ABSTRACT
Councillors are elected for a four year term of office and represent ‘wards’ within the local government area. In metropolitan districts, one third of councillors retire each year, other than in a year in which there will be county council elections. In other, non-metropolitan districts, councillors retire every four years, or may choose to adopt the metropolitan model. The electoral system reflects that used for general elections, being the simple majority or ‘first past the post’ system.
