New Bill aims to encourage ‘far more people’ in Wales to stand as local councillors

The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill, introduced to the National Assembly for Wales in November, provides a new framework for local government elections, democracy, performance and governance.

Increasing the diversity of elected members helps councils to better represent the communities they serve, by bringing a wider range of views and experiences to the table.

The Bill aims to strengthen existing arrangements to enable councillors to remotely attend council meetings and have periods of family absence.

It will also enable councillors to ‘job share’ Executive and Cabinet roles, including the post of Leader and allow the creation of Assistant Executive and Cabinet members.

The eligibility criteria for candidates for local government elections will be amended to allow a citizen from any country  – who is legally resident in Wales – to stand. 

The Bill places a duty on leaders of political groups to take reasonable steps to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by the members of the group.

It will also ensure political decision-making should take place in the public eye, placing new requirements for public engagement and participation.

Councils will be required to have a public participation strategy, with the aim of making it easier for the public to understand how local government works, makes decisions, and how local people can be involved.

As part of this, Councils will be required to publish guides to their constitutions in ‘ordinary language’;

Make a petition scheme, setting out how local authorities will handle and deal with petitions, including e-petitions;

Use technology to increase transparency and enable participation of the public in council business by broadcasting public meetings, and ensuring the digital publication of meeting documentation.

Flintshire Council currently webcasts planning authority meetings and full council meetings, but doesn’t webcast committee meetings or Cabinet meetings where many of the key council decisions are ratified.

Minister for Housing Local Government, Julie James said:

“As part of our ambition to have strong local government in Wales, we want people to feel well-represented by their councillors.

The proposals in this Bill are designed to increase the diversity of our local councillors, as well as public participation in local democracy.

We want to enable a local democracy which reflects our diversity as a nation.

This Bill will help encourage far more people in Wales to stand to be councillors, and ensure people from all backgrounds are able to take up leadership and executive roles.

The Bill also takes steps to encouraging a more diverse range of members of the public to engage with local democracy.

This will help ensure local government in Wales delivers better public services for everyone, helping people who need support, when and where they need it most.”