WIREDGOV

Responding to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee's announcement on the future role of councillors, Sir Merrick Cockell, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:

"Councillors do an incredibly difficult job and so it's really encouraging to see the select committee recognising the need to give them the support and training they require to lead public services from the frontline.

"Under the Localism Act, councils have been given new powers, but to make the most of these, local government relies on the energy, effectiveness and relevance of those elected to run it. The Local Government Association's ‘Be a councillor' campaign works to raise the profile of the job and encourage a talented, passionate and more diverse range of people to stand in local elections and provide the public with a choice of outstanding candidates to lead their communities.

"We are delighted with the committee's recommendation to expand the ‘Be a councillor' campaign, and we will continue to work closely with the political parties and the Department for Communities and Local Government to implement this. We will also continue to work with councils and individual councillors across the country, calling on them to share their top tips on talent spotting to ensure the sector as whole is working to find the inspirational leadership it needs for the future."

Author: LGA Media Office
Contact: Jacob Lant, LGA Media Office, Telephone: 0207 664 3282