By using qualitative research from a number of related projects, the book examines the roles, functions and responsibilities of councillors and the expectations placed upon them by citizens, communities and government.

1. The constancy of change2. Re-appraising and re-thinking the Office of Councillor3. Councillors and RealLokalPolitik4. Councillors: bringing order to chaos 5. Why seek to serve? 6. A 24 hour a day job: when worlds collide7. Official mind and public image8. New directions and new purposes Conclusion: Councillors, hope for the future?Index

In defence of councillors provides just that - a defence of councillors and the institution of local representative democracy to which they are elected (the council) from the often ill-informed and inaccurate criticism of their personal, professional and political roles as local politicians. It explores what the shift from local government to local governance has meant for councillors, their roles, functions and activities, the pressures they experience, the links they have with their parties and the relationships they forge with citizens and communities. It takes a critical look at the impact that elected membership of a council has on the working, private and social life of the councillor and the strategies they develop to balance the various aspects of their lives with the expectations of the office they hold. In defence of councillors contributes to theoretical and conceptual understanding of local politics and develops valuable lessons for the practice of local representative democracy. It is based on qualitative research and provides a detailed understanding of the realities of holding the office of councillor. It examines how a local council and its member councillors operate in complex networks of organisations to bring their democratic mandate to bear, to democratise and hold to account those that spend public money and make public policy with no democratic mandate or legitimacy. The book fills the gaps in our understanding about the office of councillor by updating the ideas we have about what councillors do, how they do it and the effect that they can have when acting as representatives, decision-makers and governors. As such the book will be of interest to academics, researchers and post-graduate students in political sciences and public policy, in addition to councillors, policy-makers and local government officers.