Information for candidates

The calculation for candidate spending for single candidates is £960 plus 0.08p per local government elector registered to vote on the last day for publication of the notice of election in the ward in which you are standing.

There are different rules for joint candidates (in wards with more than one vacancy). Find out more information on candidate spending guidance.

To avoid the risk of miscalculation and overspending, we are no longer able provide the calculated amounts. However you are able to find the electorate for each ward below which will enable you to calculate the amount yourself using the above formula, or the relevant formula for joint candidates.

Candidate spending return forms and related forms and guidance are linked below.

Note there are PDF and Excel versions of the candidate spending form, you do not need to complete both.

Candidate spending forms

• Candidate spending return form (PDF)
• Candidate spending return (Excel spreadsheet)
• Candidate spending NIL return (docx)
• Candidate spending guidance
• Candidate spending declaration
• Election agent spending declaration

The last day for the submission of candidate spending returns is Friday 12 June 2026.

Electorate for candidates spending limit calculation

Ward	Electorate
Adel and Wharfedale	16,984
Ardsley and Robin Hood	17,753
Armley	16,494
Alwoodley	16,933
Beeston and Holbeck	18,173
Bramley and Stanningley	16,673
Burmantofts and Richmond Hill	16,461
Calverley and Farsley	18,097
Chapel Allerton	18,042
Cross Gates and Whinmoor	17,984
Farnley and Wortley	18,064
Garforth and Swillington	16,358
Gipton and Harehills	17,251
Guiseley and Rawdon	18,288
Harewood	14,911
Headingley and Hyde Park	20,274
Horsforth	17,872
Hunslet and Riverside	16,471
Killingbeck and Seacroft	18,411
Kippax and Methley	17,926
Kirkstall	15,262
Little London and Woodhouse	13,851
Middleton Park	19,516
Moortown	17,013
Morley North	18,413
Morley South	18,031
Otley and Yeadon	17,371
Pudsey	18,941
Rothwell	15,755
Roundhay	17,349
Temple Newsam	16,565
Weetwood	15,483
Wetherby	16,395

If newly elected on 7 May, you will be expected to attend these training sessions.  

To complete your DBS check, bring with you your NI Number and three documents listed in the DBS verification documents to any of the sessions held in the Civic Hall.

Keep referring to this table, as some of the dates or times may change. For any further information on the New Member Induction Programme contact Member Development: memberdevelopment@leeds.gov.uk.

Monday 11 May (Civic Hall)

Time	Session title
9:30am to 11am	Introduction to Democratic Services, including group support and practicalities. You must bring either your birth certificate and proof of your NI number, or passport.
11am to midday	Registration and Declaration of Interests and meet Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer
Midday to 12:30pm	Preparation for Annual Meeting of Council
12:30pm to 1pm	Meet the Lord Mayor
2pm to 4:30pm	Member safety and de-escalation skills

Tuesday 12 May (Civic Hall)

Time	Session title
11am to 12:30pm	Meet CLT
2pm to 4pm	Mandatory safeguarding training

Thursday 14 May (Civic Hall)

You will receive your IT equipment and be set up on LCC’s operating systems.

Time	Session title
9:30am to 12:30pm	Members ICT offer
1:30pm to 3:30pm	Introduction to Members Casework Management System and casework support offer

Monday 18 May (Civic Hall)

Time	Session title
10am to midday	Introduction to Local Government Finance
2pm to 4pm	Introduction to Scrutiny

Tuesday 19 May (Microsoft Teams online session)

Time	Session title
10am to midday	Ward funding
2pm to 4pm	Code of conduct
4pm to 4:30pm	Register of interests (for any final queries or amendments)

Wednesday 20 May (Civic Hall)

Time	Session title
1pm to 3:30pm	Official photo (drop-in session to have official photo taken)

Tuesday 26 May (Civic Hall)

Time	Session title
2pm to 4pm	Introduction to planning (in accordance with Article 8 of the Constitution (Plans Panels) this session is part of the prescribed training programme)

Friday 22 May (Civic Hall)

Time	Session title
10am to 11am	Licensing (only for members appointed to Licensing Committee)

Wednesday 3 June (Civic Hall)

Time	Session title
10am to 1pm	Chairing skills (for new members/chairs and refresher training for existing chairs)

List of valid identity documents for DBS checks

The applicant must be able to show:

• one document from Group 1
• two further documents from either Group 1, or Group 2a, or 2b

The combination of documents presented must confirm the applicant’s name and date of birth. All documents must be the original physical documents, copies are not acceptable.

