The LGA has commissioned new research to help inform its Be a Councillor campaign.
Many councils undertake activity focused on local democracy and increasing democratic engagement. Promoting the role of councillor and encouraging more people to consider standing for election can form an important part of this work.
Having undertaken aspects of this activity for many years, locally, regionally and nationally, I’m more than aware that it is fantastically hard work. Sometimes, the forces of negativity about our roles make it seem like a distressingly uphill battle, lacking in the joy and humour that such campaigns also need!
To help, the LGA’s Be a Councillor campaign supports councils to run their own local activities and campaigns, with a toolkit and bespoke support.
Its purpose is to move people from being unaware of the role of a councillor through several stages towards taking action – for example, considering standing for election or recommending the role to others.
The LGA recently commissioned The Young Foundation to capture the views and experiences of under-represented groups to help inform the development of Be a Councillor.
The research showed that there is a low level of awareness of every aspect of being a local councillor. This translates into low levels of people exploring the possibility of becoming one, let alone going on to actively consider the role, stand for election or encourage others to do so.
To improve diversity in representation, the pool of prospective councillors needs to be increased and diversified at every stage of the ladder – from awareness to action.
A key perception about the role of a councillor and their work was that it’s primarily associated with the provision, maintenance and management of services at a highly local level.
There was less clarity on how councillors could influence bigger societal issues affecting their local communities and areas.
It was also widely believed that councillors should represent, advocate for, and make decisions on behalf of local people. Community liaison activities were often mentioned, with some perceiving the role as a ‘bridge’ between the council and the public.
The first barrier that must be overcome for many is the lack of understanding about local democracy.
The research provided a clear steer on the types of information and communication channels believed to be necessary when encouraging a more diverse group of people to consider becoming local councillors. This includes amplifying stories about the impact of being a councillor, going where the people are, and using community channels to engage with residents.
To support this, councils can use the following tools to help raise awareness of the councillor role among everyone in the community, all of which are contained in the LGA’s Be a Councillor toolkit:
- explain the role in detail using the FAQs, job description, and case-study template documents
- highlight, with the standard text available in the toolkit, the councillor as a community activist, where councillors work hard and give back to their local community
- demonstrate the local and wider impacts councillors can have, and share your achievements for your communities.
So, let’s all move through 2022 feeling optimistic, hopeful and determined to do whatever we can to improve community representation among those standing for election.
Let’s engage with communities in ways that make sense to them, and do everything we can to uphold and improve the reputation of local government among those we serve.