So You Want to be a Councillor?

Our communities need good leadership. Are you up to it? October is time for the next WA Council elections, in all 139 Council areas. I thought I’d be bold and suggest some attributes that might be valuable to a Councillor. If you are active in local clubs and groups and are concerned about our future, you might like to self-assess.

MUST HAVE

• Interest in long-term direction of your local community
• Listening skills, prepared to listen more often than to tell
• Prepared to meet with the community, often
• At least one, and often two or three evenings a week to dedicate to the community
• Able to read and understand a voluminous weekly information pack
• Ability to think strategically about organisational purpose
• Effective decision-making skills
• Understand the difference between individual and group decision-making
• Able to work to sustain long-term viability and define values for self and the Council
• Able to imagine and lead new future directions
• Empathy
• Able to discuss widely differing opinions respectfully and to disagree agreeably
• Able to synthesise direction amidst complexity and conflicting values and objectives
• Understand the difference between management and leadership (councillors have no executive authority at all)
• Not be focussed on a ‘single issue’
• Be prepared to assess your own biases and positions

SHOULD HAVE

• Ability to read and interpret financial reports
• Sense of humour
• Collaborative style
• Wide range of contacts and life experience
• Be well travelled and widely read
• An enquiring mind
• Risk assessment skills
• Open to continuous learning

GOOD TO HAVE

• Expertise in at least one relevant field, e.g. architecture, town planning, finance, environment, waste, law, social services, communications, psychology, science.
• Board experience
• Qualifications such as MBA, GAICD (Australian Institute of Company Directors)
• Preparedness to respond with good grace and respect in all sorts of circumstances
  
  
• Please realise too that the maximum allowance for your work is between nine and thirty thousand dollars a year (edited 2013), so you really do have to be motivated by spirit.
  The vital point is that you can make a real difference to the present and future of your community.
  Oh, and if you live in South Perth, don’t forget Tea and Talk in the Park, Sunday 15 May 2011, 3 pm, McDougall Park
  As usual, please click ‘Comments’ below to add your thoughts. Just log in as “Name” (no password required) or email me and I’ll publish your words right here.

Como Tea in the Park

You are invited! To another of our Como community tea conversations. Come and have your say about anything you like, to do with our community in South Perth. Your Councillors (Glen Cridland and myself) will be there, together with lots of other people. I’ll bring tea, coffee and biscuits. Please feel free to bring along some scones or whatever you’d like to share.

There is quite a lot happening: weather changes, Canning Bridge development, new coffee shops, housing, light rail, Curtin Uni growth and lots more. We’ll do our best to answer questions and we’ll certainly listen to YOU.

See you on Sunday 15 May at 3 pm. at McDougall Park, Clydesdale St, Como.

If you can’t be there please let us read your comments. Click on Comments below and tell us all what you think. Just log in as “Name” (no password required) or email me and I’ll publish your words right here.