The LRIP Member Development Programme is all about developing members’ skills and who better to learn from than each other.
So in this section a number of experienced councillors from across the Partnership give you the benefit of their time in office with a range of anecdotes and helpful advice on some key topics.
Their advice is in the form of video clips so we recommend you view the videos when using a broadband connection. For each topic, a text file is available to read if you can’t access the video clips.
I think the skills and attributes you need to be a good councillor are humility, understanding perseverance…
…To be able to persuade your colleagues that your suggestions are the right suggestions, to be able to deal with the officers of the council as colleagues.
You have to be interested in people because it’s very much a people orientated role, and if you’ve not got the interest in people then you not going to be a very good councillor I don’t believe.
And identify with people understand the various problems that other people have that you may not have experienced your self.
The ability to articulate what you want in the council.
The ability to listen is important.
Some sort of time- management because, if you’re not careful it can actually take over the whole of your life.
If you’re married, to have a very understanding partner whose prepared to answer the phone any time of the day or night.
Click on the links below to watch the videos: