Local Councillors to be Encouraged

Drive to Support Councillors
Department for Communities and Local Government Press Release
8 February 2007
Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly today (Thursday) announced a new
Commission to look at how local democracy can be revitalised and
made both more representative and more responsive to local
people.  Praising the contribution councillors make to grassroots
democracy Ruth Kelly said the new Councillors Commission will
look at ways to better support councillors and encourage more
people from a wider range of backgrounds to play a leading role
in their communities.  Over a nine-month period, the Commission
lead by Dame Jane Roberts, a prominent local government figure,
will look at what barriers are preventing every day people from
becoming councillors and what steps can be taken to get more
people involved. The Commission will report by November 2007.