Who are councillors and why do we do the job? 

It’s a question I’ve been asked many times.  The answer, first and above all other things, is councillors are citizens who have stepped up to serve the community as local leaders. 

Elected by citizens, comprised of citizens, ‘the council’ is Our Council, the Citizens’ Council.  As far the motivation of those who serve as part of it, I have found one common thing in all councillors: they stood because they wanted to represent and serve the community.

It seems to me that we must hang on to that motivation at all costs.  There are plenty of potential distractions; many pressures to make councillors behave more like managers; to speak a different language to the people that put us in a position of trust.  We are not managers.  We must speak the language of the people who elect us and use it fluently to express the priorities they trust us to lead on.

What kind of leaders should we be to remain true as citizens motivated by the simple desire to do good for the community?  We should not abuse our position; certainly not act as petty tyrants or bullies.  But neither should we misunderstand the position.  We are citizens’ representatives to the Council; not the Council’s representatives to citizens. Councillors are advocates and enablers – citizens who sometimes speak for others and more often help citizens to speak, and do, for themselves.

There are many ways to step up to serve your community.  As a school governor or a magistrate; in civil society, in faith groups, in business and in the public sector; as a good neighbour or an active citizen; who serves also leads.

So, all councillors should be local leaders, but not all local leaders are councillors.  Although this guide is aimed primarily at councillors, I hope it will inspire all sorts of local leaders throughout our city.

I am just one local leader; but all of you reading this guide are potential local leaders.  You don’t need my permission to step up for Birmingham and be part of the process of leading this city… but you have it anyway!