Role of Member Champions

• Raising the profile of the issue and signalling to the communities of Wolverhampton the City Council's commitment to the issue.
• Fostering the engagement of a wider range of Members in the review and development of this issue.
• Promoting effective communication and positive working relationships both within the Council and amongst partners, stakeholders and community groups.
• Promoting the positive work that is being undertaken within the City, both at a regional and national level.
• Providing positive support, and on occasions constructive challenge, to officers in driving forward the Council's agenda on the issue.

Fulfilling the role

To fulfil their role efective a Member Champion also needs to be able to:

• foster cross-party co-operation and be able to engage community groups and officers
• understand and express the opinions and priorities of the community
• be sensitive to Council priorities; although they may be advocating the opinions of the older people, for example, they should not do so at the expense of Council Policy and Corporate Policies. Champions cannot allow themselves to "go native" and forget about their broader role as a Councillor
• Lead and respond to the whole range of issues rather than focussing upon a pet interest.