Roles and Relationships
Things to bear in mind…
One of a councillor’s key roles is to act as a community leader – being visible, accessible and responsive to local concerns – and most will, for example, attend Community Council meetings in their area to give updates on Council business and hear about local concerns.
Another key role is to help residents access services and support when required.
Councillors when attending Council and Committee meetings take key decisions, such as setting the Council’s budget and agreeing policy proposals that determine how the Council’s resources are used. There will be a significant amount of time needed outside formal meetings to attend briefings and read papers on the issues that will be put before you.
Councillors collectively set the strategic direction of the Council. If elected, you will play a role in shaping strategy and policy through committees, or discussions with officers and councillors.
Scrutiny is a vital part of good governance by councillors and includes monitoring the performance of services, making sure public money is well spent, and checking that policy decisions deliver the intended results. If elected, you may find yourself sitting on the Council’s Audit Committee. Even if you do not, you will still have a responsibility to question, challenge and evaluate the Council’s work.
Partnership working
Councils are expected to work with partner organisations to deliver services more effectively for local people. Collaboration and joined-up working are key, as decisions taken by one body may have an impact on the work of another.
Councillors help shape and scrutinise these partnership arrangements, making sure that collaboration is effective, transparent and focused on the needs of the community.
Planning, Licensing etc.
Some councillors will serve on regulatory or quasi judicial committees such as Planning or Licensing. These roles are bound by legislation and require impartiality, training and adherence to the Code of Conduct for Councillors.
If you are elected and find yourself having to make decisions on planning or licensing applications, you will have to undertake mandatory training to understand the specialist requirements of these regulatory functions.
Candidates need reassurance that there will be a long list of things to take responsibility for, but a significant level of induction and onboarding is in place to support that process.
Your ward and the wider community
It is natural for councillors to focus on how a policy or decision will affect their ward. Through debate and discussion, a councillor may be able to influence those policies or decisions to reflect the specific needs of the individuals and communities in their ward.
However, councillors are expected to take a decision collectively in the best interests of people across the whole council area, and not just those in their ward. The reason for this is simple: if all councillors simply advocated and voted for what was best for their ward, or a few individuals within it, it could be very difficult to develop and agree on effective strategies and policies that use the Council’s powers, duties and resources effectively across Shetland – ultimately resulting in poorer services for everyone.
If elected, you will need to learn to navigate these tensions and find a balance between the various roles and responsibilities.
“The Council is the biggest employer in Shetland and has an incredible level of responsibility for the wellbeing of our communities. We need to have people with energy and drive to take on these responsibilities and to think about the long term needs of our islands, not just the immediate focus of the next 5 years.”
Standing as an independent or party candidate
In Scottish local government, councillors can stand for election either as a member of a political party or as an independent candidate. Both have exactly the same legal powers and responsibilities once elected.
If you stand as a party candidate, you will usually be selected by your party and campaign under its name and policies. Party councillors often work together as a group and may receive support and guidance from their party organisation. Independent candidates stand without being affiliated to a political party. They develop their own priorities and views on local issues and are free to make decisions without reference to a party position. Shetland has a long tradition of independent representation, and the majority of councillors currently serve as independents.