Forum Topic

Barriers to becoming a councillor?

On a previous thread there has been considerable discussion around the issue of councillor allowances.  I thought the article in this quarters' Councillor Magazine shone some considerable light on the issues and concerns.  See page 5 of the following PDF (article titled 'Democracy on the cheap - are councillors being paid enough for their work?':http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/aio/6566868This issues and wider barriers to becoming a councillors are currently being explored by the Councillors Commission.  See: http://forum.communities.gov.uk/councillorscommissionI'd be interested in TW8.com regulars thoughts, before making my own submission to the Councillors Commission.Best, Andrew

Andrew Dakers ● 6612d34 Comments

The Councillors Commission have published their report "Representing the future" today. See:http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/583990The recommendations summary starts on pg 58 of the PDF.Andrew

Andrew Dakers ● 6438d

Thanks Duncan - some useful ideas there.Andrew

Andrew Dakers ● 6592d

If there is a move to devolve more power to the community and to encourage councillors to take a stronger leadership roll for the community, then would the the key aspects of a councillor's job be to:- understand clearly what the community issues and wants are, ongoing- understand clearly what the current situation is in the borough/ward - strategically, operationally and politically- be able to relate the above two and help identify and propose solutions- be able to initiate activities/projects and guide these- communicate changes and progress to the community, ongoing?The job has strategic, operational, project and communications aspects and overall it needs bold leadership. If done well it needs a skilled person.A key to its success, apart from having a person with the skills (or potential) would be:1. To be given the power, which would be recognised by service providers (e.g. developers) and council in order to represent the wishes of the community (e.g. Brentford High Street Development). Of course decisions would be monitored by the community.2. To have a good online communication platform, which could provide such things as a forum; a record of request, initiatives, actions, events and their progress.3. To have good support and training to develop councillors.Maybe there are different types of councillor roles, ones who could perform such leadership and others which will support?

Duncan Walker ● 6593d

Is this connected to the 'The Sustainable Communities Bill'? See:http://www.localworks.org/?q=node/37"On Friday 15th June the Sustainable Communities Bill passed through the House of Commons. The Bill will now proceed to the House of Lords and if successful there it will have started a process of ‘bottom-up’ government that hopefully signifies the end of the ‘Whitehall-knows-best’ variety of politics that we have all endured for too long under central and local governments of all political persuasions.The Sustainable Communities Bill will, if it passes through the House of Lords, require the government to publish and implement action plans to reverse community decline. But those action plans will be like no others in existence or even thought of - until now! Before deciding on the measures to implement the Secretary of State MUST (not may):Invite suggestions from all councils on how best to build sustainable communities in their locality – nothing new there, but read on… Co-operate with the Local Government Association (LGA), as the representative body for local government, on which suggestions put forward from councils should be short-listed and acted on – i.e. not just the usual top-down duty to consult. Publish a breakdown for each council area of spending by government agencies, quangos or any other body with a public function. On the basis of these spending breakdowns, consider, with a presumption in favour of acceptance, requests from councils for a transfer of functions and resources to them from those agencies. Report annually to Parliament on progress of the action plan. But the ‘power sharing’ goes right down to local communities. Before submitting any suggestions council must not just consult their communities but must (again, not may) also:Set up representative citizens panels to establish mechanisms to involve communities Try to reach agreement (i.e. not just consult) with those panels in making suggestions for government action. Consider the best way to involve the most disengaged and dispossessed sections of the community"The Ecologist seems keen:http://www.theecologist.org/archive_detail.asp?content_id=839

