New Modes of Local Politics: The Challenges for Councillors as Governors, Representatives and Decision-Makers

Abstract

The shift from local government to governance is well documented, but much of what has been written from neo-liberal and public value perspectives undermines local representative democracy. Both literatures reduce local politics and democracy to markets, albeit in different ways (Bozeman, 2002) and by using the notion of ‘governance’ further de-politicise local government by emphasising partnerships and networks as apolitical service orientated processes (see, Jessop, 2002, Geddes, 2006,). Yet, local democracy is representative democracy and councillors and political leaders occupy a central position in the dynamics of local politics and are faced with the need to operate in increasingly challenging and complex networks where they must and attempt to influence a range of players (Torfing et al, 2009, Egner, et al, 2013, Sorensen and Torfing, 2014, Copus 2016). Indeed, councillors conduct the business of representation, make political decisions and act as governors of their local communities within a range of institutional settings (Back et al, Reynaert et al, 2005) which extend beyond the council of which they are a member. The panel will explore how the varied roles, tasks and functions of the councillor are developing to meet externally generated challenges and pressures. Papers will be expected to address the following questions: 1. How do councillors’ roles as a representative, decision-maker and governor, display themselves and how can they be better understood, hypothesised and conceptualised? 2. How has the changing context of local government and recent structural and /or functional reforms across affected councillor role behaviour? 3. What impact does the role played by parties in local government have on the relationship between the councillor and the citizenry / community, especially in the context of enhanced citizen participation? 4. How do councillors energise political action and change within their communities 5. What strategies do councillors employ when engaging in governance networks consisting of organisations with no democratic mandate The panel papers will provide a framework from within which local representation and democracy can be better understood, modelled and conceptualised.