Presentation at HEA-funded workshop 'Work-based learning in Politics and International Studies: from theory to practice'. The workshop brought together key stakeholders in the delivery of work-based learning and employability skills in the Politics and International Relations (IR) disciplines including academics, employers and careers advisors. Through presentations and discussion delegates had the opportunity to share best practice on existing work-based learning schemes and developing employability skills. This presentation is part of a related blog post that provides an overview of the event: http://bit.ly/1x0KPae For further details of the HEA's work on Employability and Global Citizenship in the Social Sciences see: http://bit.ly/17n8Knj

1. Work-Place Learning in Local
Government
Shadowing a Local Councillor

2. Possibilities and Problems
• Expanding knowledge of how local
government works
• Understanding the role of the local
councillor
• Structuring a work experience programme

3. Local Government Explained: Sort
of…
• The example of
Oxford:
• Oxfordshire County
Council: schools,
social care services,
roads, libraries &
museums…
• Oxford City Council:
waste, leisure,
planning, licensing,
housing…

4. The Role of the Councillor
• 48 councillors, 2
elected for each of
the 24 wards
• Not full time positions:
allowances not
salaries
• Elected to represent
all the people in their
wards

5. (Conflicting?) Aspects of the Role
• Usually – but not
always – elected on a
party political ticket
• Relationship to
political campaigning
and the local party (in
my case, the CLP)
• Role of campaigning/
door-knocking

6. Political Parties and the Council
• An example:
• Labour Group: meet roughly once a month
• As ruling group: budget setting; members
elected from Group to serve on Council
Executive Board
• Full Council
• The role of the whip

7. Representative Function
• As a councillor, and when using that title,
you are NOT party political
• Role is to represent your community and
their views, regardless of political
persuasion
• Case work
• Observer status on local organisations
funded by council

8. Civic Function
• Role of council
committees:
• Planning
• Licensing
• Scrutiny
• Standards

9. Work Experience
• Possibilities:
• Making what is
obscure to many
transparent
• Opening up political
life and particularly
importance of local
government
• Potentially interesting
(!)

10. Work-Place Learning
• Possible problems:
• Irregular hours
• Would there be enough from shadowing
one councillor during one week?
• Timing
• Confidentiality: ‘the first rule of Labour
Group is that you don’t talk about Labour
group’

11. Importance
• Local government matters: ‘localism’ part
of current government’s agenda; One
Nation Labour exploring further devolution
of powers
• Engagement in democratic processes
which affect all our lives, whether we like it
or not