Ask most people to describe their local councillor and this is the reply you will probably get – white, middle class and over 55. Councillors have long suffered from an image problem and face claims they do not represent an increasingly diverse society. A recent survey by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) which reveals the majority of candidates standing at the May 2007 local elections were white and over 55 will not do much to challenge that view. But the report by Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher from the University of Plymouth does provide some useful information about why people stand as councillors in the first place. Only a third of candidates described their initial decision to stand as entirely their own. Two thirds decided to stand after being asked. According to the survey women are more likely to stand after being asked. Almost three-quarters of participants thought that many people do not stand because council work appears as too time consuming. In a large majority of cases, the candidate selected is the only person to apply for the nomination. One in five admitted they were selected because they were prepared to stand as a paper candidate and one in eight because they were the only volunteer. Almost three quarters of respondents believe people do not stand because council work appears as too time-consuming. Only a small minority thought financial considerations and lack of power are factors. Most think political parties are the best means for recruiting candidates, although a third think councils should advertise for candidates. While six in 10 respondents feel parties should encourage more black, Asian and minority ethnic people to stand for election, four in 10 believe some voters might discriminate against such candidates. Last month, a report by the Fawcett Society claimed (MJ, 30 October) many black and Asian women still faced too many barriers to becoming councillors. The Society's senior policy officer Zohra Moosa says commitment to diversity at local party level still appears to be weak and they are not bridging the distance to ethnic minority women. The report has called for more outreach work from the Government and local political parties to target ethnic minorities. For Angela Mason, the IDeA's newly appointed national advisor on equalities and cohesion, the answer to encouraging more diversity among councillors lies in the hands of the major political parties. ‘Two thirds of candidates made their initial decision to stand because they were asked to do so,' she says. ‘Women are even more likely to stand after being asked. Unfortunately, it seems you are much more likely to be asked if you are male, over 55 and white, as were two thirds of the candidates in this survey. Ask different people and you may well get different candidates,' she adds. ‘The majority of candidates in the survey clearly supported greater diversity in representation, but were sceptical about positive action measures such as party quotas for different groups. ‘The amount of time local council work takes was considered more of a barrier than financial considerations and not surprisingly councillors who are elected were more likely to be retired or self employed,' she says. And finally, for anyone thinking of standing for election as a councillor, the IDeA's report has one very encouraging message. For the large majority of respondents in their survey, even the ones who lost, election campaiging was an enjoyable experience and one they would do again. Box 1 ‘I was 35 when I stood as a councillor. I had considered going into Parliament, but I thought at that point of my life local government was more family friendly. Secondly, I had noticed a couple of local planning decisions, which I did not agree with and thirdly, one of the sitting councillors persuaded me to stand.' Cllr Fiona Buxton, Kensington and Chelsea LBC. Cabinet member for housing services, adult social care, public health and environmental health BOX 2 ‘I wanted to put something back into the community. I just felt I had some time spare and put myself forward to be elected first to the district council. I felt passionately about my local town of Ellesmere and wanted to make sure they were represented. I also have strong political views and wanted to put my money where my mouth is. You can make a difference. It's not a quick process, but you can fly the flag on behalf of your community.' Cllr Ann Hartley, Shropshire CC. Deputy leader and cabinet member for children's services.
