Click here for full details and to book: Just a Minute
Audience
This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who are required to take minutes of meetings. The target audience will be those who are relatively new to democratic service teams and those with a few years’ experience.
How the course will be delivered
The course will be delivered virtually, to maximise the delegates learning experience the course has been broken into two virtual workshops.
The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with delegates from across the country.
This workshop aims to provide you with the skills and knowledge to write a local government minute, including:
- An understanding of the law relating to local government minutes
- Tips and good practice for notetaking and local government minute writing
- An awareness of the different minutes styles used for different types of meetings
- The opportunity to apply your knowledge in practical exercises and case studies with colleagues from other local authorities.
Date and time
Workshop One: Tuesday 14th January 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Tuesday 21st January 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Delegates are required to attend both workshops. Please note that you only need to book on 14th Jan course date to be able to attend both workshops.
For further details, please contact your regional representatives, Emma Tombs Emma.tombs@essex.gov.uk or Matt Makin matt.makin@peterborough.gov.uk
For full details and to book, click here: Overview and Scrutiny
Audience
This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who wish to develop their understanding of the main principles, roles and methodology of overview and scrutiny. The target audience will be those who need an introduction to overview and scrutiny to equip them with the basics to support Overview and Scrutiny Committees and task and finish groups. The content is also linked to Module 7 of the ADSO Certificate so it will help learners with their research for this module.
How the course will be delivered
The course will be delivered virtually, to maximise the delegates learning experience the course has been broken into two virtual workshops.
The workshops will
- Provide an understanding of the relevant legislation underpinning overview and scrutiny.
- Provide an understanding of the roles and principles of good scrutiny.
- Explore ideas about how to put together a Scrutiny Work Programme
- Explore how to scope a scrutiny review.
- Explore ideas for measuring effectiveness.
The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with delegates from across the country.
Date and time
Workshop One: Thursday 23rd January 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Thursday 30th January 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Delegates are required to attend both workshops. Please note that you only need to book on 23rd January course date to be able to attend both workshops.
For full details and to book, click here: Overview and Scrutiny
Audience
This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who wish to develop their understanding of the main principles, roles and methodology of overview and scrutiny. The target audience will be those who need an introduction to overview and scrutiny to equip them with the basics to support Overview and Scrutiny Committees and task and finish groups. The content is also linked to Module 7 of the ADSO Certificate so it will help learners with their research for this module.
How the course will be delivered
The course will be delivered virtually, to maximise the delegates learning experience the course has been broken into two virtual workshops.
The workshops will
- Provide an understanding of the relevant legislation underpinning overview and scrutiny.
- Provide an understanding of the roles and principles of good scrutiny.
- Explore ideas about how to put together a Scrutiny Work Programme
- Explore how to scope a scrutiny review.
- Explore ideas for measuring effectiveness.
The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with delegates from across the country.
Date and time
Workshop One: Thursday 23rd January 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Thursday 30th January 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Delegates are required to attend both workshops. Please note that you only need to book on 23rd January course date to be able to attend both workshops.
For more information, please contact Fiona Rae (fiona.rae@barnet.gov.uk) or Maria Burton (maria.burton@lbhf.gov.uk)
For full details and to book, click here: Meetings Procedures
Audience
This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who wish to further develop their understanding of the legal and governance framework within which councils operate and the practical application of this to the range of work areas undertaken by democratic services teams. The course content will be relevant both to those who are relatively new to democratic services and officers with a few years’ experience (6 months to 3 years’ experience of supporting meetings as a guide.)
The content is also linked a number of modules especially Law and Practice module and the Structures and Functions of the ADSO Certificate and ADSO Diploma so it will help learners with their research for this module.
How the course will be delivered
The course will be delivered virtually via Zoom, and by the end of the workshop you will:
- Understand how decisions are made and reported and your role in supporting this, both in and out of meetings
- Constitutional issues of meetings- quorums, points of order
- Dealing with motions and voting including amendments, adjournments and deferrals
- Have a sense of how accountability and good governance works in local government, how Councils and Councillors are held to account and the role of scrutiny.
