All councils are led by democratically-elected councillors who set the vision and direction and represent their local community.
County Council elections are held every four years, with the next elections in May 2025 when all the West Sussex seats will be up for election.
By-elections can be held at any time between scheduled elections, usually if a member resigns or dies.
You can find out which county councillor represents your area and see how the County Council is arranged in divisions.
To find out more about what councils do, the role county councillors play and the process for standing for election, look at the short guide to being a county councillor and the member role profile below. You can also find out more about additional roles that some members also hold.
The short guide provides an insight into the role and the time commitment.
For many councillors a considerable amount of time is spent attending meetings, many of which have a public gallery for local residents to observe the meeting. There is more information in the calendar of meetings.
To hear from some of our councillors, find out about any upcoming events where you can learn more about the role and standing for election, please visit our Be a Councillor web pages:
Find out more about becoming a county councillor (external link)