Local councils not ‘sexy’ enough says Jackie Weaver as Shropshire parish councils struggle to fill seats

Viral star Jackie Weaver has urged Shropshire residents to step up and fill the hundreds of vacancies that will be left on the county’s town and parish councils following next month’s local elections.

A shortfall in candidates means a total of 281 seats will be left empty, and Mrs Weaver, who lives in Prees, put this down to parish councils not being “sexy” enough to get people interested in joining.

There will be contested elections for just 22 of the county’s 153 town and parish councils on May 6, with the vast majority of candidates automatically winning seats.

Two parishes – Burford and Stockton – have no candidates at all and new elections will need to be called, while another two – Buildwas and Sutton Upon Tern – have only two candidates each, meaning they are not quorate and cannot function.

“I think it’s symptomatic of the fact that we find it very difficult to promote the work of the parish councils,” said Mrs Weaver, who found unexpected fame earlier this year in a viral clip of Handforth Parish Council in Cheshire, where she works at the county association of local councils.

“Often people don’t come forward because they don’t know what we do.

“One of the problems we face is that over the years we have not appeared that sexy.”

The vacancies will need to be filled by by-elections or co-option, when sitting councillors can appoint new members without holding an election.

Ms Weaver said this presented a “really good opportunity” for people to join up.

She added: “I don’t think people get involved because they want to shuffle paperwork, they join because they want to make a difference locally.

“So the way I see it is that the parish council itself may not be sexy, but what you’re trying to do is something you’re passionate about, and the parish council is an excellent mechanism to do that.

“We often say, ‘oh I don’t like such and such’, ‘why haven’t we got such and such’, ‘why haven’t we got the same as next door’.

“Here’s an opportunity to address those issues.

“If you think provision is poor or non-existent, that enough isn’t being done about issues you care about, here’s your opportunity.”

Shropshire Association of Local Councils (SALC) is also trying to raise the profile of the county’s parish councils and the vital role they play.

County secretary Dianne Dorrell said a “lack of understanding” about the powers and importance of parish councils could be putting people off from coming forward to stand for election.

She said: “They are the first level of government in this country, they are dealing with public money and they are the grass roots of democracy.

“We do think of them as our local heroes, they are doing a fantastic job.

“What they have done in the last year has just been over and above what anyone would have expected. I don’t think they blow their own trumpet enough.”

Mrs Dorrell also highlighted the fact that councils must have two thirds of members elected rather than co-opted, otherwise they cannot use the ‘general power of competence’, severely limiting their powers.

SALC chairman Ray Wickson said it was often the more rural parish councils which struggled to fill seats.

This is reflected in next month’s local elections in Shropshire, in which some of the larger towns including Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Market Drayton will have hotly contested town council elections.

Mr Wickson said there was also a real need to attract more young people to join their local councils, with the potential continuation of at least some virtual or ‘hybrid’ meetings post-pandemic making it easier for those with work or caring responsibilities to get involved.

He said: “You tend to find most of the councillors are over a certain age, because they have the time. Younger people, who are the people we really would like to attract, tend to have families and commitments and they think it won’t be possible.

“I think it’s a real shame, because being a parish councillor, that first level, is extremely rewarding. It’s a superb opportunity for you as an individual, young or old, to influence the lifestyle of your town or parish, and represent your residents.”

No qualifications are needed to become a councillor, with all training and guidance provided.

Mr Wickson added: “There’s no harm in trying. And you can always walk away if you don’t like it – it’s not a lifetime commitment.”

Anyone interested in joining their town or parish council can find out more from their parish clerk, alcshropshire.co.uk and NALC.gov.uk.