warm welcome to you
• The Chairman will introduce the other councillors to you.

• Complete and sign the 'Register of Interests form'.
• Get the dates of the next Parish Council meetings
• Share your contact details with the Parish Clerk

Notes:

• The Clerk will send this completed register of interests form to Swale Borough Council. The details will be uploaded on to the SBC website.
• You'll find the list of other councillors on this page.
• Dates for future Parish Council meetings are available online.

Administration

Set up an email account

• The Parish Clerk will set up a Teynham PC email account for you
• The Parish Clerk will send you details of how to log in
• Let the Clerk know when you've got your account set up
• The Parish Clerk will send a short email to everyone on the council letting them know your new address
• Send a brief email to the full Parish Council, and say hello!

• Update your details on the Your Councillor page 
• As a minimum, we will publish your name and Teynham PC email address.
• If you wish, we can add a photo and/or mobile number.
• Please send Paul Townson 
• your preferred spelling of your published name; 
• a high resolution photo (optional).
• contact details that you may wish to publish.

Update WhatsApps Groups

• Add you to the TPC-Greneral Group WhatsApp Group

Communication

Chairman (or Clerk) to publicly welcome the new councillor to the Council via

• Teynham Parish Council Website (this website!)
• Social Media: Facebook page; Next Door
• Parish notice boards: Teynham & Conyer
• plus email to key stakeholders

Build knowledge

• Suggested reading: 
• Website: This is what we do
• Teynham News
• Visit the facilities/areas that we manage

Understanding your role 

Essential reading

• Good councillor guide (KALC)
• Role description: TPC Parish Councillor

Read and get an overview of 

• Teynham PC's Standing Orders 
• Teynham PC's Financial Regulations 
• Teynham PC's other policies

• Book on KALC's Dynamic Councillor Course (via the Clerk) 

Get involved

•  Attend the full Parish Council meetings
• If you can't attend, always send an apology to the clerk

• Join one or more of the 'committees'.
• Join different 'working groups' when you're ready
• Contribute and share your passion and ideas