Democracy fears as figures suggest 7,000 fewer councillors than 1974

Today, UK citizens are arguably among the least democratically-represented in developed countries and have one of the most centralised systems of government, some say.

This year is the 50th anniversary of 1974 changes which created many district, county and metropolitan councils and boundaries we know today, including Ribble Valley and Pendle, which include some areas that were traditionally in Yorkshire.

But the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils, says figures suggest there are now 7,000 fewer councillors than in 1974. Then, there were 25,710 UK councillors. The latest figure for 2023 was 18,641, according to House of Commons data used by the LGA.

Furthermore, today’s councillors typically serve more citizens and bigger geographic areas. In 1974 as a ratio, each UK councillor represented on average 2,187 people. In 2023, that had risen to 3,640 people.  And while councillor numbers have fallen since 1974, the UK’s population has risen from 56million to over 67million.

Changes under Conservative and Labour governments over the decades since 1974 have included abolishing and merging councils, creating unitary councils, directly-elected regional mayors, combined regional authorities, local council ward boundary changes and cutting numbers of councillors.

Recent changes include abolishing district councils in North Yorkshire and Cumbria in 2023, and reduced numbers of councillors and new council wards in some Lancashire districts in the 2024 local elections, such as Rossendale. Councillors there fell from 36 to 30.

Also decision-making about public affairs, resources and assets has increasingly involved people and organisations who are appointed and not directly elected by the public, critics argue. Examples arguably include quangos, partnerships, combined authority boards, council-business joint ventures and town deal boards. There has been no equivalent creation of publicly-elected chambers such as English regional assemblies other than the elected London Assembly. Solo elected English regional mayors are not democratically equivalent to elected chambers wit multiple members, some critics argue.

PUBLIC REFERENDUM

Recently, Coun Stephen Atkinson, the Conservative leader of Ribble Valley Council, said democracy is at risk if devolution makes politics more remote. His council has held an extraordinary meeting last month about Lancashire devolution and the Conservatives won a vote to seek a public referendum if Lancashire district councils face being abolished. He also referred to Italy, saying it has multiple levels of councils and government which works well.

Speaking recently during an in-depth interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Coun Atkinson said: “If a council has a smaller footprint, it allows ordinary people to participate in place-building, builds civic pride and creates a better understanding of the community. European Parliament elections have shown how public participation falls if people do not feel a direct link with politics. And this year’s Westminster general election had one of the lowest turnouts in history. Any further move towards more-remote politics is a dangerous strategy.”

Other Ribble Valley councillors have been asked for their views too.

‘DECISION-MAKING MUST BE CLOSE TO PEOPLE’

Malcolm Peplow, a Green councillor, said: “There is nothing more important than our democracy. I fully agree with views that UK residents are some of the least democratically-represented in developed countries and the UK has one of the most centralised systems of government.

“Secondly, our first-past-the-post system desperately needs changing to an appropriate system of proportional representation for elections to all levels of government, Also we need electoral reform to make it easier for people to vote.

“It took an average of 23,622 votes to elect each Labour MP and 485,951 votes to elect each Green MP in July’s general election. This unfairness is undemocratic and destructive to our political representation.

“We have a fixed maximum of 650 MPs in the Commons and well over 800 unelected peers in the House of Lords – and still rising. The Lords creates a huge cost and a democratic deficit. The Green Party would replace the unelected Lords with an elected second chamber for the necessary checks-and-balances against the Commons.

“Greens believe in decision-making and funding being devolved down and made at the lowest appropriate level of government. We also believe citizens assemblies or panels, with access to expert advice, could allow ordinary people to understand complex issues and reach difficult and important conclusions, recommendations or decisions, dependent on the remit.”

ENGLISH REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES

Coun Peplow  added: “Elected regional assemblies for England could be a welcome development. in principle. for strategic planning and implementation. But only if they are given an appropriate devolved responsibility, fair and adequate funding from government, and provided that strong local representation remains in place below it, to ensure power stays close to the people rather than becoming more remote. Regional assemblies and the nature of the democratic structures below them would be subject to local preferences for variation.

“Greens are generally opposed to unelected quangos being given sweeping powers and huge budgets. We always favour democratic control and accountability. Quangos are too often remote, unresponsive and unaccountable to ordinary people.”

On potential Lancashire devolution, Coun Peplow said: “It is not possible at this stage to speculate what shape any devolution will take. However, Gaye McCrum and I have spoken about this. Although we do not operate a Green Party whip arrangement [requiring councillors to vote a particular way], we will support what we each consider in the best interests of all Ribble Valley residents as devolution plans or options become clearer.”

‘CONSULTATION ON DEVOLUTION IS NEEDED’

Labour Coun Lee Jameson, the council’s official opposition leader, said: “Until a devolution white paper has been published, I don’t know what the government will propose.  However, I believe that all district and borough council leaders, and opposition leaders, should be consulted on any deal.

“In Longridge, some people say if council tax is kept low, bins are collected and roads are safe, they don’t mind what happens. Others would like to keep the Ribble Valley identity. However the vast majority did not even realise there were any devolution plans.”

On the situation faced by councillors today, he said: “Councillors are under pressure from the day they’re elected. It’s getting harder to persuade party members to stand for election.  The reasons seem obvious. Politics since Boris Johnson and Donald Trump has made it more tribal than ever. This atmosphere has dripped down to borough and parish levels. In the main, there is a good working relationship between different parties at Ribble Valley Council. But some stories from elsewhere do not fill you with confidence.

“Most councillors have full-time jobs whilst representing communities. For councillors with young families, it’s very hard to juggle responsibilities.   I believe councillors should be remunerated appropriately to off-set what they lose by taking time off work.”

LGA VIEW

An LGA spokesperson said it does not advocate any particular model of local government,  whether two-tier district and county models like Lancashire, unitaries like Blackpool or Blackburn, or metropolitan boroughs such as in Merseyside and Greater Manchester.

But an LGA spokesmen said: “Taking decisions over how to run local services closer to where people live is key to improving them and saving money. There is clear and significant evidence that outcomes improve and the country gets better value for money when councils have the freedoms and funding to make local decisions.

“With adequate funding and the right powers, councils can help the government tackle the challenges facing our nation. Councillors make a huge difference to the quality of life of local people and how local issues are dealt with.”