Working with democratically elected councillors: Reflections on research engagement in local government

Although local politicians (councillors) in England are key decision-makers in relation to local services, little is known about how they use evidence in making decisions pertaining to the wider determinants of health. The setting-up of 30 Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs), commissioned to increase the capability and capacity of local authorities to use research and other evidence, provides an opportunity to plug this knowledge gap.

A qualitative reflection on our initial experiences of working with councillors in one HDRC.

We critically reflect on these interactions to extract wider learning that will be of interest to researchers and practitioners in local authorities and potentially research funders. We develop a continuum of interactions with councillors in the HDRC based on our experiences.

Organisational positionality plays a crucial role in shaping research interactions and outcomes. By focusing on existing practices, preferences, and strengths, researchers can move beyond the deficit models that often dominate academic discourse. Engaging with councillors is rarely a linear process; it demands parallel approaches and a high degree of adaptability. Researchers must also remain attentive to both the challenges and opportunities presented by organisational structures and electoral cycles. In this context, mixed-methods research demonstrates resilience, accommodating the varied levels of engagement and involvement among councillors.

We conclude from these experiences that research with councillors and building their capability to use research evidence in their work requires sustained, flexible, and relational approaches that are responsive to the political and organisational realities of local government.