Developing the representational role of elected members: Local involvement, local action in a Birmingham ward

This article focuses on the developing representational role of elected mem bers in Birmingham as part of the wider modernisation agenda. It describes nod analyses 'Local Involvement, Local Action', a local authority initiativ e to enhance democratic participation that was set up just prior to the pub lication of new political management arrangements. This initiative is typic al of many local authority approaches, combining a desire to enhance the co ntribution of local citizens with a decentralisation programme to devolve d ecision making to the sub-local level and begin to 'join-up' the actions of a variety of local partners at neighbourhood level. The article highlights the strengths and weaknesses of rite LILA initiative and identifies the wi der potential mid limits of such decentralisation initiatives to enhancing the representational role of elected members.