Duncan Walker ● 6593d

Thank you for all the ideas/issues raised so far.  I will be planning my contribution to the Councillors Commission early next week with Lib Dem colleagues and will bear all the comments in mind.In the meantime I thought I would share this generic "job profile" that London Councils Remuneration Panel has come up with for councillors, as well as their list of examples of good practice in reporting.  Let me know your thoughts.  I wonder how well aligned it is to the new demands that the recent local gov't whitepaper seeks to put on councillors?  See:http://www.communities.gov.uk/embedded_object.asp?id=1504100AndrewOn behalf of the community – a job profile for councillorsPurposes:1. To participate constructively in the good governance of the area.2. To contribute actively to the formation and scrutiny of the authority’s policies, budget, strategies and service delivery.3. To represent effectively the interests of the Ward for which the councillor was elected, and deal with constituents’ enquiries and representations.4. To champion the causes which best relate to the interests and sustainability of the community and campaign for the improvement of the quality of life of the community in terms of equity, economy and environment.5. To represent the council on an outside body, such as a charitable trust or neighbourhood association.Key Tasks:1. To fulfil the statutory and local determined requirements of an elected member of a local authority and the authority itself, including compliance with all relevant codes of conduct, and participation in those decisions and activities reserved to the full Council (e.g. Setting budget, overall priorities, strategy).2. To participate effectively as a member of any Committee or Panel to which the councillor is appointed, including related responsibilities for the services falling within the Committee’s (or Panel’s) terms of reference, human resource issues, staff appointments, fees and charges, and liaison with other public bodies to promote better understanding and partnership working.3. To participate in the activities of an outside body to which the Councillor is appointed, providing two-way communication between the organisations.  Also, for the purpose, to develop and maintain a working knowledge of the authority’s policies and practices in relation to that body and of the community’s needs and aspirations in respect of that body’s role and functions.4. To participate in the scrutiny or performance review of the services of the authority including where the authority so decides, the scrutiny of policies and budget, and their effectiveness in achieving the strategic objectives of the authority.5. To participate, as appointed, in the area – and service-based consultative processes with the community and with other organisations.6. To represent the authority to the community, and the community to the authority, through the various forums available.7. To develop and maintain a working knowledge of the authority’s services, management arrangements, powers/duties, and constraints, and to develop good working relationships with relevant officers of the authority.8. To develop and maintain a working knowledge of the organisations, services, activities and other factors which impact upon the community’s well-being and identity.9. To contribute constructively to open government and democratic renewal through active encouragement to the community to participate generally in the government of the area.10. To participate in the activities of any political group of which the councillor is a member.11. To undertake necessary training and development programmes as agreed by the authority.12. To be accountable for his/her actions and to report regularly on them in accessible and transparent ways.(My comments in brackets - Andrew)Examples of good practice in reporting- Publication of attendance records for formal council and committee meetings. (Already happens in Hounslow.)- Reports to Area Committee meetings by members on local activity. (Happens on an ad hoc basis - could be more systematic?)- Reports to Council by Cabinet Members. (Not yet happening systematically)- Cabinet Members report on a regular basis to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee or relevant thematic panel. (I think this does happen)- Cabinet Members’ performance is open to question through written and oral questions at full council meetings. (Written questions and sometimes oral against a tabled report are already happening in Hounslow.)- The Leader presents a state of the borough address to full council. (Not yet happening in Hounslow)- Members have time to speak at council meetings about what they have been doing. (There is a general announcements section on Hounslow's full council agenda - I think area committees are better used for this)- The council website hosts a monthly schedule of councillors’ activities. (Hounslow Calendar already exists)- Each councillor has their own web-page on which to record their activities. (This facility is available but I dont think any councillor has taken it up - a few of us have websites independent of the council which are not politically restricted)- Members report back on what they have achieved in relation to their work programmes for Cabinet and Scrutiny. (Happens on an ad hoc basis?)- Cabinet and Ward Members report back to meetings of local residents. (Happens on an ad hoc basis - not systematically)- Cabinet Members provide monthly reports of their activities to the Mayor. (Doesn't happen in Hounslow)

Andrew Dakers ● 6595d

VanessaI agree. Most people who seem to be able to become councillors are either in public sector jobs, retired, under-employed or unemployed.The days of dynamic business people, local solicitors, private sector managers, enterpreneurs, accountant, doctors and other professional becoming councillors seem to be disappearing.However the current Executive of Hounslow Council is of rather higher calibre than it was in the past. There are several Ph.D's, a teacher, a chartered accountant, a former Army officer and BBC executive and some people with some really good private sector experience.

