ABSTRACT
This Chapter considers the ‘career’ patterns of councillors from election through their period in office, including attention to the gender dimension and the impact of party. As discussed previously, the emphasis on the term ‘career’ is intended not so much in the sense of a job, but rather as a means of summarising councillors’ experiences throughout their period in office. However, there is some evidence from the surveys reported here that some councillors (and perhaps an increasing number) do consider their posts almost as jobs or careers and this is considered below and in Chapter 5. At the same time other respondents to the surveys did question whether ‘career’ was the most appropriate term to use. For example, one said “‘Career’” is perhaps not the word I would use - “you’re the only one to do it and if you don’t, it won’t get done” is more appropriate!’. Others commented ‘...more a vocation than a career - working seven days a week - up to 15 hours most days... ’ and ‘I do not regard elected representation on a council as a career, as a career suggests forward progression which often isn’t the case in elected positions’. Chapter 5 examines further the appropriateness or otherwise of the term ‘career’ in the light of evidence from this and other research and sets it against the background of recent and likely future developments in elected local government.
