How to make friends and influence Councillors
“Public acceptability drives everything councillors do and, at election time, salience is everything.”
Did you miss the insightful webinar “Navigating the politics of sustainable transport - ‘How to make friends and influence Councillors’” with James Gleave hosted by Mark Ames (Strategic Cities)?
We’ve got you covered.
Watch the webinar online here.
Brain fuel: download James’ research paper, “How to make friends and influence Councillors” here.
📖 Read the summary by Stephanie Crossley (Crossley Transport Planning)
Last night, I heard James Gleave share his unique perspective as both a former Councillor and a transport planner. It was a timely reminder that while evidence and technical expertise matter, politics and public sentiment are powerful forces in shaping transport decisions.
One insight in particular stood out:
“Public acceptability drives everything councillors do and, at election time, salience is everything.”
Salience simply means how visible and important an issue feels to voters at that moment. High salience often comes from media attention, strong community advocacy, or alignment with election promises.
Five key insights from James’ research and interviews:
1️⃣ Trust is everything. Councillors rely on officers as their go-to technical experts and will champion your recommendations if you present a clear, evidence-based case.
2️⃣ Media shapes urgency. Social and traditional media influence what feels “urgent” in the public eye, which in turn drives political will.
3️⃣ Talk early, talk openly. Controversial matters need early discussion so councillors can form shared views before positions harden.
4️⃣ Voices matter. Strong community voices, especially trusted advocates, can tip the balance in decision-making.
5️⃣ Timing is critical. For sustainable transport, it’s not just about having the right solution, it’s about making it the right time for that solution.
What does this mean for us? How can we leverage this advice?
✅ Connecting proposals to election commitments
✅ Presenting evidence in ways that are easy to understand and share
✅ Commissioning surveys to ground decisions in community sentiment
✅ Building relationships that make you the trusted voice in the room
