Anfield Ward
(Click on the map to see in detail)
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Councillors
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What do Councillors do?
Councillors are elected to the local council to represent their local community, so they must either live or work in the area. Councillors have to balance the needs and interests of residents, the political party they represent (if any) and the council. These will all make legitimate demands on a councillor’s time, on top of the demands and needs of their personal and professional lives.
What is expected of a Councillor?
The councillor’s role and responsibilities include:
- representing the ward for which they are elected
- decision-making
- developing and reviewing council policy
- scrutinising decisions taken by the councillors on the executive or cabinet
- regulatory, quasi-judicial and statutory duties
- community leadership and engagement.
Most councillors hold regular drop-in surgeries each month. Surgeries are a chance for residents to meet their councillors and discuss their problems or concerns.
They also spend time visiting constituents in their homes. On top of this they deal with letters, emails and phone calls from constituents. When dealing with casework or council business they may need to meet with council staff.
Then there are council and scrutiny meetings. Scrutiny is the crucial process of looking at the work and decisions of the executive. As well as the close examination of councillors, it can also involve the community and interested parties. Handled well, scrutiny procedures can stimulate real local involvement in how the council manages and delivers its business.
Councillors may also sit on quasi-judicial committees, for example the planning committee, which takes non-political decisions on planning applications. The number and length of these meetings varies from council to council. If they are members of a political party, they are also expected to attend political group meetings, party training and other events.
Councillors do not receive a salary. However, they do get a ‘member’s allowance’ in recognition of their time and expenses incurred while on council business.
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Members’ Allowances
Subject to part year entitlements, for each year the following categories of Basic allowance shall be payable, with effect from 1 June 2013 –
(i) Elected Mayor £79,500
(ii) Councillor £10,077
(i) Elected Mayor
An Allowance is payable to the Elected Mayor and which is designed to cover the activities and duties – together with any incidental cost for which no other provision is made – in respect of the discharge of the office of Elected Mayor.
(ii) Councillors
A Basic Allowance is payable to all Councillors and is designed to cover the following activities, together with incidental costs for which no other provision is made such as the use of landline and mobile telephones–
- Representative role including acting as an advocate for the interests of the ward, dealing with constituents’ enquiries or representations, active participation in the shaping and management of services devolved to a local level, attendance at meetings of local organisations.
- City Council and Committee work including preparation for and attendance at meetings, informal meetings, interview panels, appeals, visits, training, seminars and conferences, Party Group meetings and participation on other bodies relating to the work of the City Council.
- Service as the representative of the City Council or its Committees on outside bodies for which no separate remuneration is made.
In addition to the Basic Allowance the Council provides Councillors with IT equipment (laptop or home computer/use of printer and supply of printer cartridges ), Broadband connection and line rental, car park passes, Group Office Member support, printing, stationery and postage costs and surgery costs up to a maximum of £330 per annum.
Destination Anfield 