David Giles ● 6597d

These honours are richly deserved. Although political oppponents, both Barbara Reid and John Connelly have made an immense contribution to Hounslow over the years.Both are independent minded Scots who have not been afraid to speak out for what they believe in over the years. John Connelly was an impressive Labour Leader of the Council and Mayor. He was most unfairly treated by his own party and the consequent divisions in the Labour ranks undoubtably contributed to Labouir losing power in 2006 after 35 years.Labour's loss has been Hounslow's gain.Barbara Reid has spent most of her career as a Conservative Councillor in Opposition, providing much needed scrutiny and counter-balance to what was once an all-powerful dominant Labour Council.She now has a leading role in the Conservative led administration which has been notably succesful in freezing Council Tax without cuts in essential services. 

David Giles ● 6600d

What about the St. Johns Road bridge, currently undergoing repair ??

Andrew Sibley ● 6603d

Sheep? I thought that John Chatt, Colin Ellar and the rest of the mob had left long ago.

Gareth Evans ● 6603d

...there aren't any bridges to drive sheep over in the Borough - unless you are thinking of the A4 flyover, Vanessa!Well done, you both!;-)

Sarah Felstead ● 6603d

Where's the sheep?

Vanessa Smith ● 6603d

Paul Fisher ● 6603d

Well not unreasonably you can see the employer's view too -why should they 'subsidise' public duties - perhaps some form of recompense for employers might sweeten the pill. So many people are put off and I think it's well past time that this country faced this, otherwise you are pretty much restricting your pool of people who want to take part.

Vanessa Smith ● 6603d

Extremely good and well made points Vanessa as I have a full-time job also and though my employer is quite reasonable in allowing the odd day or afternoon for Council duties,they have made it quite clear there is also a limit to it.Hence I have used days from my annual leave in the past and also taken unpaid leave which is of course my choice but not something I think should have to happen.

Paul Fisher ● 6603d

One of the barriers often not taken into account is an employer's attitude to public service of any sort, some regard it with disdain, others make life awkward. I remember one former Councillor telling me that it can put the kibosh on any promotion prospects when an employer sees or wants to see, a conflict of interests. For many years I used leave entitlement and flexi time to allow me to attend some daytime meetings etc. then I thought blow this and used special leave which I was never refused as I had a reasonable manager. But the same is true of school governors , magistrates and many others - we really do have to encourage public and voluntary service and stop making those who are holding down a job and carrying out a service to the community feel guilty for doing it.

Vanessa Smith ● 6603d

Quite.

Vanessa Smith ● 6603d

May I also pass on my sincere congratulations to both Barbara Reid and John Connelly on being awarded their honours.Two of the finest Councillors Hounslow Borough has in my opinion and very well deserved.Incidently Jim,the webcast is available now and the tributes are towards the end.

Paul Fisher ● 6603d

DavidAre you aware that two Hounslow Councillors have this week been made "Freeman of the London Borough of Hounslow" in recognition of their long and devoted councillor services to the community?Namely: Cllr Barbara Reid and Cllr John Connelly..and congratulations to them both.The webcast recording of Tuesday's event at the Civic Centre  will be well worth watching when it becomes available in a few days.I'm amazed at the long hours of work that have to been undertaken by some key Councillors..the training, briefing, the reading and compiling reports, the many Committee meetings..and verbal contributions..and more..

Jim Lawes ● 6604d

Duncan,Thank you for this. I found Paul Wheeler's article very interesting.Ealing Conservatives certainly did well by advertising for candidates in the local newspaper.I am greatly in favour of opening up politics to all the talents and particularly to people who do not see themselves as career politicans

David Giles ● 6606d

Ultimately, I don't think it is the motives of the individuals that are important (wanting to help the community, political career development, ego, status, etc.) in determining why they became a councillor, but more importantly how they do the job, conduct themselves and what they achieve. They need to be motivated outside salary/payment and so it attracts people for different reasons, as long as their motives do not interfere with representing all the community in a fair and open way.I can say I am impressed by Andrew and all the councillors we have elected this time in Brentford, they are refreshingly open and inclusive and are breathing some freshness into Brentford affairs.

