The current economic, political, social and environmental climate poses some very real challenges for our locally elected representatives. Here are just some of the issues that face local Councillors:
- Meeting local needs with significantly less resources
- Providing the leadership needed to reinvigorate local politics
- Restoring faith in democracy
- Dealing with the real and practical consequences of cuts on the lives of many constituents
- Providing the leadership needed to motivate staff, encourage innovation and help manage change
These challenges will only be met by inspirational local leaders. Unique, special, committed and ambitious politicians who see the potential in their role and understand the capacity to influence change often in adversity. They will only be met by Councillors who can cope with the uncertain world in which we now all live. Those who are sensitive and alive to the critical role that our elected representatives play in the front line. Those who are quick to sense the well being and “mood” of their communities and who have the skills, the network and the capacity to influence change.
This is not about what goes on in the town halls around the country. It’s not about the formalities of meetings, agendas, reports. minutes and the view that being elected somehow confers a status that is enough in itself. It’s about community leadership and developing the flexibility and innovative thinking needed to adapt to the unpredictable and changing world in which we all now live. To mobilise communities. To access resources. To help make the best of local assets. To push the boundaries. To collaborate. To network. To make a difference.
We have many fantastic local leaders who have achieved much for their areas and their constituents. But there are also many elected representatives who are already finding this uncertain, changing world bewildering, confusing and alien to their understanding of the role as they know it. There are others who have yet to see clearly what is happening around them. What does the future hold for them?
There lies the challenge for local democracy. Is the local political and democratic system able to respond to this challenge by supporting the new emerging leaders?Is it able to provide the support needed to develop others who need help to cope with the changes taking place in our society and in local communities. Is it brave enough to call an end to the careers of those no longer able or willing to cope with the pressures of local democratic responsibility?
Where are our future leaders?
The interface between the community and its leadership is problematic. The bureaucracies work with agendas, committees and protocols. Most community types work in much more organic, complex and spontaneous ways. When the two different worlds collide what we get as ‘community leaders’ are the few who are prepared to put up with the working methods of officaldom. They then quickly lose connection with the folk they are supposed to be leading.
The solution. Or perhaps a solution? Stop looking at leaders as individuals but instead look at leadership as a social process, a phenomena, a quality which implies movement in the direction of ‘progress’. We can then ask everyone to make a contribution to leadership rather than look for the special few…
I agree very much with that. My point I think is to challenge democratically elected representatives to shift the emphasis away from the bureaucracy to enable them to add spark, drive and direction to that movement and to the creative social processes needed to bring about real progress.