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The LGA’s response to the Councillors Commission

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:

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The LGA’s response to the Councillors Commission

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  1. The LGA’s response to the Councillors Commission Chris Lawrence-Pietroni, Director for Corporate Strategy and Public Affairs

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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?

  5. 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)?

  6. 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?

  7. 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?

  8. 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.

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