What Labour expects from me

It may seem obvious, but it is expected that as a representative of the Labour Party, a Labour councillor will be in agreement with the aims and values of the Labour Party. This doesn't mean you have to agree with everything that the national or local party says and does, but that you should share its broad aims and principles and seek to debate differences in a comradely fashion within the Party.

If selected as a Labour candidate, you will seek election on the basis of a Labour programme of policies and commitments for the local authority and local area - the manifesto. If elected your job is to seek to implement the manifesto as far as possible, whether Labour has a majority on the council or is in opposition.

It is the role of the local Labour Party's local government organisation - sometimes called the Local Government Committee or the District or County Labour Party, depending on where you live - to draw up the manifesto, although existing Labour councillors will be closely involved, especially the leadership of the Labour group, where one exists. The membership of the local Labour Party should also be involved in and consulted on the development of the manifesto and it is important to get involved with this and seek to influence it - it guides what Labour councillors do over their term of office.

Labour councillors are expected to participate fully in council, community and Labour Party activities in the local area. These include:

On the council:

• attending meetings of the full council, especially the budget-setting meeting and the annual meeting (AGM) of the council
• attending meetings of the council executive or cabinet, overview and scrutiny committees, planning or licensing committees, and other committees as appropriate
• representing the views of constituents to the council and other agencies
• taking up training and development opportunities in order to improve their skills and understanding as a councillor

In the community:

• developing links with all parts of the community eg visiting schools, meeting local businesses, voluntary and faith groups, attending residents' and tenants' associations, visiting local projects
• being a visible councillor by holding regular surgeries in your ward where constituents can raise problems and issues with you, carrying out ward walkabouts to identify local problems, and attending local community events
• taking action on issues raised by constituents and lobbying on their behalf - and feeding back to them on that action and explaining whether or not their demands can be met
• building relationships with the residents you have been elected to serve by providing regular newsletters, direct mail letters or emails, and carrying out regular campaigning in your ward
• promoting Labour values, representing the party locally and seeking to recruit new members

In the Labour group and Labour Party:

• attending and participating actively in Labour group meetings and other activities to contribute to Labour's local policies and decisions relating to the council
• signing up to and abiding by the rules and standing orders (governing procedures) of the Labour Party and Labour group
• attending Labour Party branch meetings to report back to and consult party members on your activities on the council
• campaigning with branch members on local issues, promoting Labour values and policies and recruiting members
• encouraging and supporting policy discussion within the Labour Party locally

The Association of Labour Councillors has developed a Charter which sets out formally the expectations that the Labour Party has of its local elected representatives.