Nov
23
Thu
ADSO Annual Conference 2017 @ Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Nottingham
Nov 23 – Nov 24 all-day

This year’s annual conference will take place in Nottingham, It will be held once again at the Doubletree Hilton in Nottingham on 23 and 24th November, with the dinner on the night of the 23rd.

The theme is ‘Democratic Services – Shaping the Future”. Following on from last year, we want to ensure that ADSO members continue to be as equipped as possible to deal with the political and other challenges, increased workloads and dwindling resources faced by all authorities. We are crafting a programme to reflect those needs and some of the workshops we will be running include:

  • delving deeper into new ways of working, including change management and income generation
  • a practical lesson in starting and working within a shared democratic service
  • good practice, current thinking and challenges for overview and scrutiny delivered by the Centre for Public Scrutiny.
  • Wigan (winners of last year’s ADSO Team of the Year Award) will be sharing the secrets of how to be the best Democratic Services Team and what they’ve been working on since.

Plus, Philip McCourt, the author of the latest  “Knowles on local authority meetings”, will be running a workshop to discuss and seek new ideas from democratic services practitioners for inclusion in the next edition.

Delegates have said the facilitated discussions are useful so we are sticking with them as part of the programme, If you are interested in running a facilitated discussion or have topic ideas, please get in touch.

Key note speakers are yet to be confirmed and there are additional workshops we are finalising, watch out for updates in the weekly newsletter.

Early bird bookings are now open until the 1st September, please visit here for the booking form.

Accommodation needs to be booked separately. You can do this by going to the Doubletree booking website and use the “Group Code” ADSO17 to receive the ADSO rate (£100 B&B).

Looking forward to seeing you there, if you have any queries please contact us: info@adso.co.uk

Sue

ADSO Director of Development

Jan
22
Mon
ADSO training course – “Meetings Procedures” (Nottingham County Council) **fully booked** @ Assembly Hall, Nottingham County Council
Jan 22 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Target Audience:

This course is aimed at delegates who are new to supporting meetings and/ or those who wish to learn more about the legal aspects of servicing meetings. It is also relevant for learners undertaking the Certificate in Democratic Knowledge.

 

Workshop topics:

  • The difference between informal and formal meetings and adapting procedures for different types of meetings
  • Constitutional issues of meetings
  • What constitutes a meeting, notice, the chairman, quorum, substitutions etc.
  • Voting procedures and decision making
  • Introduction to motions and amendments
  • Rules of debate
  • Dealing with speakers, points of order and personal explanations.
  • Adjournments, exclusions and cancellations of meetings
  • Meetings Procedures surgery and general discussion
  • Conclusions, feedback and action planning

 

Midlands – Lennox Beattie, Executive & Regulatory Manager, Blackpool Council and Rosalind Reeves, Democratic Services Manager, Cheltenham Borough Council

 

Bookings are now closed

 

Jan
26
Fri
ADSO training course – “Meetings Procedures” (LB Wandsworth) @ Extension Room 1A/B, London Borough of Wandsworth
Jan 26 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Target Audience:

This course is aimed at delegates who are new to supporting meetings and/ or those who wish to learn more about the legal aspects of servicing meetings. It is also relevant for learners undertaking the Certificate in Democratic Knowledge.

 

Workshop topics:

  • The difference between informal and formal meetings and adapting procedures for different types of meetings
  • Constitutional issues of meetings
  • What constitutes a meeting, notice, the chairman, quorum, substitutions etc.
  • Voting procedures and decision making
  • Introduction to motions and amendments
  • Rules of debate
  • Dealing with speakers, points of order and personal explanations.
  • Adjournments, exclusions and cancellations of meetings
  • Meetings Procedures surgery and general discussion
  • Conclusions, feedback and action planning

 

Presenters:

London – Frankie Belloli, ADSO consultant and regional representative and Peter Foulsham, Scrutiny Officer,Wyre Council

Booking Information:

To book a place on the course, please email: Adso.training@nottinghamcity.gov.uk with the following information:

  • Name and contact details (email and telephone)
  • Job title and Local Authority
  • Date and venue of course 
  • ADSO member yes/no?
  • Additional requirements (dietary etc)
  • Purchase order number (please note that we do not accept bookings without a purchase order number)

 

Joining instructions will be sent to you once your booking has been confirmed.

