Taking part in local democracy

LGBTQ+ communities in London and across the UK rely on local government. We all deserve to feel seen, heard, safe and supported where we live, and local authorities play an important role in ensuring queer voices are heard.  

Engaging with local government is a great way to advocate for yourself and your community. 

What are local authorities? 

In the UK, local authorities provide vital public services and also set certain rules and regulations in their area. Every county, and in London, every borough, has a local authority, which most people call the county council in England or borough council in London. London also has the Greater London Authority, which is the regional government. From bins and pest control to housing and schools, your local authority plays a huge role in most people’s lives. 

A councillor’s primary role is to represent their ward or division and the people who live in it. Councillors provide a bridge between the community and the council. Much like MPs in parliament, your local councillors make decisions which are then enacted by civil servants. Councillors are elected once every four years in local elections

What does a local authority do? 

Unlike parliament, local authorities are directly responsible for delivering key public services. Public services which operate locally are probably delivered in whole or in part by your council. Services they deliver include, but aren’t limited to: 

• Education (primary and secondary schools) 

• Waste management (like your bin collection) 

• Road maintenance 

• Public transport (buses, trains, bikes) 

• Social housing (council housing) 

• Pest control 

• Public safety 

• Leisure centres and parks 

• Adult social care 

Councils also set some of the rules and regulations in your local area, such as: 

• Building regulations 

• Standards in environmental health  

• Alcohol and venue licensing 

Local authorities also work closely with public bodies like the MET Police or the NHS to deliver local services like community policing and sexual health clinics.

How are local authorities funded? 

Local authorities can only deliver public services with sufficient funding. National government provides local authorities with part of their revenue. The figure differs between each authority but roughly 22 percent of most council’s funding is sourced this way. 

The remaining revenue is from council tax, business rates, and other charges like parking fines.  

Issues you can raise with your local authority  

Because local authorities have broad responsibilities, they can effect change in many areas of public life.  

From bin collection to leisure centres, there are lots of areas in which councils decide policy, but councils also make decisions that specifically impact LGBTQ+ people. For example: 

• Services like LGBTQ+ centres, or spaces for LGBTQ+ community groups 

• How schools integrate trans and gender-nonconforming kids 

• Sexual health clinics for gay/bi men or trans people 

• Public safety initiatives in queer districts like a gay village 

• Licensing for LGBTQ+ nightlife and venues 

• Inclusive facilities for LGBTQ+ people at leisure centres 

These are just a few examples of services and regulations that you could contact your local authority about. 

Perhaps the issue you care about isn’t LGBTQ+-specific. There are thousands of potential issues that you may choose to raise with your local authority. This useful diagram from New Local lists the kinds of services that local authorities provide. You could use it to identify if your council is responsible for the service or issue that you want to talk about. 

How you can engage with your local authority 

Because local government is smaller than national government, it’s also more accessible. There are lots of ways to engage with your council and start developing a relationship with councillors, other constituents, and change makers in your local community. 

Viewing their decisions  

Local authorities are obligated by law to publish the minutes of public meetings as well as any decisions that have been made. You can use this information to see what is being discussed and what actions are being taken. This information is often available on council websites. 

Attending meetings  

Many council meetings are open to the public. You can attend and even ask questions, giving you a voice in the heart of local government. All councils must publish details of meetings and when key decisions will be made at least five working days beforehand. This information is often available on council websites. 

Public consultations