A COUNCIL is reminding people that the local government elections are due to take place on Thursday, May 2 and there is still time for them to register to stand for election.

Darlington Borough Council has 50 councillors, across 20 wards, and all seats will be up for election in May, as will all the seats across the borough’s ten parish councils.

The council is responsible for a wide range of services, including children and adult services, housing, regeneration, waste and recycling, highways, planning, public health and community safety.

People can stand for election to be a councillor if you are British, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or European Union, are at least 18 years old; and are registered to vote in the area in which you have lived, worked or owned property in for at least 12 months prior to the election.

There will be a pre-nomination briefing for prospective candidates, which will take place in Committee Room 2 at the Town Hall, at 5pm on Monday, March 11.

Nomination papers will then be available following the publication of the Notice of Election on Monday, March 18.

If you wish to vote in the elections in May, you must be registered to vote. If you are not already registered you must do so before the deadline, Friday, April 12. You can register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote