The LGA provides a wide range of support for newly elected members.
You pounded the streets, knocked on doors, delivered leaflets, engaged with residents on social media, and got yourself elected.
So, what happens next?
Serving your community as a councillor is one of the most important and exciting roles you can perform. But while it is a rewarding experience, it is also challenging work, and you will find yourself with many separate roles to balance.
Everyone in your community has diverse needs and opinions, and will make different, sometimes conflicting, demands of you.
Every day, you will be expected to balance the needs of your local area, your residents and voters, community groups, businesses, your political party (if you belong to one) and your council.
Councillors play a vital role in deciding how their council uses public resources, making sure it performs against its objectives, and ensuring the council uses its resources effectively. And councillors may hold a variety of roles, every one of which is important in ensuring that the council is governed effectively.
All of that is on top of maintaining your own personal commitments to family, friends and workplace. It may sound daunting, but you are not alone.
In addition to the induction and training provided by your council and your political party, by becoming a councillor you are automatically eligible to access the LGA’s wide-ranging support for elected members.
Our councillor hub (local.gov.uk/councillor-hub) is your first port of call for learning, leadership and development opportunities that can help you progress your career in local government – and you can read about some of these below (see ‘Developing your council career’).
Our learning resources cover the skills you need to be effective – from influencing skills to becoming an effective ward councillor – and the policy and service areas delivered by local government, from social care to licensing.
Councils deal with everything from schools, care of older people and roads, to rubbish, libraries and local planning.
Behind all of this is a web of legislation and processes that most people do not see. As a councillor, understanding how it works will help you to best represent and support your local community.
So, we also have a helpful ‘introduction to local government’, covering how the sector is organised, how decisions are made, and how the workforce is made up.
Local government touches the lives of everybody, every day, and this is your opportunity to shape, influence and participate in the strategic development of your local area. Good luck!
Events for new councillors
The LGA’s annual national new councillors’ event will take place on 19 June between 5pm and 7pm.
Senior LGA peers and officers will discuss the support the LGA provides to its members, both nationally and regionally. The virtual session will provide information on our leadership and sector-led improvement offers, as well as the LGA’s priorities for the forthcoming year.
Leading peers from each of the LGA’s political groups will provide advice and tips for newly elected councillors, and the groups will also lead sessions for their new members.
To book your place, and view other relevant events and webinars, visit local.gov.uk/events
Developing your council career
As councillors, you are uniquely placed to make a real difference to residents’ lives.
The LGA is here to help you do this through opportunities to develop your skills throughout your councillor journey, from newly elected to new leader.
We support all councils across England and the resources we’ve created draw on the knowledge and expertise of our member councils and our sector.
As a starting point, we have three key resources that support new (and existing) councillors (you can see these at local.gov.uk/community-leadership).
First, there is our Community Leadership offer that provides resources to support politicians in their role as community leaders, facilitators and advocates. It includes face-to-face and distance learning resources, as well as 25 workbooks on topics such as chairing skills and being an effective ward councillor.
Second, we have our Local Leadership Framework for Councillors, which gives suggestions, prompts and resources to help you develop the skills to be a leader and work with your communities.
Third, we have a bespoke councillor e-learning platform that provides distance learning modules and online events.
If you have specific policy interests – anything from apprenticeships and adult social care to transformation and workforce – we’d suggest the two following actions:
- subscribe to our local government e-bulletins on the policy areas you’re interested in, at local.gov.uk/e-bulletins
- take a look at Leadership Essentials, where we have bespoke programmes on key portfolio and service areas, such as audit, children’s services, and fire and rescue – see local.gov.uk/our-support/highlighting-political-leadership/leadership-essentials
You can also network with and learn from councillors with shared characteristics.
We have ‘Focus on Leadership’ events for black, Asian and ethnic minority councillors, LGBTQ+ councillors, opposition leaders and deputy leaders, and young councillors (those aged under 40) – see moredetails.uk/cod
For disabled councillors and candidates, we run bespoke programmes to increase representation and support your development to become leaders in local government – see moredetails.uk/cds
As you progress as a councillor, our Next Generation and Boosting Middle Leaders programmes may be useful.
Our Next Generation programme supports and encourages you to be a bold, confident political leader and progress your political career to the next level.
Our Boosting Middle Leaders programme is delivered in collaboration with the charity the Leadership Centre and is an opportunity for officers and members to learn together.
For councillors in senior leadership roles, our Leadership Academy is our flagship development programme and is recognised by the Institute of Leadership.
We have so many opportunities for you to develop yourself to be the best councillor you can be – visit local.gov.uk/our-support/councillor-and-officer-development to find out more.
Your questions answered
See below for some frequently asked questions from new councillors. You can find more questions and top tips at moredetails.uk/newc
Q: How can I access the information I need to be an effective councillor?
A: Your council’s website and intranet will contain lots of information about the council, the way it works, timetable of meetings, its services and the local area.
The LGA’s free data benchmarking platform, LG Inform, presents up-to-date published data about your local area and can help you review and compare your council’s performance with other authorities. See local.gov.uk/lginform
Q: How do councils share best practice?
A: The LGA regularly captures and publishes good practice via its case studies database (see local.gov.uk/case-studies). first, our monthly membership magazine for councillors, also highlights good practice across the local government sector and will be delivered to you directly. Please email karen.thornton@local.gov.uk if you are not receiving a copy or to amend your details.
Q: How will my personal development and support needs be met?
A: Your council will signpost you to relevant activities and provide support; some is mandatory, some optional, and this will vary from council to council. The LGA provides a series of councillor workbooks covering key topics, from chairing skills to stress management and personal resilience (visit local.gov.uk/councillor-workbooks). Many of the LGA’s national events are free to member councils (go to local.gov.uk/events).
Q: What advice can you give about personal safety?
A: The LGA has tailored advice for councillors around handling abuse and intimidation and managing personal safety, which can supplement any information you receive from your local council. This advice includes practical steps to reduce risks associated with engagement with residents and others, both in-person and online. See local.gov.uk/civility-public-life
Q: I would like advice from the LGA, where do I go?
A: Your LGA regional team is your ‘front door’ to the LGA and your principal adviser is your initial point of contact. For more information about these, see local.gov.uk/our-support/lga-principal-advisers-and-regional-teams