| SPOTLIGHT |
The UK last week signed up to a Council of Europe-sponsored democratic agreement that recognises the right of citizens to have their views heard by their local leaders.
The new protocol to the Charter of Local Self-Government calls for the engagement of citizens across Europe at every stage in local affairs. This includes involving them in local referendums, petitions and local policy consultations.
The agreement also aims to ensure effective management and response to complaints and suggestions about local services. It further encourages local leaders to make “special efforts” to get people who face particular obstacles to participating in democratic procedures involved. This includes giving people access to official local authority documents and encouraging the use of technology to help citizens participate.
The protocol was agreed by ministers at a Council of Europe conference in Utrecht held on 16 November.
Local government minister Rosie Winterton, who signed the agreement on the UK’s behalf, said: “Strong and effective local councils need to be listening to local people and ensuring they are involved in shaping the places in which they live and the public services they use.
''Councils have a direct mandate from local people and this agreement sets out how they can fight the corner of the people who elect them.”
The new protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority will be added to the European Charter of Local Self-Government signed by the UK Government in 1997 and ratified in 1998.
