Why system change must be at the heart of Local Government Reform.

By Elect Her

When we talk about our work to Fix the System, it’s about improving democracy for all - because it’s not a zero sum game, everyone benefits. When the UK Government introduced the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill this summer, much of the coverage focused on changing voting systems for Mayors and power shifts.

On the surface, this looks like a win for communities: more local decision-making, less centralisation. But beneath the headlines lies a worrying risk — that this Bill could actually set back progress on women’s representation in local government. At Elect Her, we see this Bill not only as a legislative moment but as an opportunity to fix the system.

That means designing local government structures that work for everyone, not just for those who already hold power.

Local Government Reorganisation:

What the Evidence Tells Us

One of the most significant changes in the Bill is the move toward Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). This means scrapping two-tier systems (like district and county councils) and creating larger “unitary authorities.”

Their are good arguements in their favour, they’ll improve efficiency and reduce costs. But our concern is: at what cost?

Research by Cllr Sally Yalden, published in March 2025, shows that these reorganisations consistently reduce the number of councillors, sometimes by more than 80%. And when the number of seats shrinks, women lose out.

• In North Yorkshire, just 24.4% of councillors in the new authority are women, compared to a national average of over 40% before reorganisation.

• In Somerset, women’s representation sits at 30.9%, a sharp drop from steady growth before.

• In Cumberland, the best case, women still make up only 36.9% of councillors

Lived Experience: “My Ward Feels Like Three Jobs in One”

Numbers tell only part of the story. Women councillors describe how the changes have increased their workload beyond what is sustainable.

One councillor who went through reorganisation explained: “My workload is now the equivalent of three district councillors and one county councillor. I now have a ward of seven parishes, 18 by 20 miles, covering one large parish.”

Why Representation in Local Government Matters

It’s often said that local government is where theory is put into practice! Councils are responsible for services that touch people’s daily lives: housing, social care, schools, transport, health, the environment.

Yet women — who make up more than half the population — are consistently underrepresented in the decisions that shape these services. When women aren’t at the table, communities lose out on perspectives and priorities that could make policies fairer and more effective.

Our Fix the System work starts from this principle: we cannot build a healthy democracy if the structures are stacked against inclusion. Devolution should be about empowerment, but without safeguards, it risks deepening inequalities.

What could make the difference in the Bill

We’d love to see more included in the bill that speaks to the individuals who represent us, and some of the following ideas will help everyone!

• Codes of Conduct – new authorities adopt robust codes addressing harassment, discrimination, and online abuse, with independent enforcement.

• Induction and Training – Councillors receive mandatory induction and ongoing training covering professional standards, equality, and family-friendly practices.

• Monitoring Officers – As Laura Badland wrote last week the role would expand to cover councillor welfare and equalities compliance, not just the more technical side of governance. There is also a role for the returning officers during election cycles in this regards.

• Financial Recognition – Councillors receiving fair allowances, access to pensions, and consistent carers’ support. Currently, allowances vary wildly from £4,000 to £13,000, and since 2014 councillors in England have been excluded from pension schemes — unlike their counterparts in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

• Inclusive Accountability – Annual reports could be used to track diversity and retention, with gender-sensitive audits modelled on Scotland’s progress.

These aren’t radical demands; they’re common-sense measures to ensure local democracy works for everyone.

Fixing the Financial Barriers

One of the clearest ways the system isn’t supportive, to women particularly, is through money.

• Allowances: Councillor stipends vary dramatically by area, with no minimum standard. In some authorities, councillors receive less than £5,000 a year, making it impossible for anyone without independent wealth to take part.

• Pensions: In 2014, the government barred English councillors from joining the Local Government Pension Scheme. Yet councillors in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland still have pension access.

• Carers’ Support: Many councils offer dependents’ carers allowances, but they’re reimbursement-only. Councillors have to pay upfront — often impossible for women on lower incomes.

These financial barriers lock out younger women, working-class women, and those with caring responsibilities. What that leads to is a situation where the people making decisions about communities don’t look like the communities themselves.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill can be a turning point.

It can be the moment we remove barriers.

We want devolution to also be about opening up politics, making it fairer, more inclusive, and truly representative of the people it serves.

We’re submitting written evidence to the Public Bill Committee because we believe change like this can be part of the story - and we want our politics to deliver better outcomes, for everyone.

Let’s fix the system, together.

Blog idea or comment piece?

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