09 May 2008
The Local Government Association has endorsed the principal conclusions of last year's Independent Councillors Commission, but expressed concern over the proposed time limits for service.
The commission, chaired by the former leader of the London Borough of Camden, Dame Jane Roberts, published the results of its year-long inquiry last December. Among its recommendations was a limit on the number of terms councillors could serve, to ensure that a wider range of people could take part.
The LGA believes this would deprive local residents of the right to choose who represents them.
'It is important that fresh blood comes into councils to ensure that young people are properly represented, but it should be down to the electorate to decide who they want to represent them,' LGA chair Sir Simon Milton said.
He also warned against the proposal for councils to be assessed on the diversity of their elected members. Milton said this risked blurring the role of local authorities with that of local political parties.
'There is much that local councils can and must do to encourage participation in democratic life, but political parties must take the ultimate responsibility for the range of candidates that they field in elections,' he said.
The LGA's response, published on May 8, was largely positive, praising the commission's many 'helpful and sensible' conclusions and its contribution towards the debate over the future role of councillors. The LGA said nine local authorities would be selected to pilot its recommendations.
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