The Cattle of Geryon

Local government in the UK does not tend to get the same level of interest as central government but in terms of reclaiming a safe climate, it is an important area to work with.

The typical form of UK local government is that there are council officers, who are full-time paid employees and are essentially there to manage the delivery of services.

Then there are elected councillors: these are the people who set the priorities and resources that are going to be used for providing your services. Although paid an allowance, councillors are generally part-time. As they are elected, you get a regular chance to let them know if you think they are doing a good job or not. They will usually live in the area they are serving and are mostly keen to hear from and help the communities they serve. Most will run some form of community ‘surgery’ or open meeting, so residents can have the opportunity to talk with them. You will also be able to get contact details from the local council or various websites like www.writetothem.com.

The services that local governments are responsible for are those day-to-day services that make up what we consider civilised living. Education, fire and rescue, social services, waste collection and disposal, parks and recreation, most transport, roads and highways and, crucially, planning, are all local government responsibilities. When it comes to climate change, there are four powerful ways they can have an impact: planning, procurement, waste and recycling and the energy efficiency of their own buildings. Some are very active in using their powers to make a difference. Ask your what it is doing and if you don’t feel it is enough, get involved: standing as a local councillor is easy (although persuading people to support you is a bit more difficult!)