Commission on the role of local councillors

'If you want something done ask a busy person' they say! Generally the most successful councillors are people who already have lots of outside interests, and know how to manage a home/private life. However - I take issue with ReadingResident about reward. We have inherited a system from MPs down to Parish Councillors, where the only people who held any power were people of private means, landed or moneyed. Although we have come a long way I am convinced that until we break all the links with that priviledged past we will never have an inclusive and participative democracy.

To ascertain that if a job is worth doing we should do it for nothing is sheer lunacy! Why should we expect Great Britain plc to be run by amateurs?

I am not advocating fat cat salaries for councillors, but there are many able people who are so tied up with earning money to keep a roof over their head and bring up a family that without some support, will never feel that they can get involved.

I fear too that recent governments have 'passed too many bucks' to an over-stretched and weary voluntary sector, and it is starting to show.

wow what a subject to raise the hackles of 99% of the population > I hope my small contribution aids in any discussion and hopefully subsequent proposals.
I was until the 2nd of May a City Councillor and for the last ten years was fulfilling this role in a full time capacity.It continues to amaze me that some members also have paid employment as well as juggling a home life to boot.
For me and I should imagine for alot of elected members the whole issue of having a truly separate home/private life is an imaginary one. As well as participating in all aspects of the Council mainly during the day (but not exclusively by any means)
then the proper job of representing your Constituents comes to the fore, whether thats attending tenants,residents,neighbourhood watch,area police,community associations and a myriad of other meetings with not so grand titles or visiting individuals in their own home at a time of usually great distress to them.
Of course i failed to mention School Governing bodies and our own political meetings. Easy ,people say just dont go to them after all they are held on every weekday evening.Easy to say but impossible nay unforgivable to do especially if you wish to really help out your Community.
At least I have the weekends to myself(OOPS)
I forgot to mention the weekly surgery held at various locations around the ward or indeed the weekly roving surgery(down your way) as well as the usual plethora of other essential visits to the Rubbish action zones,jumble sales,school fetes etc oh and yes someone has to get out the newsletters to the 10,000 people on a monthly basis (40 hours a round)
Ah a quick couple of hours are blessed and sleep is like mana from heaven as long as the phone doesnt ring from people begging for help (Xmas morning at 4am will always be a story to tell my grandkids)
Not that I have any yet ,my own boys are now teenagers,I was a Councillor at 29 (now 41 ) My better half is also a Councillor,most of my friends are anoraks of the political type (dont worry we call ourselves that )
Sorry for the ramblings and I suppose that the moral of my musings are that everything possible should be done to help people enter a public service such as this as it has been the most rewarding,enjoyable,envigorating thing i have ever done.You really can wake up with a smile on your face and count your blessings
ps Money while a necessity was and never should be the reason to stand,The full time job i left 10 years ago (at my own request)was paying more then than i received during the last municipal year
1 secretarial support needs improving
2 Access to all areas of technical help(pc,s)
3 legislation to enable people working in the private sector to become a Cllr without detriment to their employment,position,salary,prospects etc
4 access to dedicated training in the event of not being re-elected and/or parachute payments
Thank you

What has been said about some local councillors and perhaps even members of Parliament, I would agree with. Where there are political parties they often behave in a tribal way; selecting candidates without real consideration of whether those candidates have enough knowledge and commitment but on the basis of getting overall control. Once elected they are often able to shy away from the duties expected of them. This is both disingenuous to the political process and leaves a vacuum between elections in the communication process between Mr average and those elected. There should be absolutely no money in politics; some Councils' allowances amount to a comfy second income with no productivity element. Citizens' juries are a far more pertinent way of dealing with issues and only draws in people who have a fundamental interest.

I stood as an independent candidate in the May 2007 local elections. I wanted to be able to bring my business skills into use on behalf of the local community (without political affiliation) and make a real contribution.

Whilst I am busy in my working life, part of that 'busyness' helps me to be able to organise my time to devote blocks of time to issues outside my work life - I currently spend a lot of time spreading good business practice among my peer group for example.

The biggest problem with getting involved in local politics is that the system is not well-suited to independents like me. The ward I live in delivers three councillors from an electorate of about 7,000. The political parties have three candidates to share the campaigning cost and load. As an independent this was a huge burden and there must be a better way to ensure all of the available talents are able to give back to their communities.

Once involved, there may well be pressures on time. Most employers will support voluntary work of this kind and are keen to be involved in truly democratic processes. I believe there are rich seams of talent and enthusiasm that are simply not tapped by today's system.