New guide to help councillors work more closely with communities

A guide to help councillors work more closely with the communities they serve has been launched.
The publication, Trust in Democracy, highlights examples of where councillors have worked with communities to make life better.

London Councils asked councillors and council officers, as well as well as community and voluntary sector organisations, to share their experiences of the barriers they faced in bringing councillors and communities together.

London Councils' lead member for equalities, Councillor Anjana Patel, said: "Public trust in politics and politicians is at an all time low yet councillors across the capital are working hard to make a difference for their communities.

"We want to break down barriers which are stopping councillors from communicating effectively with the people we serve.

"This guide looks at the balance between representative and participatory democracy. It highlights some councillor-led achievements and suggests ideas to help councillors improve the quality of life for people in their neighbourhood."

A recent poll by London Councils found 68 per cent of respondents living in the capital think their borough makes a positive difference, compared to 26 per cent who do not.

This is more than the national average of 55 per cent of people who agree their council makes a positive difference in their area compared to 35 per cent who do not.

In London, 38 per cent of people feel they have a say in the decisions made by their local council, compared to 57 per cent who feel they do not. This reflects the national picture - 37 per cent of people felt they do have a say and 56 per cent of people said they do not.

London Councils' Be A Councillor campaign aimed to persuade more women, young people and those from the ethnic minorities to stand for election as councillors in the 2010 London local elections. The initiative was so successful it was rolled out nationally.