 

Feb
21
Wed
ADSO training course – “Introduction to Electoral Services” (Tamworth Borough Council) @ Marmion House
Feb 21 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

This course will be facilitated in partnership with colleagues from the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA).

 

Course aims:

To provide an overview of the following:

  • The roles and responsibilities of the Electoral Registration Officer, the Returning Officer and the Council
  • The process of electoral registration
  • The key events in an election

 

Audience:

  • Staff supporting the Electoral Registration Officer in electoral registration during the canvass or on the lead up to an election
  • Staff supporting the Returning Officer in various aspects of the delivery of an election
  • Senior Council staff responsible for the electoral services team
  • Those wanting to increase their understanding of the role of electoral services

 

Content:

  • What do electoral services do the other 364 days a year?
  • What governs the work electoral services does?
  • The role of the ERO and RO
  • Electoral Registration – including overview, registration deadlines, registration throughout the year, the annual canvass and publishing the register
  • Elections – including cycles of elections, nominations and ballot papers, polling stations and staffing, different methods of voting, postal votes, polling day, the count and post election responsibilities
  • The benefits of a whole Council event approach
  • Other work electoral services must complete

 

Booking Information:
To book a place on the course, please email: Adso.training@nottinghamcity.gov.uk with the following
information:

  • Name and contact details (email and telephone)
  • Job title and Local Authority
  • Date and venue of course
  • ADSO member yes/no?
  • Additional requirements (dietary etc)

Purchase order number (please note that we do not accept bookings without a purchase order number)
Joining instructions will be sent to you once your booking has been confirmed.

Feb
26
Mon
ADSO training course – “Introduction to Electoral Services” (LB Westminster) @ 2nd Floor, 5 Strand
Feb 26 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

This course will be facilitated in partnership with colleagues from the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA).

 

Course aims:

To provide an overview of the following:

  • The roles and responsibilities of the Electoral Registration Officer, the Returning Officer and the Council
  • The process of electoral registration
  • The key events in an election

 

Audience:

  • Staff supporting the Electoral Registration Officer in electoral registration during the canvass or on the lead up to an election
  • Staff supporting the Returning Officer in various aspects of the delivery of an election
  • Senior Council staff responsible for the electoral services team
  • Those wanting to increase their understanding of the role of electoral services

 

Content:

  • What do electoral services do the other 364 days a year?
  • What governs the work electoral services does?
  • The role of the ERO and RO
  • Electoral Registration – including overview, registration deadlines, registration throughout the year, the annual canvass and publishing the register
  • Elections – including cycles of elections, nominations and ballot papers, polling stations and staffing, different methods of voting, postal votes, polling day, the count and post election responsibilities
  • The benefits of a whole Council event approach
  • Other work electoral services must complete

 

Booking Information:
To book a place on the course, please email: Adso.training@nottinghamcity.gov.uk with the following
information:

  • Name and contact details (email and telephone)
  • Job title and Local Authority
  • Date and venue of course
  • ADSO member yes/no?
  • Additional requirements (dietary etc)

Purchase order number (please note that we do not accept bookings without a purchase order number)
Joining instructions will be sent to you once your booking has been confirmed.

Jun
15
Fri
North West – Regional meeting @ Lancaster City Council
Jun 15 all-day
Jun
29
Fri
ADSO training course -” The Effective Scrutiny Officer” (Birmingham City Council) @ Birmingham City Council
Jun 29 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Target Audience:

This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers wishing to develop their knowledge of the scrutiny function and to discuss and share good practice in the role of Scrutiny Officer.

