The Councillor Commission by Colin Copus - A #Notwestminster 2016 workshop

Local Governance Research Unit

Councillor Commission#NotwestminsterSaturday 13th February 2016The Media centre, Huddersfield

Professor Colin Copus, Professor of Local Politics Local Governance Research Unit, Department of Politics and Public PolicyDe Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BHTel: 0116.257.7819 @ProfCopusLGEmail: [email protected] web: www.dmu.ac.uk/lgru

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.dmu.ac.uk/lgru


A New Councillor Commission



The Commissioners

• Colin Copus (Chair) (Professor of Local Politics, De Montfort University) • Heather Jameson (Editor, Municipal Journal) • Sir Merrick Cockell (Chairman, UK Municipal Bonds Agency plc and

London Pensions Fund Authority)• Jessica Crowe (London Borough of Sutton Executive Head of Customers,

Commissioning and Governance)• Jacqui Mckinley (Executive Director, Centre for Public Scrutiny) • Lord Gary Porter (Chairman of the Local Government Association) • Anthony Zacharzewski (Director, Democratic Society)


Call For Evidence: 1

• The office of councillor is one of the most misunderstood, criticised and maligned of political posts yet it is an office vital to any effectively functioning democracy. The devolution agenda, continued austerity and financial uncertainty, the need to pursue economic growth, the constant threat of structural upheaval, increasing pressures on public services, partnership working within complex networks, alongside central government’s continued political, policy and financial control of local government, all mean that the time is right to conduct a thorough exploration of how well placed councillors are to deal with the constant pressures they face.


Call For Evidence 2

• Policy-makers, the media and the public all need to have a much clearer picture of what it is councillors can and cannot do, the pressures they experience and the demands made upon them personally and politically. Without that understanding we will continue to see under-informed policy decisions made about local government in general and the office of councillor in particular. The Commission is seeking evidence from councillors, local government officers and all those with an interest and concern for effective local democracy, with the aim of promoting a positive debate about the changes needed to enhance councillors’ ability to govern our local communities.


Call For Evidence: 3• The Commission will explore all aspects of the roles and powers of

the councillor to suggest ways in which the office can be strengthened and local democracy improved and enhanced. Evidence can be submitted in any written form using the email address: [email protected]

• Further details of the Commission can be found on the LGRU’s web page: http://www.dmu.ac.uk/research/research-faculties-and-institutes/business-and-law/lgru/local-governance-research-unit.aspx



Official Mind and Public Image• Official inquiries differ from public pronouncements by ministers – of all

parties (a general view)– Inquires demonstrate an understanding of the pressures of the role

and the tension between political representation and public service responsibilities

– Views from ministers, white papers etc is that the office is not adequately formed and requires constant tinkering to amend its second rate nature and that the holders of the office are not ‘politicians’ (pay, pensions, protection) – or volunteers

– Public Image: On a good day, Reeves and Mortimer as Councillors Cox and Evans

Aldington-on-Sea Public Information Filmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeARXMHW4Is


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Government & Nonprofit

The Councillor Commission by Colin Copus - A #Notwestminster 2016 workshop