The findings from the councillors' census 2008 are now available on line. This fifth survey of local authority councillors in England was undertaken by NFER for the LGA and IDeA in the autumn of 2008.

Key findings

• 81.8% of councillors would recommend taking on the role to others
• 88.4% cited a desire to serve the community as their reason for becoming a councillor
• 94.1% thought that listening to local views was the most important thing for councillors to do and 91.4% said supporting the local community was most important
• 88.0% considered themselves to be effective or very effective in their role as councillors.

National Foundation for Educational Research (2009). National Census of Local Authority Councillors 2008. Slough: NFER.