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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, LSE | There'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 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". |
Complex | Complex |
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." |
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