The Community Councillor Collective

Local Democracy is Changing Our democracy is no longer fit for purpose. Trust in elected representatives has hit an all-time low, populism is on the rise, and we struggle to find the bold solutions we need to the challenges we face. The majority of people in the UK agree, we need fundamental change.

Yet while attention remains focused on Westminster, something exciting is happening in town halls across the country. Often seen as dusty buildings mired in bureaucracy and top-down decision-making, they are rapidly becoming the UK's most dynamic democratic spaces. Councillors and officers alike are exploring innovative deliberative processes, civic engagement platforms and participatory budgeting. They're moving beyond service delivery to community convening and enabling.

And in doing so, local councils are demonstrating that a new kind of politics is possible.