ADSO is hosting the popular course ‘Meetings Procedures’. It will be delivered as two virtual 3-hour workshops. Delegates are required to attend both workshops.
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.
Trainers – Lennox Beattie and Ian Curtis
Lennox is an experienced Democratic Services practitioner having been the Executive and Regulatory Manager at Blackpool Council for the past 14 years. He has been responsible for support to the Executive and its governance for that period. Lennox is also involved in ADSO work through the qualifications, which includes both the certificate and diploma.
Ian is a solicitor who has worked in local government in the UK for more than thirty years. He is presently Head of Governance at Fylde Council in Lancashire, where he has worked seventeen years. Ian was council’s statutory Monitoring Officer for nine years and has acted as Deputy Returning Officer for local, national and European elections. Ian is a past chair of the North West branch of the Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors.
Date and time
Workshop One: Thursday 28th November 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Thursday 5th December 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Cost
- ADSO Member rate – £110 + VAT per person to attend the course
- Non-ADSO Member rate – £160 + VAT per person to attend the course
Terms and conditions for booking can be found here.
How to book a place
Bookings for October to December open on 1st August 2024
To book a place please use the online booking form via the link below.
Please note that you only need to book on to one workshop to be able to attend both workshops and attendance is required at both sessions.
Booking requirements
- A purchase order number is required for all bookings. Please make the PO out to ADSO.
- A hardcopy of the purchase order is required.
- Please provide us with your ADSO Membership number (if applicable)
- A few days after booking you will receive a calendar invite for the workshop(s). Please note that your email address will be visible to all participants unless you advise us otherwise.
Please send the above information to adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk.
ADSO is hosting the interactive, virtual course ‘Law and Practice of Local Government’. The course will be delivered as two, virtual three-hour workshops. Delegates will be required to attend both of the virtual workshops.
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:
- Governance arrangements and decision-making under executive arrangements, elected mayor or leader and cabinet or a committee system.
- Political proportionality rules.
- Legal provisions affecting members and officers; 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.
Trainers – John Williams and Tracy Couper
John has over 30 years’ practical experience in the field of democratic services, governance and constitutional advice. For 12 of these he headed up the service at the London Boroughs of Croydon and then Tower Hamlets, where he was also appointed as Returning Officer and Deputy Monitoring Officer. John now works as a consultant in democratic and electoral services and has extensive experience of delivering training in each of these areas. He is also an assessor for the ADSO Diploma.
Tracy Couper has been Democratic Services Manager at East Cambridgeshire District Council since 2005 and Deputy Monitoring Officer since 2015. This is her 36th year in Democratic Services and previously she has held senior roles at Bedfordshire County Council prior to its abolition, Peterborough City Council during the transition period to it becoming a Unitary Council and started her career at Huntingdonshire District Council. She has been Clerk to the Fire Authority whilst at Bedfordshire and more recently involved in the establishment of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
Dates and times
Workshop One: Wednesday 4th December 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Wednesday 11th December 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Delegates are required to attend both workshops. Please note that you only need to book on to one course date to be able to attend both workshops.
Cost
- ADSO Member rate – £110 + VAT per person to attend the course
- Non-ADSO Member rate – £160 + VAT per person to attend the course
Terms and conditions for booking can be found here.
Please email adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk if you wish to be allocated a learner place.
How to book a place
Bookings for October to December open on 1st August 2024
To book a place please use the online booking form via the link below.
Booking requirements
- A purchase order number is required for all bookings. Please make the PO out to ADSO.
- A hardcopy of the purchase order is required.
- Please provide us with your ADSO Membership number (if applicable)
- A few days after booking you will receive a calendar invite for the workshop(s). Please note that your email address will be visible to all participants unless you advise us otherwise.
Please send the above information to adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk.
ADSO is hosting the popular course ‘Meetings Procedures’. It will be delivered as two virtual 3-hour workshops. Delegates are required to attend both workshops.
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.
Trainers – Lennox Beattie and Ian Curtis
Lennox is an experienced Democratic Services practitioner having been the Executive and Regulatory Manager at Blackpool Council for the past 14 years. He has been responsible for support to the Executive and its governance for that period. Lennox is also involved in ADSO work through the qualifications, which includes both the certificate and diploma.
Ian is a solicitor who has worked in local government in the UK for more than thirty years. He is presently Head of Governance at Fylde Council in Lancashire, where he has worked seventeen years. Ian was council’s statutory Monitoring Officer for nine years and has acted as Deputy Returning Officer for local, national and European elections. Ian is a past chair of the North West branch of the Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors.
Date and time
Workshop One: Thursday 28th November 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Thursday 5th December 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Cost
- ADSO Member rate – £110 + VAT per person to attend the course
- Non-ADSO Member rate – £160 + VAT per person to attend the course
Terms and conditions for booking can be found here.
How to book a place
Bookings for October to December open on 1st August 2024
To book a place please use the online booking form via the link below.
