Blog: 8 July 2022 - Deborah Evans, LLG CEO

The LGA conference presents a tremendous opportunity for LLG to dig deep into the plans and concerns of local authority councillors and chief executives to see how we can best equip our members to serve this emerging agenda.

So, what is on the list? From a practical, day to day work perspective there is so much frustration about the inability to make decisions in hybrid or virtual meetings. With no clear guidance, councils are making their own calls as to what is acceptable based on the likelihood of the decision being judicially reviewed.

As Covid rates rise, how do you deal with the decision-makers being unable to attend? What if the officer presenting the paper is on holiday but perfectly happy to join remotely? What if the time spent travelling across a large geographical area simply does not justify attending a relatively short meeting? What if floods, fire, or snow (okay it’s July….) prevent attendance - why in 2022 when councils all possess the appropriate technology should they have to cancel?

There is also the inclusivity argument - the average age of a parish councillor is 62, and if working patterns are rooted in 1972 how do we attract young, diverse councillors? How do we retain officers when other sectors can offer more modern, agile working practices?

Additionally, the requirement to commute to a physical meeting can exclude those who work full time elsewhere and can’t make the start of the meeting. It excludes councillors with caring responsibilities, mothers who cannot secure childcare, and sick or disabled councillors. Oh and don’t even get me started on the train strikes…..

This is such an easy, uncontroversial reform, delivering the universal objectives of accessibility, efficiency, diversity, retention, public engagement, transparency & scrutiny of decision making, with a digital first mindset. What’s not to like?

Next on the list is standards - without sanctions it remains a toothless regime. Poor behaviour disrupts the ability of councils to deliver and can cripple a smaller council. They just want the ability to suspend - to remove the bad apple that poisons the well (or whatever the metaphor is) to focus on the content of the meeting rather than constantly managing the bad behaviour.

This is a concern of many councillors - how to reign in the minority that cause the problems. Where are the tools to manage the issue? Where is the ‘pause’ button?

Kemi Badenoch publicly expressed support for both reforms at the conference, but explained she had some persuading to do if she is to bring the government with her. A chink of light, perhaps! 

Unfortunately, she has since resigned. Hey ho. When the new Minister is appointed, we will start afresh.

Best Wishes  

Deborah Evans

LLG CEO