I just happened to stumble across the “National Census of Local Authority Councillors 2013” today and what I found made for very interesting reading.
- 67% of Councillors are male
- Councillors have an average age of 60.2 with Councillors aged over 70 increasing
- Just 19.2% of Councillors are in full-time employment
- 96% are of white ethnic origin
How can this be truly representative of our community and why don’t more residents come forward and stand as candidates?
Isn’t it about time we had a broader cross-section of the community representing residents views?
I have been a Councillor for nearly 2 years and intend on standing again in May. I see myself as bucking the trend, being a young 41 years old, but I would still love to see more women and younger people stand as candidates.
So if you want to know more feel free to get in touch with me