Duncan Walker ● 6606d

What exactly did you do there, how long were you there and what was your job title ? Were you a paid Advisor or were you an Intern ?What did you do at GlaxoSmithKline and what was your job title there ? Why did you leave such a major and succesful company ?Are you employing him David? Do we really need to know the answers to these questions? I doubt it. What we really need to know is if the candidate has the right skill set needed to do the job he or she is seeking to be elected to.

Gareth Evans ● 6607d

I found this article which is discussing some issues on this:"A new approach to persuading local talent to serve on councilsBy Paul Wheeler*9 February 2007: After decades of neglect the issue of where to find local councillors has become a burning topic in England. The UK government and the Local Government Association have announced a commission to be chaired by Jane Roberts, former leader of Camden Council in London, to look at the barriers and incentives into serving as a councillor.As a long standing advocate of local democracy I welcome this interest and not only because I have just finished a report for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation into how the main political parties in England recruit councillor candidates. Local democracy desperately needs confident and capable advocates as local councillors if we are ever to shake off the shackles of national targeting and prescription.So how are to capture the imagination of the best and brightest in our localities that not only attracts them into the council chamber but encourages them to stay there and resist the bright lights of national politics.Well fundamental to any change are the main political parties. Over 90 per cent of existing councillors are members of the main political parties in England. But (and it’s a big but) if our political parties are going to retain their monopoly of local politics they have to do much more to prove it is for the public good. Since the collapse of communism the main political parties in England are the last bastion of centralism. The concept of democratic centralism is alive and living well in London! So the first step is that the main political parties have to learn to let go and encourage more innovation and risk-taking in their local organisations.Apart from anything else we have to recognise that there is a ‘missing generation’ of 25-50 year olds in our council chambers and have to ask how the political parties can attract them.My report ‘Local Talent’ indicates five strategies for local parties to adopt to become more inclusive and efficient as recruiters.The first is the simplest but also the most radical. Simply put, local parties should openly advertise for candidates. All parties currently operate a ‘closed selection’ system, which simply excludes all but the most active of members. Open advertisement allows more party supporters and voters to be considered as candidates. It happens already. Ealing Conservatives advertised in their local paper for candidates for the May elections. Far from creating problems they are now running the council!Secondly we need to ask the parties to be more transparent in their selection processes. Traditionally councillors have been categorised as the 3R’s (rich, retired and redundant). Well in the modern age we need a new set of categories – ‘Representative, Reliable and Reputable’ on which we can judge existing and potential councillors. Here some care. Local Political Parties are voluntary organisations who guard their independence well not least from their national parties! So we have to lead by example and encourage local parties to change and create a momentum for improvement.As part of this momentum we need to promote and define the role of councillor more effectively to a much wider audience. I don’t think I can exaggerate the degree of current ignorance and confusion that exists about the current role of councillors. In a recent MORI survey 40 per cent of the population of Birmingham had simply no idea what councillors actually did. We need a high profile ‘mission to inform’ that can attract the best into this role and also challenge some of the cynicism that pervades the national debate on local councillors.The fourth strategy is to promote Civic Pride. Whilst it is true that the vast majority of councillors are members of political parties for a large number membership is often a means to an end. We have allowed the civic role of councillors to be undervalued in recent years and we need to create a vibrant local political culture. For instance we have a Parliamentarian of the Year Award but no equivalent for local councillors. There is no local equivalent of the Hansard Society or Industry and Parliament Trust.The current debate on place-shaping as part of the recent White Paper ‘Strong and Prosperous Communities’ is putting more focus on the community leadership role of councillors. There is a real opportunity to attract into local politics those who want to improve their own localities and have no great desire to move off to the ‘Westminster Village’.And so on to our final strategy. Put simply if we want to attract the ‘missing generation’ we have to change the way that councillors work and the demands that local government places on them. Councillors with jobs and families will have to be better supported in the future. Critical to this is to pay a living wage to those who seek the councillor role especially at senior levels.But we have to be careful about the money. Many talented and ambitious people may want to be councillors for a time but not at the expense of their families and overall careers. We need to make sure that we attract those into local politics as part of their civic duties and not necessarily as career politicians. In particular we have to change the perception of being a councillor from being a ‘career destroyer’ to being a ‘career developer’ for those of working ageNone of this will be easy and there are hundreds of reasons why local political parties and councils won’t change. There are big implications for the LGA, IDeA and Leadership Centre in how they support the elected member role. But if we are serious about challenging the central state and providing effective local leadership sustained change is vital.Paul Wheeler is Director of the Political Skills Forum – an independent advocacy organisation for local councillors. You can download the full report ‘Local Talent’ on www.politicalskills.com"There are also a couple of reports on his website discussing it further:"How to bring on the best"http://www.politicalskills.com/index.php?id=22"Political recruitment"http://www.politicalskills.com/index.php?id=21

