Why Become a Councillor?

There are lots of reasons why you might want to become a Councillor:

To change things for the better
To make a contribution to your community
To make better use of your skills and experience
To become actively engaged in local politics or fight for a particular cause
Perhaps you have a sense of duty or you want to 'give something back'

It is a personal decision, as can be seen from some case studies

Powers of Local Government in Scotland

Local government powers can include:

Mandatory powers – i.e. they must be provided by law. For example, primary and secondary education.
Voluntary - local authorities do not have to provide these by law but usually choose to. For example, sport and leisure facilities.
Flexible - local authorities may choose to give money to projects or groups in that area. For example, grants can be provided for small projects that aim to tackle poverty, vandalism or promote community safety or community development.

Unlike Parliament, which passes laws, Local Government implements policies and delivers services for local people. Councillors have the power, responsibility and influence, to help them achieve results for the benefit of the people they represent.

Local government provides an opportunity for people to participate in democracy at a level closer to their everyday lives than National or European elections.