Representation in the appointed state: the case of councillors in the West Midlands Regional Assembly.

Oliver, Thomas Charles Gordon (2011)
Ph.D. thesis, University of Birmingham.

The rise of indirectly elected institutions, such as the West Midlands Regional Assembly, has democratic implications for notions of accountability, legitimacy and representation. The representative function of these bodies must be explicitly fulfilled if they are to be considered democratic. The conceptual focus of this thesis is the representative function of members of the West Midlands Regional Assembly. The analysis applies a representative role framework based on Pitkin’s “Four Views of Representation” to explore the formalistic and substantive elements of representation through an appraisal of focus, style, role and scope. The results show that there are weak accountability structures in place, leading representatives to adopt a trustee conception of their roles. A grounded theory analysis is utilised to explore additional factors not covered in Pitkin’s framework. This surfaced the structural factors and role motivations that affect role choice. The thesis utilises Weick’s concept of sensemaking to explore the interpretation and enactment of different representative roles taking into account the importance of institutions in framing micro sensemaking processes. This new methodology permits an appraisal of the relative influence of institutional context, structure and individual agency and delivers a new model for understanding the logics of representative action in appointed bodies.

Book Review: The Northern Veto

Book Review: Local Government Studies  Volume 37, Issue 2, 2011 248-249

Book Review: The Northern Veto,  Mark Sandford (Ed.)
Manchester, Manchester University Press, 2009, ISBN 978-0-7190-7552-0

Local Government Studies  Volume 37, Issue 2, 2011 248-249

‘Mandate expectations: How councillors make sense of and enact representation in an appointed arena.’

The modern councillor now lives in an era of complex local governance operating in multiple arenas and networks rather than purely through old-style national/local government structures. Regional assemblies represent one such arena within which councillors operate. Formed on the basis of appointment, councillors are mandated to represent their local authority at the regional assembly.

This paper is formed from the results of a case study of councillors and their representative actions whilst operating in the West Midlands Regional Assembly. The case study explores the role choices of councillors as they strategically access the policy process at different stages and institutional levels in order to maximise their opportunities to forward particular representative concerns. 

This paper locates the analysis within the theoretical framework of sense making (Weick 1995) in order to understand how external factors, internal preferences, logics and ideals interplay within a particular context to define the enactment of representation. It therefore addresses the reflexivity of actors with regards to understanding and adapting to different policy contexts. The results appraise the differences between and within councillors interpretations of their role by exploring their micro-level enactments of representation as situated actors ‘making sense’ of their role and a new organisational context.

‘The old curiosity shop’: How councillors consider their representative role when operating in alternative tiers of government.

The formation of regional assemblies created a new level of government and representative space within which councillors operate. The representative role of councillors has been studied at individual levels of government (Eulau et al. 1959, Newton 1974, Rao 1999) whilst the implications for accountability and representation by appointed members have also being addressed (Leach, Davis et al. 1991, Day and Klein 1987). This paper assesses how the role, scope and focus of representatives alter when councillors operate in more than one political arena. Building on the results of scoping interviews with councillors operating in the West Midlands Regional Assembly it assesses the ways in which politicians adapt and enact different roles within different political arenas. The findings will assist in understanding of the affects of selection processes on how councillors conduct their role and the implications of this for democracy.

Multi Level Representation: Councillors moving between political arenas, a tale of two mandates

Conference Paper Draft PSA09 Manchester

The formation of regional assemblies in the UK since the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 created a new regional level of government and a new representative space within which councillors operate. Being formed on the basis of appointment, councillors are handed the mandate to represent by their appointing institution namely their local authority. However, they also receive a mandate from the electorate to represent on their local authority.

The representative role of councillors has been studied at individual levels of government (Eulau et al. 1959, Newton 1974, Rao 1999) whilst the implications for accountability and representation by appointed members have also being addressed (Leach, Davis et al. 1991, Day and Klein 1987).  In drawing together both these literatures a framework can be developed to aid an understanding of relevant factors and influences on councillors operating in multiple institutions.