How culture change and community outreach can make a difference
Councils have an important role to play in promoting local democracy and participation. Most undertake activity to increase democratic engagement, promote the role of a councillor and encourage people to stand for election.
The LGA’s Be a Councillor campaign shares good practice that can help with laying the foundations for an inclusive council and encouraging a diverse pool of people to consider becoming councillors.
For example, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham established a Disabled Peoples’ Commission, bringing together councillors, residents and officers to improve disabled people’s experiences. It used co-production to make its new Civic Campus accessible, which led to better engagement with residents and encouraged a disabled member of the commission to go on to become mayor.
Lived experience has led to positive change for how council meetings are run – such as the introduction of British Sign Language interpreters and encouraging councillors to stop heckling – making the environment more accessible.
In Torbay, a councillor proposed expanding the carer’s allowance policy to allow any councillor (including reserves) – rather than only named committee members – to claim for attending a meeting on council business. This led to more participation from carers and disabled people, and better engagement with the disability community.
Powys County Council staff and councillors travel up to two hours for council meetings because of the size and rurality of the authority. A motion raised by a councillor enabled remote meetings, and the Welsh Government’s decision to retain this option post-pandemic has had a positive impact. The council reports that remote meetings have had a positive impact in Powys on candidate recruitment and councillor diversity, especially for disabled people, young people in employment, and parents.
“Key to Be a Councillor events in councils has been broad outreach to all communities”
Many councils also run local Be a Councillor events, raising awareness of what councils and councillors do, the practicalities of the role, key election processes, skills and attributes, and signposting to political support. Councils take varying approaches to suit local need.
For example, Kent’s ‘Question Time’-style panels provided inspiration and information from councillors with varying roles, responsibilities and experience, as well as an open Q&A, all of which used the speaking timer for a practical insight into the council chamber.
Alongside its Be a Councillor event, Islington put on sessions – including for students, care-experienced young people and residents with learning disabilities – to help people to understand how to get their voice heard in local decision-making.
Lancashire set up stalls at its event for people to access other services at the same time, such as voter registration and voter ID; while Tower Hamlets ran an open event as well as a bespoke women’s event, which included councillor speakers and external speakers such as 50:50 Parliament.
Key to Be a Councillor events in councils has been broad outreach to all communities – for example, via colleagues in the voluntary and community sector. As a result, they have been well attended, with highly engaged audiences from across communities interested in the role and staying on afterwards to support and network with each other.
Be a Councillor events can serve as one of many positive touchpoints residents can have with councils, sharing information and strengthening community.
- The LGA’s Leadership and Talent Team provides tailored support and resources for officer and member development – please email [email protected]