They were designed to try to ensure the minutiae of local representation was not lost as power shifted towards the centre and survived the overhaul which created the current system of local government in 1996.
In Scotland, but not yet in England, there is the prospect of proportional representation in local government.
For the first time, EU representation in member states includes an expert monitoring the local economy.
The groups set an ambitious target: 50% representation for women in government, and to try to alter the dynamics of local councils and opposition bodies by demanding and working for more female representation.
The Scottish coalition's harmony threatened to break down on June 27th when an independent commission set up by the administration to look at local-council reform recommended reducing the number of councillors and electing them by proportional representation, instead of by first-past-the-post.
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In particular, the National Ocean Council will obtain input from our Governance Coordinating Committee, composed of states, tribes, and local government representatives, on additional representation on the regional planning bodies.
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More tantalising yet for the Lib Dems was the prospect of Labour acceptance that proportional representation should be used for local council elections.
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Hundreds of Christians took to the streets in Mosul and surrounding villages and towns, demanding adequate representation on provincial councils, whose members will be chosen in the local elections.
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They say switching a school to Academy status puts public assets into private ownership, reduces local accountability, allows private sponsors to dictate areas of the curriculum and threatens union representation.
The Counting Women In coalition, which campaigns for equal representation of men and women in national and local government, said its report showed "continued drift" was inevitable without targeted action - including more women being selected in winnable seats.
Local authorities should ensure the involvement of migrant communities in urban decision-making processes by establishing channels for representation and participation.
In half the districts in northern England, Labour scored more than half the local vote this year, so it would be able to rule alone in these councils even if full proportional representation were introduced.
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