When I first asked what type of work I’d be doing as a new parish councillor, I was firmly told that all I would need to do is ‘come to the meetings and listen to the chairman’. In other words, ‘keep quiet and don’t rock the boat’.
Reader, I rocked the boat.
are very different creatures from 50 years ago, when the same families effectively held a fiefdom over villages for decades. Thankfully, the situation is more open and inclusive today. There is an extraordinary amount of work to do, with difficult challenges, so people with all manner of diverse skills and abilities are valued. Councillors need to be able to turn their attention to a range of issues, from a blocked footpath to a serious discussion about future infrastructure in a village swamped by developments, or the impending closure of a local pub. The majority of councillors work extremely hard in their communities, and a lot of what they do is invisible to the public.
But every parish councillor knows that not every councillor pulls their equal weight – and that raises a fair question. How does someone who contributes very little end up in the role at all? While most people realise that this attitude of being a passive representative is very outdated, there are still people around who think the role of a councillor is in name only, simply requiring an appearance at public events and meetings. Every council has at least one person who does absolutely nothing … and it is really frustrating. Typically, the individual turns up at a meeting and sits there, either saying nothing or exposing the fact they have not read any of the papers. They might nod off on occasion, or need to be prodded to keep on track. If they are given a job to do, it never gets done.
Some are also alarmingly behind the times – including on equality, diversity and basic workplace conduct.
Why do they even sit on councils? For some, it’s a power game. Others miss the meetings they had when they were working full time, and join just to feel important again.
One or two join because there’s an impending development spoiling their view, and they think they can stop it (that strategy rarely works) – people focused on a single issue frequently lose interest in everything else.
Sometimes people are encouraged to stand as a parish councillor because the community wants an election, and there is a need for enough people to come forward to create the ballot list. That’s fine, of course, but when insufficient people stand for a place on a council, someone will be elected uncontested. The old saying ‘be careful what you wish for’ is absolutely true in this case.
Standing for election requires courage
However, at least these people have had the guts to stand in an election, risking being judged by their community – and not being elected in a democratic process.
But in order to stand as a candidate, two people need to propose you as a suitable person. If those proposers are aware you’ll contribute very little, why are they putting you forward?
I’d suggest asking a few blunt questions before anyone puts a name forward. Can they read a document properly? Do they know what the council actually does? Have they got the time to contribute? And if you’re that candidate, be honest with yourself – and with your community.
It could be you
We desperately need a succession plan for local councils – something that actually prepares new candidates, not just scrambles to find warm bodies come election time. We need individuals who have already learned about the skills needed, honed their leadership abilities, and perhaps dipped their toes in the water on a community project would be ready and motivated to contribute – people full of energy, wanting to make a difference, and in a position to step up and serve on a parish or town council. With the voting age limit dropping to 16, younger people need to be actively encouraged to come forward, and an ‘aspiring councillor’ programme would build skills and confidence.
Meanwhile, the minority of councillors who do nothing are here to stay – because they have been democratically elected, and like most modern workplaces, you can’t get rid of them. The hard work, then, falls to the remaining team – when being able to spread the workload would help get more done.
So. If the person who contributes little to your parish council is you, do your community a favour: find someone better.
And at the very least – read your papers.
This month’s side quest
And just when I had warned my own regular ‘non-readers of essential papers’ to prepare for meetings properly, along comes Dorset Council with its Local Plan. Apart from carpet bombing almost every field in Dorset with a solar farm or windmills, the lack of communication is astonishing. A lot of landowners had no idea their property was even in the plan!
But it gets worse. I’ve spent years frustrated by councillors who don’t read the paperwork. Now I’m being asked to give a formal view on proposed development – without even seeing the plans. How is that normal? For all I know, they’re building a theme park, a sewage plant … or both.
** The Dorset Insider is a no-holds-barred column pulling back the curtain on local affairs with sharp insight, unfiltered honesty and the occasional raised eyebrow. Written by a seasoned parish councillor who prefers to remain anonymous (for obvious reasons), it cuts through the noise to expose the frustrations of grassroots politics, and say what others won’t. Rest assured, their identity is known – and trusted – by the editorial team. Expect opinion, candour and a healthy dose of exasperation …**
