How can we secure effective councillor engagement?

One of the positive features of the Trailblazer Assembly was the number of councillors who participated and contributed to the debate.


This reflects the importance of the theme of councillor engagement in action on childhood obesity which has featured in several discussions this year. There have been two elements to those discussions  which have drawn extensively on the experience of the Pennine Lancashire Trailblazer:

  • How can councillors best contribute?
  • How can they be supported to make that contribution?

The councillor contribution

There are at least three ways in which councillors can make a significant contribution to action on childhood obesity:

  • Cabinet members and portfolio holders can help to ensure that the issue gets senior buy-in and engagement by raising it with their fellow portfolio holders and with senior managers. Getting the attention of political leaders is crucial
  • by acting as a link between the council and local communities and local organisations. As ward members councillors have a range of contacts that can be invaluable in securing community buy-in for this work
  • by using their other life experiences. Many councillors, for example, own, manage or work in food and hospitality businesses. 

Supporting councillors

In Pennine Lancashire a series of councillor forums were organised to raise the child obesity agenda, understand how much knowledge of the subject councillors have and identify how best to support them. Action taken as a result includes:

  • developing a set of health and wellbeing infographics and a learning module including a specific focus on heathy weight
  • creating a set of case studies based on local individuals and families to help members to understand the issues that residents face
  • establishing an online elected member portal providing a one stop shop for resources on health and wellbeing and acting as a place where members can network, raise issues and support each other.

Two important things to remember are:

  • Childhood obesity is an issue in which many councillors will have a natural interest. The task is to use that interest as an “open door” to active engagement in the topic within the council, in other organisations and in their wards and communities.
  • Follow the energy and the interest rather than structures. Formal structures are a way of focussing interest and engagement. It is important to generate and spot the interest first.