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Hear me out: What if we made local councillor a full time job with proper pay, rather than treating vital local decision-making as a hobby horse for retired and/or wealthy people
Don’t get me wrong, there are many great councillors who are not older or wealthy - but we shouldn’t be subjecting people who want to serve their community to these mad sacrifices in their own lives
I would contend that (for most people) local councillors have a far bigger impact on your day-to-day life than your MP
Some interesting stats from the 2018 census of local authority councillors:
Average age 59 (only 15% under 45)
96% white
68% degree-level education
63% male
45% retired
16% disabled
11% served 20+ yrs in same authority
Average age 59 (only 15% under 45)
96% white
68% degree-level education
63% male
45% retired
16% disabled
11% served 20+ yrs in same authority
On average (in 2018), councillors spent 22 hrs a week on council business. 19% of councillors worked 31+hrs a week. That ÂŁ10k allowance per year starting to sound a little less generous now right
Is now the time to say that (as well as believing in a fair wage and reasonable working hours for public servants) I also think all political service should be mandatory and random, like jury duty? Is this enough chaos for everyone