- Understand the rules of debate and consider the impact of politics and what this means for you as an officer of the Council.
The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with delegates from across the country.
Date and time
Workshop One: Tuesday 4th February 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Tuesday 11th February 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Please note that you only need to book the workshop on 4th February to be able to attend both workshops and attendance is required at both sessions.
For full details and to express interest, please visit:
Express your interest in our training for Deputy Monitoring Officers
For full details and to book, click here: Law and Practice of Local Government
Audience
This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who wish to develop their understanding of the legal framework within which councils and combined authorities operate and the practical application of this to the range of work areas undertaken by democratic services teams. The course content will be relevant both to those who are relatively new to democratic services and to officers with a few years’ experience.
The content is also linked to the Law and Practice module of the ADSO Certificate and so it will help learners with their research for this module.
How the course will be delivered
The course will be delivered virtually via Zoom. To maximise the delegates’ learning experience the course has been divided into two virtual workshops.
The workshops will
- Provide an understanding of the statutory position of local and combined authorities and the main pieces of legislation governing their operation and constitutional arrangements.
- Examine the practical application of this legal framework to the aspects of an authorities’ operation that impact most directly on the democratic services function, including:
- Constitutions, governance arrangements and decision-making under executive arrangements, (elected mayor or leader and cabinet) or a committee system.
- Political proportionality rules.
- Legal provisions relating to members and officer roles; and
- Arrangements to ensure good governance including access to information, transparency and ethical standards.
The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with colleagues from across the country.
Dates and times
Workshop One: Thursday 6th February 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Thursday 13th February 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Please note that you only need to book on 6th February course date to be able to attend both workshops.
For full details and to book, click here: Meetings Procedures
Audience
This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who wish to further develop their understanding of the legal and governance framework within which councils operate and the practical application of this to the range of work areas undertaken by democratic services teams. The course content will be relevant both to those who are relatively new to democratic services and officers with a few years’ experience (6 months to 3 years’ experience of supporting meetings as a guide.)
The content is also linked a number of modules especially Law and Practice module and the Structures and Functions of the ADSO Certificate and ADSO Diploma so it will help learners with their research for this module.
How the course will be delivered
The course will be delivered virtually via Zoom, and by the end of the workshop you will:
- Understand how decisions are made and reported and your role in supporting this, both in and out of meetings
- Constitutional issues of meetings- quorums, points of order
- Dealing with motions and voting including amendments, adjournments and deferrals
- Have a sense of how accountability and good governance works in local government, how Councils and Councillors are held to account and the role of scrutiny.
- Understand the rules of debate and consider the impact of politics and what this means for you as an officer of the Council.
The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with delegates from across the country.
Date and time
Workshop One: Tuesday 4th February 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Tuesday 11th February 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Please note that you only need to book the workshop on 4th February to be able to attend both workshops and attendance is required at both sessions.
For full details and to book, click here: Law and Practice of Local Government
Audience
This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who wish to develop their understanding of the legal framework within which councils and combined authorities operate and the practical application of this to the range of work areas undertaken by democratic services teams. The course content will be relevant both to those who are relatively new to democratic services and to officers with a few years’ experience.
The content is also linked to the Law and Practice module of the ADSO Certificate and so it will help learners with their research for this module.
How the course will be delivered
The course will be delivered virtually via Zoom. To maximise the delegates’ learning experience the course has been divided into two virtual workshops.
The workshops will
- Provide an understanding of the statutory position of local and combined authorities and the main pieces of legislation governing their operation and constitutional arrangements.
- Examine the practical application of this legal framework to the aspects of an authorities’ operation that impact most directly on the democratic services function, including:
- Constitutions, governance arrangements and decision-making under executive arrangements, (elected mayor or leader and cabinet) or a committee system.
- Political proportionality rules.
- Legal provisions relating to members and officer roles; and
- Arrangements to ensure good governance including access to information, transparency and ethical standards.
The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with colleagues from across the country.
Dates and times
Workshop One: Thursday 6th February 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Thursday 13th February 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Please note that you only need to book on 6th February course date to be able to attend both workshops.