What is Expected of Me? > Councillors’ top tips for candidates 2008
In readiness for the 2008 elections we thought that candidates may benefit from the experience of existing councillors. So we canvassed the views of a balanced selection of members from across Wales who have varied experience from being elected for the first time in 2004 to those who have been representing their communities for many terms. Equally important has been to ensure that members of all political groups and parties have contributed. The tips have been brought together under loose headings.
We hope that you will find their thoughtful contributions to be useful insights into the expectations that will be placed upon you when you are elected and as they say, “after the PANIC, excitement and apprehension has subsided…”
“Yesterday you were a member of the public today you are a councillor and although you’ll have many phone calls congratulating you there will also be the “By the way could you sort ……” and you can bet your bottom dollar it will be about something you know nothing about. Go and see your democratic services officers they will help you through the members query system or ask your mentor if you have one.”
“If you are elected for the first time with no previous experience of local government, you will be faced with a steep learning curve. First and foremost you have been put there to represent the constituents in your ward. You also have a duty to take an active part in making decisions that will determine the running of the council in the coming four years.”
“There will be a wide range of needs from constituents. Find out if there is a referral system and make sure you use it.”
“Buy a diary, note in it when you received a query and what you did with it and get back to the constituent as soon as you can.”
“In a multi member ward check that a colleague hasn't already dealt with a query as some people will 'do the rounds' hoping to get an outcome that they want rather than the outcome that is most relevant.”
“Don’t tell a constituent that something will be done tomorrow/next week unless you have it in writing and never promise that you can definitely solve a problem.”
“Always do something, even a sympathetic ear is valued, a letter of support or a phone call showing an interest in someone’s problem can be useful.”
“Remember what your election manifesto was - your constituents will certainly remember and will remind you when you least need it - generally in public when you have failed to deliver! BUT you cannot solve every problem so don't beat yourself up if you have done your best and failed.”
“It is vitally important to get to know your ward and its people.”
“Try to engage with your community and encourage them to think for themselves and develop their skills as well as your own.”
“Keep in touch with local groups, organisations and other community leaders.”
“Consider publishing Newsletters and holding councillor surgeries.”
“Remember that your are a councillor for all your constituents, including those who voted for your opponents or didn't even vote at all!”
“Before the election you should resolve to give as much time as is possible in the first months after the election to attend as many of the introductory seminars arranged by your council as you can possibly attend.”
“Arrange a Mentor - an experienced colleague - plus get to know other colleagues/councillors as soon as possible.”
“Be prepared for a concentrated period of induction by the end you will feel overwhelmed but it will be worth it!”
“If your council has a mentoring system, make use of your buddy.”
“IT is becoming more and more a part of the modus operandi of local government. It will help you and your council if you can master it.”
“Seemingly a barrage of complexity will hit you but willing staff and usually elected members will help to clarify and assist. Do not be afraid to ask and make sure you go to all of the Induction sessions.”
“Knowledge is a helpful and desirable tool - attend as many seminars, committees and induction sessions as you can to get up to speed quickly.”
“Consider what your skills are beforehand and tell someone in your group, like the leader or someone who has served previously.”
“Go to everything, some of it is important and some not, some you will learn from and be able to contribute to, and some will be pointless, but you won’t know until you've gone there yourself. After a while you can start filtering.”
“It is better to be polite rather than go at things like a bull in a china shop. Keep the firmness until later.”
“Inexperience is a virtue as effective challenge can come from the new elected member, you have a fresh approach. Challenge is important and so are politeness and research.”
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions but don’t hog the floor others might have a question you can benefit from.”
“Always read your papers ahead of the meeting, if you have a query ask someone in advance, if you have a comment make a note of it along with the page number (‘cos someone will ask what page you are on!) and if you find a mistake see the officer rather than make a scene.”
“Familiarise yourself with committee meeting schedules, etc and diarise meeting commitments.”
“You need to allocate time to master documents for discussion in advance of meetings.”
“Get on your feet and make a (sensible) contribution to a meeting as soon as possible - the longer you don't contribute the harder it gets!”
“Whilst you need a general knowledge on all aspects of the council services, it is best to decide which area of the service you would be most interested in and to concentrate on learning that in depth. If you are not an executive member then you should ask your group leader to put you on committees where you believe you have most to offer.”
“Find out what scrutiny committees exist in the council and the type of work they do (via the council website) so that when you are asked for a preference you will be well informed.”
“Local government works best when non executive members properly scrutinise the decisions of the executive but also take an active part in formulating policies. Whether you are aligned to the ruling executive or not everyone has a role to play.”
“Try and make sure that at least 1 day a week you are not a councillor, you're part of a family and your partner isn't a single parent!”
“Get an answering machine which is handy for taking messages when you are out and even handier for being able to eat a meal in peace!”
“Educate your partner to NOT bounce up to answer the phone when sitting down for a meal (they will be sure that the call is for them and will be convinced that THEIR caller will not leave a message into said answer machine).”
“For those who work and/or with families the time demand cannot be understated - it is difficult for employers, peers at work and family members to understand that being a councillor is a ‘proper job'.”
“Prioritise your work - you will require huge amounts of goodwill from your bosses and colleagues, buy bottles of wine at the team Christmas meal.”
“If you are in a paid job, establish necessary arrangements for appropriate leave, if you have not already done so.”
“The understatement to the uninitiated - it will only be one council meeting every 6 weeks! Never a mention of the scrutiny committees, nominations to outside bodies, nominations to school governing bodies, party political meetings, etc. etc. etc. etc.!”
“Speak to officers who can help you to navigate the various local authority systems - members' services, scrutiny officers, committee section.”
“Don't forget that the whole staff contributes to the delivery of services and almost all of them appreciate members taking an interest in them and their roles.”
“Treat officers in the same way that you would wish to be treated - they are NOT the enemy - they are there to help!”
“Establish what facilities are available to help with your constituency work - phones, computers, library, members’ room, messaging service, filing, research, and take advantage of any available support.”
“If you find an officer who is helpful, who gets things done, remember their name and telephone number.”
“You may often get a better insight into the running of your Council by talking to the junior levels of staff.”
“Get to understand the structure of management and the key officers who can help you with your work. Ask experienced colleagues to introduce you to these officers.”
“Be honest about your lack of knowledge - people will be only too glad to help.”
“Establish a good working relationship, especially with the democratic services officers and member support office administration staff.”
“Get to know the officers you deal with regularly, particularly those involved with planning in your area, they can be a valued source of information (and save you reading all the detail in the 400 page LDP!)”
“You will be bombarded by reports, papers and agendas and you will need to have a strategy for dealing with them.”
“Make a big space somewhere at home for papers and files (tell your family this is what will happen) but if something is on your desk for six months and you haven't read it, bin it - it can't have been that important.”
“Paperwork - Keep up to date and only what is essential (there is a lot of it and it can quickly become overwhelming) as most items are available as reference on the internet or in your council's archives.”
"Have a good working relationship with your fellow councillors and enjoy. Congratulations!”
Our thanks go to the contributing councillors from:
Bridgend County Borough Council
Caerphilly County Borough Council
Carmarthenshire County Council
City & County of Swansea
Conwy County Borough Council
Gwynedd Council
Monmouthshire County Council
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