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Kelly unveils new local commission
The government has formed a new commission to monitor the roles of councillors in local communities, the objective being to support council contributors and revitalise grassroots democracy.
Unveiling the Councillors Commission, communities secretary Ruth Kelly said she hoped to encourage more representative local authorities that respond more proactively to the voice of the community.
“Councillors are the bridge between communities and local government, providing accountability and leadership,” she said.
“We should celebrate the contribution they make. That is why we are strengthening their role and giving them new tools to demand change on behalf of the communities they serve.”
The commission is expected to work with local firms to encourage more flexible working practices, to review councillor commitments and timetabling, to foster greater childcare support, to help councillors develop vital skills and to publicise the role they play.
In the meantime, the commission will investigate the barriers preventing the enrolment of more ethnic councillors and propose by November this year a way to tackle the issue.
A recent IDeA survey indicates that 96 per cent of councillors in the UK are white, compared to just 2.7 per cent Asian and the half a per cent who are black.
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