Please note that you only need to book on to one workshop to be able to attend both workshops and attendance is required at both sessions.
Booking requirements
- A purchase order number is required for all bookings. Please make the PO out to ADSO.
- A hardcopy of the purchase order is required.
- Please provide us with your ADSO Membership number (if applicable)
- A few days after booking you will receive a calendar invite for the workshop(s). Please note that your email address will be visible to all participants unless you advise us otherwise.
Please send the above information to adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk.
ADSO is hosting an opportunity to attend this interactive, virtual course ‘Becoming a DSO – an introduction’ held via Zoom. Specifically designed for those taking their first steps into the world of Democratic Services, this course is aimed at those in the first twelve weeks of starting.
This is a quick introduction, designed to give you some essentials and to give you the chance to ask questions and meet other new starters. It will be delivered as a single 3-hour workshop.
Audience
This course is aimed at newly appointed Democratic Services Officers who wish to develop their understanding of their role. It is for those who have never worked in this area before and who want a quick introduction to orient themselves.
How the course will be delivered
The course will be delivered virtually, and by the end of the workshop you will:
- Understand what a local Council is and how it is funded.
- Know the different types of local Council and what services they provide.
- Understand how decisions are made and your role in supporting this, both in and out of meetings
- Have a sense of how accountability works in local government, how Councils and Councillors are held to account and the role of scrutiny.
- Have considered how the political environment of your workplace affects your role and makes it unique.
The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with colleagues from across the country.
Trainers – Lennox Beattie and Ian Millichap
Lennox is an experienced Democratic Services practitioner having been the Executive and Regulatory Manager at Blackpool Council for the past 14 years. He has been responsible for support to the Executive and its governance for that period. Lennox is also involved in ADSO work through the qualifications, which includes both the certificate and diploma.
Ian has over 30 years’ experience of working in local government and has spent 15 years in senior roles. He has previously worked for London Borough of Southwark as head of the committee governance team. Ian has Clerked Full Council, Cabinet and all Major Committees and has experience of both Committee and Executive arrangements.
Date and time
Tuesday 10th December 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Cost
- ADSO Member rate – £55 + VAT per person to attend the course
- Non-ADSO Member rate – £80 + VAT per person to attend the course
How to book a place
Bookings for October to December open on 1st August 2024
Please book a place using the link below.
Terms and conditions for booking can be found here
Booking requirements
- A purchase order number is required for all bookings. Please make the PO out to ADSO.
- A hardcopy of the purchase order is required.
- Please provide us with your ADSO Membership number (if applicable)
- A few days after booking you will receive a calendar invite for the workshop(s). Please note that your email address will be visible to all participants unless you advise us otherwise.
Please send the above information to adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk.
ADSO is hosting the interactive, virtual course ‘Law and Practice of Local Government’. The course will be delivered as two, virtual three-hour workshops. Delegates will be required to attend both of the virtual workshops.
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:
- Governance arrangements and decision-making under executive arrangements, elected mayor or leader and cabinet or a committee system.
- Political proportionality rules.
- Legal provisions affecting members and officers; 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.
Trainers – John Williams and Tracy Couper
John has over 30 years’ practical experience in the field of democratic services, governance and constitutional advice. For 12 of these he headed up the service at the London Boroughs of Croydon and then Tower Hamlets, where he was also appointed as Returning Officer and Deputy Monitoring Officer. John now works as a consultant in democratic and electoral services and has extensive experience of delivering training in each of these areas. He is also an assessor for the ADSO Diploma.
Tracy Couper has been Democratic Services Manager at East Cambridgeshire District Council since 2005 and Deputy Monitoring Officer since 2015. This is her 36th year in Democratic Services and previously she has held senior roles at Bedfordshire County Council prior to its abolition, Peterborough City Council during the transition period to it becoming a Unitary Council and started her career at Huntingdonshire District Council. She has been Clerk to the Fire Authority whilst at Bedfordshire and more recently involved in the establishment of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
Dates and times
Workshop One: Wednesday 4th December 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Wednesday 11th December 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Delegates are required to attend both workshops. Please note that you only need to book on to one course date to be able to attend both workshops.
Cost
- ADSO Member rate – £110 + VAT per person to attend the course
- Non-ADSO Member rate – £160 + VAT per person to attend the course
Terms and conditions for booking can be found here.
Please email adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk if you wish to be allocated a learner place.
How to book a place
Bookings for October to December open on 1st August 2024
To book a place please use the online booking form via the link below.
Booking requirements
- A purchase order number is required for all bookings. Please make the PO out to ADSO.
- A hardcopy of the purchase order is required.
- Please provide us with your ADSO Membership number (if applicable)
- A few days after booking you will receive a calendar invite for the workshop(s). Please note that your email address will be visible to all participants unless you advise us otherwise.
Please send the above information to adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk.