23 May 2008
Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears is likely to dismiss a recommendation that councillors serve only a set number of terms when she responds to proposals later this year.
The final report of the Councillors' Commission, issued in December 2007, called for term limits to break the stranglehold some individuals have on power. The government will respond formally to the recommendations of the commission – which was set up to find ways to encourage a more diverse range of councillors – in its empowerment white paper in the summer.
But Blears last week said the idea did not 'seem very democratic'. Speaking to a Local Government Information Unit conference on May 15, she said: 'Surely it should be up to local people how long they want their councillors to serve, or who exactly they are putting in office.'
But she also praised some of the commission's other 'inventive, challenging' suggestions and said the government was interested in exploring the pros and cons of placing a statutory duty on councils to promote local democracy and the role of the councillor.
'Like the commission, I am also concerned about the under-representation of women, young people and people from ethnic minorities, not just because elected bodies need to be able to connect with the people they serve, but because councils deserve the most talented and skilful, no matter what their background,' Blears said.
'The biggest onus to get this right should surely be on political parties.'
Women and equality minister Harriet Harman took the issue forward this week, launching a task force to help more black, Asian and ethnic minority women become councillors.
The task force will be chaired by Baroness Uddin and members will include a cross-section of councillors drawn from across Britain. It will undertake a range of practical actions to address under-representation, providing mentoring and hosting outreach events to help make the role of councillor more widely known and better understood.
Harman said: 'It's not just about people's right to be a councillor, it's about making local government better, making decision-making better, more understanding of the communities that services are being provided for.
'You have better informed decision-making if you have all members of the community represented.'
PFmay2008