Duncan Walker ● 6607d

"The last post is from Alan Sheerins"How very apt Alan!!

Paul Fisher ● 6607d

'The last post is from Alan Sheerins'... is that played or hummed?

Sarah Felstead ● 6607d

The last post is from Alan Sheerins

Alan Sheerins ● 6607d

Hi PaulI have answered all of those queries at length in previous posts. What is your own position on increases in Councillors allowances?

Valerie Lamey ● 6607d

Andrew,Thank you for the clarification. The United Nations is of course a major political organisation so your work there is precisely the sort of thing I meant. What exactly did you do there, how long were you there and what was your job title ? Were you a paid Advisor or were you an Intern ?What did you do at GlaxoSmithKline and what was your job title there ? Why did you leave such a major and succesful company ?In any case you shouldn't worry- maybe Gordon Brown will offer you, like other Lib Dems, a job in his new Government of All the Talents ! The Labour Party is obviously becoming more and more desperate these days if it has to co-opt Lib Dems.That way you could gain political power without- like Gordon Brown himself - the unelected and unwanted Prime Minister -having to run for election to the position.

David Giles ● 6608d

"I have asked the Tory/ICG contributors on this forum to clarify the intentions of thr current Hounslow Administration on relation to allowances, however i could not get a straight answer"Alan,as you are possibly the worst contributer on this forum to clarfiy matters,for example why the K££ns claim for their flat in Covent Garden,your leaflets being delivered alongside the HM Magazine,the discraceful tactics your once proud party used during recent local elections,your mobile twice being used during election counts despite being warned by the Borough Soliciter etc etc etc,then I laughed when I read your comment.As you well know,your "comrades" budgeted for a large increase this year when they were still in administration which you seem to ignore.No decision has yet been made but you could always ask Cllrs Cadbury and Sharma as they have been invited to each meeting to discuss the matter and the next one is on Monday evening.Or are you out in the cold these days due to your dismal record as the local Labour Campaign Manager and lost touch with what happens these days at the Civic Centre?

Paul Fisher ● 6608d

Hi AndrewI was talking to an Islington comrade recently, who said that when the Lib Dems took power there, they substantially increased the councillors allowances and that they all now contribute 25% of their allowances to a central lib dems fund for campaigning in London. Is this the case? I have asked the Tory/ICG contributors on this forum to clarify the intentions of thr current Hounslow Administration on relation to allowances, however i could not get a straight answer.

Alan Sheerins ● 6608d

I've had more and more dealings with councilors over the years (within Ealing) and I've gone from thinking that most are a work shy bunch to realising just what is involved. Not for the faint hearted!Does anyone know what other countries do?