Group 1: Primary identity documents

Document	Notes
Passport	Any current and valid passport. A UK passport can be expired up to a maximum of 6 months
e-Visa	e-Visa. Accessed via the ‘View and Prove’ service. The share code requested by the applicant should be an ‘immigration status’ share code. If you do not have a UKVI account to access your eVisa you can create one online at GOV.UK
Biometric residence permit (BRP)	UK. A BRP showing Indefinite Leave to Remain, Indefinite Leave to Enter or No Time Limit can be used up to 18 months past the expiry date of the BRP. BRP holders should be encouraged to create an account and access their eVisa
Application Registration Card (ARC)	Issued by the Home Office. Must be checked against the Home Office Employer Checking Service at GOV.UK
Current driving licence photocard - (full or provisional)	Current and valid photocard driving licence issued by UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands. From 8 June 2015, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will not be valid and will no longer be issued by DVLA
Birth certificate - issued within 12 months of birth	UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands - including those issued by UK authorities overseas, for example embassies, High Commissions and HM Forces. Must be original birth certificate. Certified copies are a group 2a document
Adoption certificate	UK and Channel Islands

Group 2a: Trusted government documents

Document	Notes
Current driving licence photocard (full or provisional)	Current driving licence photocard (full or provisional). Current and valid. All countries outside the UK (excluding Isle of Man and Channel Islands)
Current driving licence (full or provisional) - paper version (if issued before March 2000)	Current and valid. UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands. For a paper licence to be valid it must be issued before March 2000 and all information, including name and address, must be up to date
Birth certificate - issued more than 12 months after time of birth	UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands
Marriage/civil partnership certificate	UK and Channel Islands
Immigration document, visa, or work permit	Issued by a country outside the UK. Valid only for roles whereby the applicant is living and working outside of the UK. Visa/permit must relate to the non-UK country in which the role is based
HM Forces ID card or HM Armed Forces Veteran card	UK
Firearms licence	UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands

Group 2b: Financial and social history documents

Documents	Notes	Issue date and validity
Mortgage statement	UK	Issued in last 12 months
Bank or building society statement	UK and Channel Islands. A print-off of a bank statement that is endorsed with a stamp and signed by the bank is acceptable if you cannot have hard copy bank statements posted to you	Issued in last 3 months
Bank or building society statement	Countries outside the UK	Issued in last 3 months - branch must be in the country where the applicant lives and works
Bank or building society account opening confirmation letter	UK	Issued in last 3 months
Credit card statement	UK	Issued in last 3 months
Financial statement, for example pension or endowment	UK	Issued in last 12 months
P45 or P60 statement	UK and Channel Islands. Original only. Cannot be online document or printed from online account/PDF	Issued in last 12 months
Council tax statement	UK and Channel Islands	Issued in last 12 months
Letter of sponsorship from future UK employment provider	Valid only for applicants residing outside of the UK at time of application	Must still be valid
Utility bill	UK - not mobile telephone bill. Cannot be printed from an online account	Issued in last 3 months
Benefit statement, for example Child Benefit, State Pension	UK	Issued in last 12 months
Central or local government, government agency, or local council document giving entitlement, for example from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Employment Service, Local Authority	UK and Channel Islands – a letter confirming entitlement to benefits. For example: Personal Independence Payment (PIP), free school meals, universal credit, asylum support	Issued in last 12 months
HMRC self-assessment letters or tax demand letter	UK	Issued in last 12 months
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)	UK	Must still be valid
EEA National ID card		Must still be valid.
Irish Passport Card	Cannot be used with an Irish passport	Must still be valid
Cards carrying the PASS accreditation logo	UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands. Digital PASS cards are acceptable where they have been issued by an approved digital PASS provider and the QR code has been used to confirm details	Must still be valid
Letter from head teacher, college principal, apprenticeship provider	UK - for 16 to 19 year olds in full time education or on an apprenticeship - only used in exceptional circumstances if other documents cannot be provided	Issued in the last month