These were the slides accompanying a workshop with officers and members from the South East Region at their 'Enhancing Local Democracy' Conference, July 16th 2010.

1. 21 st Century Councillor South East Region 'Enhancing Local Democracy' 21 st Century Councillor Workshop July 16 th 2010 Bridget Harris

2. About 21st Century Councillor Programme

3. manifesto for a modern local politics

6. levers of influence.. not power

7. From town hall...

8. ...to cabinet member for your ward.

9. Workshop questions: 1. what are the most important aspects and pitfalls to the role of councillor? 2. What should councillors be doing in the new political and fiscal realities?

10. 1. what are the most important aspects and pitfalls to the role of councillor?

11. perception /1 people know what they want

12. perception /2 Politicians do what people want

13. perception /3 The bureaucracy is neutral

14. perception /4 Solutions are obvious and achievable

15. ALL NEW AND IMPROVED FORMULA FOR 2010 Lose touch with friends and influence too many people! exhaustion guaranteed The views expressed on this soap box will not necessarily always be those of the individual or organisation concerned. Views may change at any time according to hindsight and the fiscal outlook. BECOME A POLITICIAN!

16. Run the council SCRUTINISE THE COUNCIL Champion your residents Raise local grants Empower people Talk to people Introduce exciting policies Recruit volunteers Challenge doubters Manage crises Listen to people Lead on the design of your local future Community leadership Contest the political space Inspire officers Key role of elected members.. ? prioritise Manage partnerships change taxes Be available to public change spending Talk to national government Help people

17. Sit in long meetings Wonder why you're there Feel stressed Get bogged down in detail Read too much, too often or too little Manage failure Defend the status quo Assume there are only three options Focus on internal structures Get detached from your 'politics' Lose touch with residents Lose perspective Fight with people Be criticised Memorise the corporate plan

18. 3 key aspects to role councillors must fulfil 3 most common pitfalls ? role of elected members

19. 2. What should councillors be doing in the new political and fiscal realities?

20. Public spending in local government has increased by over 40% in last 10 years

21. 'new public sector' innovation

22. third sector participation Funding for sector totalled £9.2 billion in 2003/4 Over 22 million people are participating in a voluntary group (Home Office figures 2001) “ mutualism” “ big society” “ community politics”

23. There are around 694,000 public sector jobs in the South East region* *according to localfutures.com geography of public sector cuts

24. Projected cuts in public sector jobs would equate to a 2.2% overall reduction in employment base in S.E.* *according to localfutures.com geography of public sector cuts

25. What are 3 things councillors are best placed to do, in response to spending cuts? ? Facing new realities

26. director of politics and partnerships [email_address] co-ordinator of programme [email_address]