COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (080) issued by The Government News Network
on 10 April 2007
WOULD YOU BE
WILLING TO STAND FOR ELECTION?
Many people will be getting a knock on their door over the next
few weeks as council candidates pound the streets canvassing for
the local elections. And a new Commission is examining the
incentives and barriers to a wider range of people standing as
candidates and wants the public's help through a new call for
evidence published today.
The Commission on Local Councillors will examine what motivates
people to become councillors, the support councillors need to
enable them to carry out the role effectively, and what can be
done to attract more interested and able people into the role -
especially those who are currently under-represented such as
women, younger people and those from black and minority ethnic communities.
It will also look at the issues that might discourage people from
becoming councillors such as difficulty in getting time off work,
balancing the role with home responsibilities, remuneration, and
restrictions on who can become a councillor.
The Commission is chaired by Dame Jane Roberts, former Leader of
Camden Council who said:
"Councillors shape our daily lives which is why the
Commission's work to examine ways of encouraging a wider
range of people to be able to be elected as councillors,
increasing representation in local government and increasing
engagement and satisfaction with it is so important.
"We are not saying that current councillors aren't
doing a good job. The 20,000 councillors in England play a
valuable role, dedicating their evenings and weekends to council
business, addressing constituents' concerns, and finding
solutions to improve front line services. Our work will crucially
look at the barriers that prevent every day people becoming
councillors as well as the incentives and support they receive to
see how we can get even more people involved.
"We want to hear evidence from present and former
councillors, as well as a range of other people involved in civic
life, such as school governors, tenant representatives, those
involved with health bodies and with voluntary and community
organisations, employers and even newspaper editors. And, of
course, we must tap into those who are not currently civically
involved to find out why."
Statistics show just 4 per cent of councillors are from black and
minority ethnic backgrounds; the average age of a councillor is 58
with more than 50 per cent over 60 compared with just 0.3 per cent
under 25 and under 8 per cent under 40; and 100 years since women
won the right to stand for town hall elections, fewer than 3 in 10
councillors are women. 18 year-olds will be able to stand as
candidates in the May local elections in England and Welsh
Assembly elections for the first time. The new age for candidates
was introduced in the Electoral Administration (2006) Act. There
are 18-21 year old candidates standing for election in Manchester,
Stratford upon Avon, Waveney, Poole, Barrow, Southampton, Oldham,
Lancaster, West Oxfordshire, Runnymede, Flyde, Harlow and Bournemouth.
Just some of the issues and ideas the Commission will look at are:-
* Working with local business to promote more part-time and
flexible working and encouraging employers to value people serving
as councillors by providing time off for their duties and
recognising their experience;
* Reviewing the time commitments needed to be a councillor and
timetables of local meetings;
* Encouraging councils to look at better childcare support;
* Providing better information on how to become a councillor and
what the job entails such as work shadowing schemes, information
and awareness campaigns in BME communities;
* More support for councillors to develop the necessary skills
for the role and ensure they are retained; and
* The extent to which perceptions of local government hinder well
qualified people from standing.
The Commission will be hosting a monthly discussion forum as part
of its evidence gathering, at
http://forum.communities.gov.uk/councillorscommission. The
discussion topic will change each month and to get the debate
underway, April's question for discussion is 'What
motivates people to be councillors?'
A recent survey of councillors found that the main reason
reported was 'to serve the community' (86.9%), followed
by 'to change things' (52.3%) and 'political
beliefs' (51.5%). More than a quarter (29.4%) identified the
reason 'because I was asked to'. Other research has also
found that the extent to which people believe they can influence
and participate in local decision making can significantly
influence their satisfaction with their local council.
The Commission will make recommendations by November 2007 which
will enable and encourage a more diverse range of people to take a
role in local government. They will hold meetings and events
around the country to get views from people who will also be able
to contact to contact the Commission by letter, email, or through
their website at http://www.communities.gov.uk/councillorscommission
Notes to Editors:
1. The members of the Commission who will be working with Dame
Jane are:
* Yasser Ahmed, CRE Commissioner, Independent Race Advisor to the
Greater Manchester Police Authority, and Non-Executive Director at
the Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust;
* Cathy Bakewell, Leader of Somerset County Council;
*
Jessica Crowe, Executive Director of the Centre for Public
Scrutiny;
* Margaret Eaton, former Leader of Bradford City
Council;
* Ben Page, Director, Ipsos Mori;
* Matthew
Taylor, Chief Executive, Royal Society of Arts.
2. The Local Government White Paper and legislation currently
before Parliament, sets out a package of measures that empowers
local communities. The councillor's role is at the heart of
these measures, including:
* strengthening the ability of councillors to act as champions
for their community via a new 'Community Call for Action';
* a new duty for councils to involve communities in the delivery
of local services and where appropriate devolve the delivery or
management of services to them; and
* encouraging councils to provide councillors with small budgets
to address local issues quickly.
3. Biographical details of Dr Jane Roberts, DBE
Jane Roberts has extensive experience in local government: a
Camden councillor for 16 years, she was Leader of the Council from
2000-05 and is currently undertaking work for the Improvement and
Development Agency (IDeA) and the Local Government Leadership
Centre. She is also an Associate Fellow at Warwick University
working with the Leadership Development Research Programme at
Warwick Business School. Professionally, she is a medical doctor,
specialising in child and adolescent psychiatry and Director of
Quality and Performance at Islington Primary Care Trust.
4. Further biographical details for board members and the
Commission's terms of reference are published today at http://www.communities.gov.uk/councillorscommission.
5. Further information on changes to the age that candidates can
stand in local elections is availble here http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=276516&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=True
6. Issued on behalf of the Commision on Local Councillors by
Communities and Local Government.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 4400;
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk