Comment
Will hybrid attendance in local government enhance local democracy?
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is currently consulting on ‘Enabling remote attendance and proxy voting at local authority meetings’[1] in England. The consultation, which opened on 24 October, will run for eight weeks. Assistant Strategic Communications Consultant, Philip Sellar, one of the UK’s youngest ever councillors, reflects on his personal experience of local government and explains why he believes the formal introduction of hybrid attendance would be a positive step for local democracy.
I was a councillor in local government in Scotland from 2017 to 2022 and saw many changes during this time. Whilst a councillor, I was also studying at university and experienced first-hand the challenges of balancing the work of local government with other commitments. While there are significant similarities between the role of councillors in both Scotland and England, Scotland has taken additional steps to address the barriers that may prevent a broader range of the population from participating in local democracy. The proposed change in England may help address these barriers south of the border.
The current composition of local government
When I was elected to Aberdeen City Council in 2017, at the age of 19, I was the youngest of 45 councillors. This remained the case throughout my term. From what I observed, a disproportionate number of councillors were older, retired, or had the financial means to serve in a full-time capacity. According to the 2024 survey from the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee (SLARC), this imbalance has not significantly changed since I left local government in May 2022. SLARC noted that "the current councillor cohort does not represent the demographic makeup of Scotland as a whole", highlighting underrepresentation among women, younger people, and those with disabilities. Among the survey’s other findings, it revealed that over half of councillors reported spending 26 hours or more per week on formal council duties, and that 38% of respondents had full-time or part-time employment. The Local Government Association (LGA) made similar findings in their 2022 census, showing that the average age of a councillor in England was 60 and that 40% of councillors were retired.
A key difference between local government north and south of the border is that all councillors in Scotland are paid a salary, whereas in England, most councillors receive allowances to reimburse them for council-related business. When I was elected, I was finishing my first year at university, and knowing that the role was paid enabled me to commit more time to council duties alongside my studies. While the salary was sufficient for me as a student, I recognised that it was challenging for those in other circumstances, such as parents or those with additional financial commitments.
Balancing council duties with other commitments
The early years as a councillor were a steep learning curve, particularly in balancing my studies and council work. There were numerous committee-related meetings some of which had a statutory requirement for in-person attendance like Full Council. Failure to attend several of these meetings could result in someone losing their position as a councillor. Councillors are also expected to attend numerous meetings with community organisations outside formal council business. At one point, I switched from being a full-time student to a part-time student for a year to try to balance these commitments.
The LGA found that the statutory requirement of in-person attendance for some meetings does have an impact. In 2023, Councillor Joe Harris, Vice-Chair of the LGA, stated:
“Good decision-making needs people who reflect the range of experiences, backgrounds, and insights that exist in their communities.”
“However, councillors are restricted by law to attend council meetings in person, which can deter a range of people, including full-time professionals, parents of young children, carers, workers, and disabled people, from stepping forward to represent their communities.”
Like many other sectors, local government adapted to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and Government-imposed restrictions. While some meetings continued to take place in person (albeit socially distanced), the second half of my term saw a significant shift towards hybrid or virtual meetings.
Benefits of hybrid meetings
The introduction of hybrid attendance at council meetings brought numerous benefits. Personally, it allowed me to better manage my time. For example, I could attend a committee meeting remotely and then directly transition to a remote university lecture or tutorial afterwards. There were fewer occasions where I had to choose between one commitment or the other. Many of my colleagues, who previously struggled to attend due to family or employment commitments, found that the hybrid model significantly improved their attendance and participation.
From experience, it wasn’t unusual to attend meetings that would start in the morning and conclude late into the evening. For some councillors, this proved challenging in terms of remaining present for the entire duration of those meetings, especially for those with young families. The flexibility offered by hybrid meetings made it easier for these members to maintain a better work-life balance and manage commitments. I can recall instances where councillors could start a meeting in person, only for it to overrun and continue their attendance remotely via their laptop or mobile phone.
The hybrid model also benefited the public, offering the opportunity for individuals to speak before committees remotely. Ultimately, this removed the in-person barrier to participation and enabled more people to contribute to the democratic process.
While the Government’s consultation focuses on elected members, it may be prudent for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to also explore hybrid participation options for the public.
Potential issues with the hybrid model
While I believe local government should align with other sectors on hybrid work, I also recognise the potential challenges. My experience as a councillor was shaped by in-person interactions with colleagues across the political spectrum, which were invaluable in helping me navigate the often-complex world of local government. For new councillors, hybrid meetings may hinder these opportunities, which are vital for gaining insight into the role. The reduction of these in-person interactions could also affect cross-party collaboration, which is essential for effective local governance.
Another challenge for local decision-makers is whether they would be seen as leading by example by council employees. Local authorities, like businesses in the private-sector, have seen a significant drop in employees working in the office post-pandemic. Some local authorities have already started requesting staff increase their presence in the office. It would be inconsistent to require staff to return to the office for most of the week, while the working conditions of councillors move in the opposite direction with more flexibility – a challenge which will need to be managed.
Conclusion
Although there are valid concerns regarding remote attendance and proxy voting, I believe that the benefits outweigh the challenges. While the potential impact on cross party collaboration and the need for consistency in expectations must be considered, accessibility, flexibility, and improving work-life balance for councillors can only be seen as a positive. As local government continues to evolve, embracing hybrid working models will help it become more inclusive and representative.
2 December 2024
[1] Enabling remote attendance and proxy voting at local authority meetings