Heather Jameson recently asked why I had become a councillor 32 years ago – an ‘in your face’ challenge’ one has to expect from the editor of The MJ! But, it did cause me to draw on deep memories. And, it also made me wonder: knowing what we now know about local government’s financial and other challenges, why would any rational person today want to become a councillor?
Why did I volunteer to be nominated and then stand, initially unsuccessfully as a candidate for Mid-Bedfordshire District Council in 1979 (when I was actually fighting a parliamentary seat elsewhere), and then successfully for Bedfordshire County Council in 1981 and subsequently in 1985, 1989, 1993 and 1997?
I recall a myriad of reasons and motivations which, probably changed over my five county council elections.
I also suspect that my reasons were little different from those of thousands of candidates and councillors.
I was politically motivated – no bad thing in my view. I passionately wanted to promote the principles and policies of my party, not least because I felt then, as I still do, that they were and are in the best interests of the community and wider society.
Of course, supporting principles is not the same as endorsing every detail of policy. I also wanted my party to win control of the council, which in 1981 meant it winning back marginal wards like mine from an opposition party.
This is realistic, for without power being achieved for a majority of councillors with similar values and policy commitments, little can be achieved.
That said, for 16 of the 18 years I was a councillor, the authority was ‘hung’ with no party in overall control, and as things turned out, we were able to make some great progress. I was at that time contemplating a long-term political career, and becoming a councillor was part of that trajectory.
I wish that more of the current members of Parliament had some local government background in their CVs than is the case today. It might mean that government ministers could not get away with likening councillors to ‘scout leaders’ rather than respecting them as fellow elected representatives; and it might lead to more serious approaches to ‘localism’ with real decentralisation from Whitehall to town hall.
I don’t believe that many candidates stand for office of their own volition or are persuaded to stand as candidates for local government, simply because of their partisan tribalism – I most certainly didn’t.
In my experience, most have a genuine sense of wanting to serve their community; to promote its collective interests and those of the wider place as well as the rights and needs of individual residents; and to be an elected and accountable community leader.
No other position in civil society can claim the democratic legitimacy of the councillor other than the member of Parliament, assembly or European Parliament – in which case, of course, the size of the electorate and area represented are somewhat larger than the councillor’s.
And thus further from their electorates.There are also candidates who stand because of specific local (usually controversial) issues on which they take a firm and high profile stance either for or against.
In my experience, ‘single issue’ councillors typically have little interest in the wider affairs of the council or their communities. This is not ideal, although one must respect the fact that they felt the only way they could get their voice properly heard was to ‘stand for office’.
Of course, there are many candidates who stand because their local political party cajoles or ‘press-gangs’ them into so doing. Sadly, it remains the case that all major parties have great difficulties in finding sufficient numbers of candidates, let alone candidates with the necessary skills, experience and commitment.
How often has a party loyalist been assured that they cannot possibly win a particular ward but there must be a ‘flag flyer’, only to find themselves at their election count being congratulated on their victory?
I served as a councillor for 18 years before I stood down for professional career reasons. Through that experience and having worked with many councillors since, I have almost always (with a few notable exceptions) found councillors of ‘all’ parties to be seriously committed to their communities and to the wider interests of their place.
Of course they will often demonstrate this in different and not always positive ways, but I do think it wrong and cynical to assume self-interest as being their prime motivation. Money should not be the motivation for seeking elected office – and in this country, it hardly ever is. In my day, and even today, councillor remuneration is very low.
Local government and the political parties should do more, to promote the positive role of councillors and not allow media and cynical national politicians to belittle the contribution of councillors.
While I was a councillor, my motivation evolved but in essence remained the same. I ‘wanted’ to be a councillor. That desire slowly increased as I gained experience and became more involved in the strategic issues as group leader and as a joint leader; took on national responsibilities and positions; was involved with local schools and community groups and generally became more embedded in the affairs of the communities that made up my ward.
However, there were then and remain today, some fundamental issues to be addressed in terms of candidate selection. The process is far from robust. Candidates with the right range of skills, experience (reflective of the communities to be represented) and expertise are required.
There is a pressing need for councillors that are representative of their places and the people who live in there – diversity; class; gender and age balance; business, social and community sector experience; strategists and local community leaders; and much more.
In particular, more young people should be encouraged to stand. Political parties have a shared responsibility to ensure these issues are addressed and to that end, the introduction of open primaries would be a most positive innovation.
The turnout at local elections is even poorer than the lamentable levels at general elections. In itself, this does not remove the unique democratic position and authority of a councillor. Every elected member is equally important in the council and externally has a critical role to play that should be fulfilled without arrogance or prejudice.
However, poor turnout is an issue that must be addressed in order to bolster and further enhance the legitimacy of councillors and councils.
When the cabinet system was introduced, too many councillors felt that unless they were members of the cabinet, their status and contribution was diminished. And yet, ‘scrutiny’ is and should be a very important role for councillors – holding the political leadership, the executive and wider public sector to account.
Even more important is the local ward role that every councillor has. This is about much more than just providing an essential advisory service to constituents. It should be about: local community leadership; championing the interests of the ward and local people; and working with the local voluntary and community sector, faith groups, residents and tenant groups, service providers and local businesses.
This can and should be the most rewarding element of the role that any councillor can have.It connects them with people and reality. It reinforces accountability and humbles councillors into realising that they are not the sole representatives and leaders of their communities and that only through collaboration with others can they serve the communities more effectively.
Candidates and councillors require access to support for their ward work, development programmes and mentoring. They must be willing to take these up. Merely standing or being elected does ‘not’ mean that one is a fully formed and effective councillor.
I am also in favour of annual appraisals for members (and leaders), with local community involvement in the process. In 1981, I was elected in the knowledge that the then central government was forcing cuts and unwelcome policies on to local authorities – though these were mild compared with today’s context.
This did not stop me wanting to be elected in order to offer a local alternative policy approach; defend communities, especially vulnerable members of those communities from the cuts; invest in growth and services and to influence the wider public sector and local businesses.
Thirty two years later, these same ideals and practical approaches should be motivating people of all political persuasions to want to be active and effective councillors.
This is not the time step aside because the task is too hard, or because there may be some unpleasant decisions to take, or because government and the media seem not to respect the commitment, contribution and talent of councillors.
Communities and local citizens need strong,focused and innovative local community leadership from local government and councillors as never before.