The LGA’s response to the Councillors Commission

Chris Lawrence-Pietroni,Director for Corporate Strategy and Public Affairs

The Commission’s Report

• Published in December 2007, with 61 recommendations;

• Identified 3 major issues to address:

– Poor public image and negative perceptions of councils and councillors;

– Why people want to stand as councillors;

– The barriers that stop people standing as councillors.

The Commission’s Recommendations

• There is a role for local government in promoting local democracy;

• Better support needs to be provided to councillors;

• Changes should be made to the way elections are held;

• Councillors should be drawn from a wide range of backgrounds so they better reflect the communities they represent.

Issues for the LGA – a new statutory duty?

• Recommendation 1 suggests local authorities are charged with a duty to facilitate local democratic engagement:

– Is the Executive happy with a new statutory duty being imposed on local government?

– What does the Executive believe councils should do to promote democratic engagement?

Issues for the LGA – getting more people to stand as councillors

• The Commission suggests councils need to do more to promote councillors and their roles:

– What, if anything, should councils do to encourage more people to stand as councillors?

– Should councils produce guidance on how to stand as a councillor?

– Should the LGA lobby for the withdrawal of the Local Authority Publicity Code (introduced in 1988)?

Issues for the LGA – what support do councillors need?

• The Commission makes a number of recommendations about what councils can do to support their members better:

– What can councils do to support their members better?

– What should be the minimum level of support provided by councils to their councillors?

Issues for the LGA – members’ allowances

• The Commission makes a number of recommendations on allowances:

– Should a national framework of members’ allowances be developed?

– Should allowances include a small communications allowance for members?

Next Steps

• What happens next?

– This session is to get feedback from the Executive;

– The LGA response to the Commission’s report will then be finalised;

– The LGA will also work with CLG on their response to the Commission’s report;

– The LGA will work with IDeA and other members of the family on delivery.