10 December 2007
The WLGA has broadly welcomed the Councillors Commission report published today which outlines recommendations to encourage local democracy and promote the role of the local councillor.
Cllr Meryl Gravell (Carmarthenshire), WLGA Presiding Officer said:
“The WLGA broadly welcomes the report as it is seeks to rejuvenate local democracy and proposes better support for councillors. However, we’ll need to explore the 61 individual recommendations in more detail; it should be remembered that this is an independent report which applies largely to England and it will be up to the Welsh Assembly Government and UK Government to decide whether and how to implement any recommendations.”
“The WLGA will need to consider specific recommendations with its wider membership, particularly those around members’ allowances in due course. The Assembly Government is in the process of establishing an independent remuneration panel in Wales to consider councillors’ allowances and we will work with that when it is established in the next year.”
The WLGA plays a key role in promoting local democracy in Wales and is working with the Assembly Government in supporting widening participation in Wales, through better links between schools and councils, enhancing councillors’ community leadership role in their communities, member development and training, and through encouraging more people, especially younger people, women and people from ethnic minorities, to consider standing for election. We have encouraged political parties to consider broadening their recruitment practices ahead of next May’s local elections and, in the New Year, we will be launching a new ‘guide for candidates’ and an induction programme for newly elected members.
Cllr Gravell added:
“It is particularly pleasing to note that the Commission is recommending the member development approach already adopted in Wales by local authorities supported by the WLGA, which promotes the adoption of role descriptions, induction, and training and development for members and the awarding of a Charter to authorities in recognition of member support and development.”
Notes for Editors
Although the Commission took evidence in Wales, the report’s recommendations largely apply to England as local government policy is devolved to Wales. The Welsh Assembly Government, WLGA and Welsh local authorities, however, may seek to explore whether and how some of the recommendations’ could be introduced in Wales.
The Councillors Commission report is available at http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/583990
For more information contact: Natasha Weeks