Information for candidates

For more information, view the full statutory timetable for elections due to be held on 7 May 2026.

Leeds street lighting columns

Election posters/material will only be allowed on Leeds Street lighting columns subject to the following conditions. However, the use of street lighting columns is discouraged because there are a number of health and safety challenges associated with affixing and removing signage at a minimum clearance height of 2.3 metres.

You are also reminded that whilst you need to make the electorate aware that you are standing for election or are campaigning in the elections, voters expect you to take a responsible approach to this advertising.

1. You may erect posters on street lighting columns (lamp posts), which are under the direct control of the council only.
2. Posters must not be erected prior to 14 days before the election and must be removed within 14 days of the election or sooner if possible.
3. The council must be indemnified against any claims arising out of the erection, display, or removal of posters or as a consequence of the erection of posters.
4. You and the person erecting the poster(s) must ensure that the method of access to be used by them is appropriate for the site conditions, but under no circumstances are ladders permitted to be ‘rested’ against lighting columns.
5. The posters must not interfere with any sight lines, nor obstruct any regulatory or direction sign.
6. Posters will not be erected so as to obscure posters previously erected by opposition parties.
7. Posters are not to be erected on a lamp column where a regulatory direction or warning sign is attached.
8. Posters must have at least 2.3m clearance above ground level where they are above a footpath or 2.5m above a cycle way. No part of the posters should be nearer than 0.5 metres to the face of the kerb.
9. Posters should be pasted to or printed on “COREX” corrugated plastic (or similar material), which is sturdy and re-usable, but light enough not to cause injury.
10. Posters should be no larger than A3 size (approximately 42cm x 30cm).
11. Posters must be attached to the columns with plastic cable ties.
12. Posters causing a safety hazard or wrongly displayed may be removed by the Authority and the cost of carrying out the removal maybe charged to the candidate. Removed posters will be disposed of as waste.
13. It should be noted that if a column on which a poster has been placed needs to be replaced for maintenance reasons the Authority will not replace that poster.

Election posters/materials will not be allowed as follows:

14. On any street furniture belonging to others (for example, BT poles and Virgin Media Comms boxes) and trees within the highway. Note in relation to trees, for the purposes of this document, the Highway includes footpaths and grass verges adjacent to the Highway.
15. On any Highways Authority apparatus including traffic signs and signals, barrier rails, bridges, and structures.

Highway verges

16. All candidates seeking election may, without specific authority, erect election posters on vacant land under the direct control of the council and not forming part of any tenancy, lease, licence, or other interest granted by the council.
17. Posters on grass verges should only be fixed using a small wooden stake that can easily and quickly be pushed into the ground and subsequently removed. No part of the posters should be nearer than 0.5 metres to the face of the kerb.
18. As with street lighting columns, posters on grass verges should not be fixed prior to 14 days before the election and all posters must be removed within 14 days of the election or sooner if possible.
19. The council must be indemnified against any claims arising out of the erection of posters.
20. Posters can only be erected on grass verges and must not be affixed to any trees by any method other than the circumstances described in sections 28 and 29 below.
21. The posters must not interfere with any sight lines and must not be erected so as to obscure posters previously erected by opposition parties.
22. No posters to go on Highway Authority apparatus including traffic signs and signals, barrier rails, bridges, and structures.
23. Individual concerns may be considered and posters not complying with these standard conditions or found to be causing risks to users of the highway may be removed and the cost of carrying out the removal may be charged to the candidate. Any posters which are removed will be disposed of as waste.

Elections posters/materials on private buildings/property

Election posters/materials on private buildings/property will only be allowed subject to the following conditions:

24. All election posters/materials fixed on private buildings or property will require the consent of the owner and the method of fixing etc. agreed.
25. Any election posters/material should not cause a danger or nuisance to the public including users of the highway.

Private trees on private land

26. Election posters/materials will only be allowed on trees on private land subject to the following conditions:
27. All election posters/materials fixed on private property will require the consent of the owner(s) and the method of fixing, etc. agreed.
28. If any posters are to be displayed on trees on private land, they must not be nailed to them, but fixed loosely to the trunks with plastic cable ties to avoid any damage and prevent any action by the council for wilful damage to trees, particularly those under Tree Preservation Orders.

Election posters/materials or leaflets on or in council buildings and polling stations

28. No information supporting a candidate or party is allowed within or attached to any council building or railings/fences on the perimeter of such buildings, for example schools, libraries and community centres.
29. Posters or material that might be construed as supporting the views of any of the campaigners involved in the elections must not be displayed in the polling station or on the premises.

Conditions

Explanation

Outside of elections the display of placards on highways and street furniture is strictly limited and tightly controlled under Highways and Planning legislation. Significant breaches can be a criminal offence and result in prosecution with the prospect of a fine and criminal record.

This is because uncontrolled placards and advertising detract from the social fabric of the city in the following ways:

• they are designed to distract drivers’ attention whilst driving
• the Highways Authority owes a duty of care to its users and any subsequent injury, death or accident occurring as a direct or indirect consequence of the use of placards could result in liability
• their general use is not only unsightly, but also attracts copycat advertising
• they are classed as litter when the authority is assessing litter levels
• placards have occasionally caused direct injuries to pedestrians if they hit them – eye injuries are of most concern
• the ties and wraps used to attach them can remain for many years and again are unsightly and count as litter
• some methods of attachment which have been used can and physically damage street furniture

Relaxed controls for elections

It’s important that the council supports a democratic election process and at the same time maintains political neutrality. As such these conditions have been drawn up to help achieve these outcomes whilst at the same time maintaining sensible controls.

Failure to comply with conditions

The council's first step will be to contact the candidate (or their election agent if appointed) to explain the problem and give 48 hours to remove the offending poster/placard. If the poster/placard is not removed and is on council property/land, the council will remove it as soon as resources allow and may seek to recover costs from the candidate.

If the poster/placard presents an immediate danger to public safety the council reserves the right to remove without prior notification.

All removed posters/placards will be disposed of as waste.

In particularly serious cases where a poster/placard is not removed when requested and continues to breach guidance, this may be considered as flyposting. Formal legal action may be pursued if such action is deemed in the public interest. This could involve taking legal proceedings against the beneficiary (the candidate) under Section 224(3) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

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 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

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)

Tuesday 12 May (Civic Hall)

Thursday 14 May (Civic Hall)

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

Monday 18 May (Civic Hall)

Tuesday 19 May (Microsoft Teams online session)

Wednesday 20 May (Civic Hall)

Tuesday 26 May (Civic Hall)

Friday 22 May (Civic Hall)

Wednesday 3 June (Civic Hall)

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

Group 2a: Trusted government documents

Group 2b: Financial and social history documents