ALL 2020 DATES ARE CANCELLED OR POSTPONED, BECAUSE OF COVID-19
This one-day seminar is provided annually, on a regional basis, on behalf of the National Association of Civic Officers by Councillor Skills.
Councillor Skills is a Local Government Training & Development partnership who provide seminars designed and delivered by a former Council Leader and a Local Government Training & Development Officer
The seminar is aimed at prospective Civic Heads, Mayoress, Consorts/Escorts, their Deputies and all Civic Support Officers.
It includes discussion on the role of all of the above and will identify any concerns and further needs you may have in carrying out the role.
Another aim of the event is to provide the opportunity to meet and network with Members and Officers from other authorities in similar or prospective roles.
The event will include discussion of:
- The role of The Civic Head, Mayoress/Consort/Escort, Deputies and Officers
- Your concerns with regard to any of the above roles
- Diary Management
- Personal considerations
- Charity Appeals
- The Civic Role within the Council
- Chairing Council meetings / Officer Network session
Dates & Venues
Dates and venues set currently for 2020 are as follows:
BRADFORD – Thursday 12 March COMPLETED
Contact: Richard Lee-Van den Daele
The Lord Mayor’s Diary Secretary
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, City Hall, Bradford BD1 1HY
Tel: 01274 432283, E-mail: richard.daele@bradford.gov.uk
ALL DATES GOING FORWARD IN 2020 HAVE BEEN POSTPONED OR CANCELLED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF COVID-19.
AS THINGS BECOME CLEARER, LATER IN THE YEAR, LOOK OUT FOR NEW DATES
BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN – Friday 20 March
Contact: Andrew Thomson, Mayoral & Civic Officer
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Town Hall, Blackburn BB1 7DY
Tel: 01254 585229, E-mail: andrewthomson@blackburn.gov.uk
EAST MIDLANDS COUNCILS - Wednesday 27 May
Contact: Kirsty Lowe, Learning & Development Advisor
East Midlands Councils, First Floor Office, South Annexe
Pera Business Park, Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray, Leics LE13 OPB
Tel: 01664 502637, E-mail: kirsty.lowe@emcouncils.gov.uk
NORTH EAST REGIONAL EMPLOYERS’ ORGANISATION - Monday 15 June
Contact: Maureen O’Keefe, Secretary
North East Regional Employers’ Organisation
The Guildhall, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3AF
Tel: 01912 495874, E-mail: mokeefe@nereo.gov.uk
WELWYN HATFIELD – Wednesday 10 June
Contact: Sally Houghton, Mayor & Members Support Officer
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Council Offices,
Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE
Tel: 01707 357419, E-mail: mayors.office@welhat.gov.uk
If you would like further information or would like to reserve any places please contact the organiser direct.
If your region is not represented then you might wish to consider running one of these seminars, as profit is split between Councillor Skills and the hosting authority and NACO guarantees to cover any loss. Further information can be obtained from the NACO Training Officer, Christine Christensen, christine.christensen@ipswich.gov.uk, telephone 01473 432641 or contact the provider:
Councillor Skills, Tel: 07714 326724, E-mail: councillorskills@msn.com
Councillor Skills - The Facilitators
Ronnie Farley is a former Leader of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. He was a councillor for 15 years during which time he was Leader or Deputy Leader of his group for eight years and Lead Member on the Finance, Social Services, Community, Environment and Equal Opportunities committees at various times. He also served on West Yorkshire Police and Fire committees, The Association of Metropolitan Authority’s Policy and Equal Opportunities committees.
Marilyn Box is a Training & Development Officer and teacher and worked in various sectors of Local Government for 19 years including Corporate Services, Housing, Education, Social Services, Legal and Finance. She has also been employed as a researcher, publicity officer and education programmer.
They have worked with the North East Region Employers organisation, East Midlands Councils, The Surrey Partnership, London Councils, Solace Enterprises, the National Association of Civic Officers and directly with over 150 local authorities.
COUNCILLOR SKILLS could also provide other seminars directly to your authority. These include:
Member/Officer Seminars
The Role of a Councillor
This seminar will explore the role of a Councillor as a Community Leader, all possible roles in the formal Council proceedings and will focus on the ward representational role.
The seminar is designed to be used in conjunction with Induction for new or relatively inexperienced Councillors.
Wardwork, Casework and Surgeries
This seminar will identify the role of the Ward Councillor in building relationships with individuals, groups, partners and other relevant contacts and creating communication and information networks within their ward.
It includes dealing with individual constituency casework in an effective, time efficient manner and explores the merits of different types of surgeries.
Speaking in Public
This seminar includes discussion of speaking objectives, assessing the audience, opening the speech, sound bites, body language, voice pitch, pace, volume and projection, using notes, dealing with hecklers and taking questions.
The session will provide delegates with the opportunity to plan, write, structure and deliver a short speech to a supportive audience and receive feedback if required.
The Member and the Media
This seminar will include information on how the press operates, the function and types of press releases, writing a press release, your target audience, distribution, maximum coverage, radio and television interviews, studio techniques, practical hints, phone-ins, audience programmes, taking questions and putting your point across.
Overview & Scrutiny Review
This seminar will review the remit, power and scope of Overview & Scrutiny, partnership working with the Executive/Cabinet, the role and responsibilities of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, differing forms of Scrutiny, setting the agenda, devising a work plan, processes, meetings, planned participation, potential involvement, Officer Support and practical implications.
Effective Meetings and Chairing Skills
This seminar is designed to explore the chairing skills required before, during, after and between meetings and is aimed not only at existing or prospective Chairs/Deputies but anyone who would like to contribute to making meetings more effective.
Member/Officer Relationships
This seminar is aimed at both Members and Officers and is designed to explore their respective roles and responsibilities, examine their relationships, identify any potential conflicts and tensions and determine any suggestions for improvement.
Community Leadership and Engagement
This seminar identifies the role of the Councillor as a Community Leader and determines why community engagement is essential, what processes and partnerships your authority has now, appropriate participation techniques, internal and external communication, effective capacity building and how to ensure effective consultation and engagement are built into decision-making structures.
Time Management
The seminar identifies how you spend your time at present and what wastes your time. How to deal with casework, paperwork, telephone calls, meetings, documents and reports in a time efficient manner will be addressed.
It will identify what Council support you currently have and what additional support would make your life easier as a Member.
A Seminar for Potential Councillors
A Councillor? Who, Me?
This seminar is aimed at prospective Councillors from, say, the voluntary sector, community organisations, business or any member of the public who is interested in investigating the role and remit of the Council and a Councillor.
It will identify the barriers to a wider variety of applicants and what steps The Council could take to make the role of a Councillor more “user-friendly”.
Political Awareness for Officers
This one-day seminar for Officers is designed to raise awareness of Member/Officer roles and relationships within the context of the political arena and Council framework within which they operate.
The Role of a Councillor from both an Officer and a Councillor perspective will be outlined and their responsibilities and relationship defined.
For further information, please contact Ronnie Farley/Marilyn Box, telephone 07714 326724 or E-mail: councillorskills@msn.com
Officer Seminar
Political Awareness for Officers
This one-day seminar for Officers is designed to raise awareness of Member/Officer roles and relationships within the context of the political arena and Council framework within which they operate.
The Role of a Councillor from both an Officer and a Councillor perspective will be outlined and their responsibilities and relationship defined.
For further information, please contact Ronnie Farley/Marilyn Box, telephone 07714 326724 or E-mail: councillorskills@msn.com