Local government

Local government is also based on a democratic system of representation. Just as MPs represent their constituents in Parliament, so the local population has the opportunity to elect councilors to make decisions on their behalf on those services provided by local authorities.

Local authorities count for about a quarter of all public expenditure in Britain. The public affairs remit, by implication, is huge both for the authorities themselves and for those who will be involved in activities which have an impact on a community served by a local authority.

While MPs are salaried, councilors are not. (Some holding major responsibilities such as chairing committees or a council leader receive fixed allowances, however.) While MPs have allowances for secretarial and research support, councilors rarely have similar facilities.

And in some instances, councilors hold down a job while juggling their personal time to attend meetings, carry out site visits or undertake surgeries for their constituents. Others will dedicate themselves to being a councillor as a full-time role or perhaps take it up after retirement.

The role of a councillor is one of local representation both to the local community and, in certain instances, to the government and its ministers.

While the outcome of the current review of local government is still to be fully implemented, the future structure of local government in Britain envisages a system of:

• county councils;

• district (sometimes also called borough) councils;

• metropolitan councils;

• unitary (or most purpose) councils;

• parish and town councils.

In some areas, a ‘two tier’ system of county and district councils in one county area will continue, the county council providing the major services which are best organized on a wider scale (such as education, social services, strategic planning and economic development), and the district council responsible for services such as refuse collection, local leisure facilities and collection of council tax.

Elsewhere a single council will provide all or most local authority services on its own. Certain local authority services may be organized through joint boards or quangos or provided on a contracted out basis.

Parish and town, councils are not in existence in every part of the country, but where they are, they concentrate on very local matters (and in certain circumstances can act as partners or agents for other local authorities).

Gaining access

1. Though not every authority will have a professional public relations officer with whom to make contact for advice, virtually all will publish their own leaflets or newspapers, take comprehensive entries in the telephone directory, issue citizen’s charters and have help points or information centers in public offices such as libraries or service reception areas.

2. Such information may be the foundation of effective public sector relations, but for those who are not familiar with the way councils work it is an invaluable means of identifying what is going on in a community; who the main personalities are and what the local policies are on specific issues.

3. Each of the respective ‘tiers’ of local government also have their own associations which represent their interests at national level with government ministers, senior civil servants and other relevant national associations, pressure groups and so on.

4. These organizations are charged with a broad lobbying remit and as such form an influential body of opinion on behalf of their respective members. They are therefore also the prime influence and interior of policy likely to affect their member authorities.

5. When trying to build alliances or determine the strength of the opposition never overlook the views of the appropriate local authority. Elected councilors will want and need to be aware of something which is likely to affect their patch.

6. Like MPs they will act as a resourceful ally if they share your objectives. They too will want to know about the issues affecting their constituents, given that councils provide schools, planning, social services, highways, transport, leisure facilities, fire and rescue, libraries, refuse collection and so on.

7. And sometimes via a party political network, or simply through constituency matters, they will be in contact with local MPs to discuss issues of common concern.

8. Local government is, generally speaking, much more accessible to the public than central government. Council offices and services are situated in the locality, with their committees and the full council meetings – where the decisions are taken – open to the public.

9. Who writes the committee papers upon which so many hours are spent in public debate? The answer is, the officers – usually. Just as civil servants will advise their political bosses and act in a non-political capacity, so will council officers.

10. Basing their advice on professional expertise and local knowledge, they will offer elected members impartial advice.

11. So they, too, need to be considered an important target for information and potential alliances in public affairs activity. Be prepared to be referred to a less senior officer, even if your personal approach or letter is made to the chief officer.

12. Many authorities now have ‘directorates’ with a multi-disciplined person to head a multi-function department; the second or third tier official below that person is most likely to be the individual actually dealing with the matter with which you are concerned.

13. With major policy matters usually the appropriate service chief officer or even the chief executive personally take the lead, in conjunction with leading elected members. Grouping of local authorities are formed on areas of concern – from airport developments to economic strategies – and can be a powerful voice on the national scene, thus making them influential allies or opponents.