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Councils 'must be more diverse' Councils 'must be more diverse'
(1 day later)
Local councils need a "better balance" of members, with more young people, women and ethnic minorities running for office, Ruth Kelly has said.Local councils need a "better balance" of members, with more young people, women and ethnic minorities running for office, Ruth Kelly has said.
The communities secretary is setting up a commission which, she said, would help "break down barriers".The communities secretary is setting up a commission which, she said, would help "break down barriers".
It will look at improving support for those with children and look at time commitments and employers' attitudes.It will look at improving support for those with children and look at time commitments and employers' attitudes.
A census of councillors suggests the average age is 58 for those in England, while 96% across Britain are white.A census of councillors suggests the average age is 58 for those in England, while 96% across Britain are white.
'Best people''Best people'
In a speech to the Local Government Association, Ms Kelly said: "We need to see a wider range of people of all ages and backgrounds entering local politics.In a speech to the Local Government Association, Ms Kelly said: "We need to see a wider range of people of all ages and backgrounds entering local politics.
"By getting a better balance at the local level we can get the best people for our councils - and the best councils for our people.""By getting a better balance at the local level we can get the best people for our councils - and the best councils for our people."
There's no doubt that since the government took office, it has relentlessly legislated about local government Tony Travers, LSEThere's no doubt that since the government took office, it has relentlessly legislated about local government Tony Travers, LSE
Led by Dame Jane Roberts, the former leader of Camden Council, the commission is expected to report its recommendations by November.Led by Dame Jane Roberts, the former leader of Camden Council, the commission is expected to report its recommendations by November.
The research company IDeA, which carried out the census, found 69.3% of councillors in England were male, with 0.3% under the age of 25. The government agency IDeA, which carried out the census, found 69.3% of councillors in England were male, with 0.3% under the age of 25.
Another government-organised survey of 210,000 people has found 51% are satisfied with the overall service provided by their local authority - a decline of two percentage points since 2003-04.Another government-organised survey of 210,000 people has found 51% are satisfied with the overall service provided by their local authority - a decline of two percentage points since 2003-04.
Ms Kelly called the research a "stark warning of what can happen if the public are not put at the heart of local decision-making".Ms Kelly called the research a "stark warning of what can happen if the public are not put at the heart of local decision-making".
ComplexComplex
She added: "There is a clear link between public satisfaction and public involvement in local services.She added: "There is a clear link between public satisfaction and public involvement in local services.
"That is why - through legislation currently before Parliament - we are devolving an unprecedented amount of power from government to councils and from councils to communities themselves to ensure public services are more responsive and communities are given a bigger say in how the services they use and the places they live are run.""That is why - through legislation currently before Parliament - we are devolving an unprecedented amount of power from government to councils and from councils to communities themselves to ensure public services are more responsive and communities are given a bigger say in how the services they use and the places they live are run."
Tony Travers, of the London School of Economics, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "There's no doubt that since the government took office, it has relentlessly legislated about local government."Tony Travers, of the London School of Economics, told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "There's no doubt that since the government took office, it has relentlessly legislated about local government."
He added: "There's a sense that it's always changing and becoming more complex and requiring more professionalism.He added: "There's a sense that it's always changing and becoming more complex and requiring more professionalism.
"I'm not sure that would attract those people on the margins.""I'm not sure that would attract those people on the margins."