 

Workshop topics:

  • Basic principles/ legislative update – an overview of the relevant legislation which governs overview and scrutiny and also a discussion around the main principles of scrutiny
  • The future: the adaptable scrutiny officer – the role of a scrutiny officer is changing. Is the future a scrutiny officer who can adapt and do other ‘add on’ roles?
  • Effective and outcome based scrutiny – looking at the value of scrutiny and measuring its effectiveness
  • Shaping an influencing scrutiny system – a look at the importance of influence to the overview and scrutiny system and how to develop this during reviews and pick appropriate topics to review
  • Effective scrutiny surgery  – a look at other issues which were raised during the day not covered by the group discussions

 

Presenters:

Birmingham City Council – Ann-Marie Davidson, Head of Law and Democracy (Staffordshire County Council) and John Austin, ADSO Chair

 

Booking Information:

To book a place on the course, please email: Adso.training@nottinghamcity.gov.uk with the following information:

  • Name and contact details (email and telephone)
  • Job title and Local Authority
  • Date and venue of course 
  • ADSO member yes/no?
  • Additional requirements (dietary etc)
  • Purchase order number (please note that we do not accept bookings without a purchase order number)

 

Joining instructions will be sent to you once your booking has been confirmed.

ADSO training course -“The Effective Scrutiny Officer” (LB Ealing) **fully booked** @ Ealing Town Hall
Jun 29 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Target Audience:

This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers wishing to develop their knowledge of the scrutiny function and to discuss and share good practice in the role of Scrutiny Officer.

 

Workshop topics:

  • Basic principles/ legislative update – an overview of the relevant legislation which governs overview and scrutiny and also a discussion around the main principles of scrutiny
  • The future: the adaptable scrutiny officer – the role of a scrutiny officer is changing. Is the future a scrutiny officer who can adapt and do other ‘add on’ roles?
  • Effective and outcome based scrutiny – looking at the value of scrutiny and measuring its effectiveness
  • Shaping an influencing scrutiny system – a look at the importance of influence to the overview and scrutiny system and how to develop this during reviews and pick appropriate topics to review
  • Effective scrutiny surgery  – a look at other issues which were raised during the day not covered by the group discussions

 

Presenters:

LB Ealing – Peter Sass, Head of Executive and Committee Service at Richmond and Wandsworth Councils and Peter Foulsham, Scrutiny Officer at Wyre Council

Jul
13
Fri
ADSO London Branch – Summer Seminar @ London Councils
Jul 13 all-day
ADSO London Branch - Summer Seminar @ London Councils | England | United Kingdom

ADSO London Branch invites you to its 2018 Seminar

Democracy, Drama and Diversity   

Friday 13 July 2018, 9.30am-4.00pm at London Councils, 59½ Southwark Street, SE1 0AL

 

Provisional Programme

MORNING SESSION

The Diversity of Local Elected Representatives:

Local Government Association Peer Members Speaker(s) on diversity and equalities in local government followed by workshops on how Democratic Services professionals can support greater equality and diversity

You Win Some, You Lose Some – London’s Local Elections May 2018
Derek Gadd, Head of Governance at London Councils

 

Afternoon SESSION

Coping with Major Challenges:

  • Kensington & Chelsea and the Grenfell tragedy
  • Rotherham’s response to child sexual exploitation inquiries
  • Tower Hamlets and governance issues under the previous Mayor

Speakers from these authorities will outline their experiences followed by a Q&A session on the governance lessons

Electoral Reviews: What’s the right number of councillors?

Marcus Bowell, Director of Strategy and Communications, Local Government Boundary Commission for England A number of London Boroughs will be undergoing electoral reviews over the next couple of years – find out what’s involved.

 

Book via this link: https://www.adso.co.uk/londonseminar/

This event is sponsored by CMIS. http://cmis.astech.co.uk/

Sep
7
Fri
Creating Impact: A Scrutiny Symposium @ County Hall, Exeter
Sep 7 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

This conference will bring together expert speakers, Scrutiny Members and officers to consider how Overview and Scrutiny can take a more meaningful role in policy development and make a positive contribution to decision making. Topics will include
learning from Parliamentary Select Committees, robust scrutiny through health & social care integration and creating a collaborative culture with Cabinet .

This event is free but places are limited and booking up fast!
Please secure your place in advance by contacting
scrutiny@devon.gov.uk

event leaflet

extension: pdf