David Eales ● 6608d

David - A factual correction to your previous posting.  I spent 3 years working for an IT contractor at the BBC; had a brief stint at the end of my masters advising a department at the United Nations in New York; then two years at GlaxoSmithKline; and most recently two years at WWF, the environmental charity, working largely in a training & development role.  I entirely agree that experience outside politics is important to the role of MP, and that is exactly what I would bring.Kind regards, Andrew

Andrew Dakers ● 6609d

I agree with Valerie Lamey.Being a councillor is a form of public service and should not be seen as a substitute for a full time job.Hounslow and the taxpayers simply could not afford to have 60 full-time councillors being paid £40,000 a year - which is the minimal salary anyone in London with the qualifications, experience and ability to be a councillor should expect. The cost of paying every councillor in the country a full-time salary would be horrific and we would be saddled with an even bigger political careerist nomenklatura than we have now.As it is the public sector in this country is growing at a horrendous rate under Gordon Brown, the Real Prime Minister for the past 10 years.There is an increasing trend for more and more political positions- not just in Parliament but in local councils and at every level of Government - to be filled by people, like Andrew Dakers, who works for an organisation of which I am a member, and who are in effect full-time politicans in one form or another almost from the cradle to the grave. Or at least from school to retirement to the House of Lords !Such people often lack any experience of the lives lived by their constituents and have no experience in business, in management, in social service, in housing issues, in education, in planning or in their local communities before moving from school to university and then into some pressure group, campaigning organisation, think tank, charity, politican's office or national or local government before casting around for a safe council, national assembly, parliamentary or European Parliament seat.I am no great admirer of Ann Keen but at least she had an honest career as a nurse before entering politics.Similarily her four Tory opponents at the last five general electoions all had extensive experience of life outside politics before entering politics. Mary Macleod, the current Conservative Prospective Parliamentary candidate, has had an impressive career in business and social service.Mr Dakers shoiuld consider this and gain more experience of life outside politics before standing for election.In view of the importance of voting Ann Keen (or her successor as the Labour candidate) out of Parliament at the next election, the Liberal Democrats should forgo any futile attempt to win this seat and concentrate their efforts on defending Susan Kramer's tenuous hold on Richmond which otherwise Green Zac Goldsmith will definitely win back for the Conservatives. Otherwise there is a danger that the Lib Dems will hand this seat again to Labour as they have done at the last General Election.

David Giles ● 6610d

There is, and always has been, the concept of civic/public service. Every one who serves as a councillor accepts that this will take a great deal of their time, and while councillors should clearly receive some payment I don't think they should get, or expect, the equivalent of salaries.When I first went on the Council in 1993 I think we got around £1200 in allowances, and while that was too low, some of the sums being talked about at the moment are far too high.Also don't forget that there are 3 councillors to every ward (30 for each constituency) and so the work is shared. You sacrifice a great deal of your life when you become a councillor, evenings doing normal things become very scarce! However, it is a choice, and most councillors manage full time jobs as well so I do not see a case for 'full time' salaries.The allowances in Hounslow are, I think, reasonable,and should rise only in line with inflation. Where money does need to be spent is perhaps on facilities for councillors in the evenings, even a small snack bar would make a great difference. I spent too many evenings eating junk because that was all there was.

Valerie Lamey ● 6610d

If the job requires 40 hours effort per week, then I would suggest it is treated as equivalent to the person's main job and treated as a sabbatical from his/her employer. I would pay them a realistic salary (within limits). If the job does not require fulltime working then agree a proportion of the time and decalre openly so that other people know what is expected from this person.But then, I would expect a person who is well skilled, committed and will perform well. So they must be vetted for this before the position is awarded.I would expect the same performance measuring as in normal employment so that those who aren't suitable are not protected by the party.There would need to be sufficient connection back with the person's employer, so he/she is able to return easily after the sabbatical.This approach would raise the quality of the job, create conditions where a person can truly apply himself knowing he has the time and is rewarded adequately.There would need to be a management and performance monitoring function to guide this.

Duncan Walker ● 6611d