Ensuring councillors remain focused on the doorstep through a councillor contract has led to a stronger relationship between the Party, it’s councillors and the public we serve in Lambeth, and the results speak for themselves.
As a councillor I know that post election your mind turns squarely to improving the lives of residents, ensuring that community groups are supported in what they want achieved and obviously the business of running the council if your campaign went well. With the swingeing Tory cuts the business of the town hall, budget setting and protecting frontline services has become even more important.
The focus on campaigning and remaining in touch with residents concerns and reminding them that it is the Labour party which is delivering for them is even more important. There can be a tendency for councillors once elected to think the business of campaigning is party business, something they are not responsible for or at worst something they are above.
But Labour councillors are not just the political leaders of their ward and borough, not simply leaders of the community in their Ward, they are also the leaders of their branches and constituencies. Their presence leading the troops and reinforcing resident engagement is vital.
To this end in Lambeth we have instituted a councillor contract, jointly responsible to the Lambeth Campaigns Forum and the Lambeth Labour group. It helps to make clear to councillors what is expected of them and it helps our members understand the role and demands of a councillor. It contains:
- commitments to campaigning in their ward, constituency and borough;
- attendance at relevant scrutiny meetings, full council and Labour group meetings;
- attendance at branch and constituency meetings, including monthly branch reports (if none is produced a blank sheet of paper goes round the membership); and
- representation at surgeries and community meetings.
If a councillor wants to stand for a position which receives a special responsibility allowance like scrutiny chair, cabinet member or chair of planning then their performance will be monitored. The bread and butter of being a councillor is representing your ward and supporting your local branch to keep in touch with your residents. No councillor should be allowed to take on further responsibilities if the basics are not dealt with.
And the results a year in are very positive. Contact rates have doubled in most wards; in those where not we have put in extra support for the party to organise sessions with councillors; contact creator training and leaflet deliverers have been shipped from strong branches to weak ones; and we have been much more alive to issues that are coming up on the doorstep right across the borough so we can translate public mood and service failure into strategic policy change and borough wide campaigning.
The councillor contract is set to achievable levels, we have not instituted a harsh and impossible regime to follow – this would simply demotivate hard-working councillors or those with family or other responsibilities. But the light it has shone on where the party and councillors need some extra support to be the people’s representatives has borne much fruit and helped us remain focused on keeping in touch with the public and the party.
Pointing the finger at a goal is not the same as finger pointing at failure. The Labour party is a supportive body, not a blame organisation and as such we are stronger in supporting the public we represent.
I agree with your comments Jack, once Cllrs start following the contract it will just become the norm and future Cllrs and candiadtes will continue the good work.
I Ipswich we are luck, with elections every year- we are always campaigning (as you found out)
Whilst I understand the idea of CC’s I think they should be a tool to backup and not enforce actions that should already be there. Community engagement is vital, as is evident with the growth of community organising (through channels such as Movement4Change) – without it, it is increasingly hard to get elected (ignoring safe seats). We must yes help move engagement forward, and make councillors more responsible … but whether CC is the way forward on this front I don’t know. Surely the outside could see this as rhetoric from the inside of a party to make themselves look better, but if it was say a contract which the council used to measure performance it would be less so?
good idea, wrong adoption technique?
All i know is communities are vital, being accountable is vital, but being engaged with them is more than vital.
This is a great idea, especially for new councillors joining an established Group.
I bet there are plenty of cllrs a year and a bit into their first terms who are still a little unsure of what it is they’re supposed to be doing – don’t get me wrong, all run to improve their communities. It’s just that how one goes about putting that abstract aspiration into practice isn’t necessarily obvious.
“squeek squeek squeek squeek squeek squeek squeek “SUPPLEMENTARY” funding, squeek squekk ” ????? Wot mattress has that been kept under then ? eh eh eh ?
I agree that representation and regular contact with constituents is of paramount importance to any elected representative of the people, so while in principle I support a ‘councillor contract’ I have to ask myself, if people don’t actually do what you’ve outlined above, what on earth are they doing as a Labour councillor?
L.D.’s “all head ‘n’heart” hmnn no goolies then.
Jack
Noit practicable on certain levels, remember scrutiny committees are ELECTED, so any councillor either wise enough to not put themselves forwards or who is defeated by a more popular/relevant person to the leadership, would in theory breach the contract. This would in effect increase tyhe stranglehold of Leaders on their Councils and be used as a weapon to defeat potential opponents or perceived challengers or people who ask to many questions who you do not want on scrutiny. However with regards campaigning I agree because the people in the community come first.
You need to refine your proposition though.