John Austin and myself spent an enjoyable day at Chichester DC this week running a training session for their Members and Officers on Executive Arrangements and Declarations of Interests. As the Council is in No Overall Control it will be interesting times for all. If any other authorities would like help either with training or consultancy work then get in touch.
A large number of ADSO members will be attending the IIMC Symposium in Stratford upon Avon this week and the programme looks interesting with a gala dinner at Warwick Castle. That should impress the American contingent.
As you will have seen previously Phil McCourt from LLG and Director of Governance and Assurance and Monitoring Officer at Wirral BC has asked ADSO Members for things they would like changed or added or improvements they would like to see to the next edition of Knowles. Please go onto the ADSO forum and add your comments as I know lots of people use Knowles and have good suggestions for changes. This is a real chance for us to shape the next edition to make it even better. My own suggestion is for a better index and cross indexing of subject matters as it is sometimes difficult to find what you are looking for.
On the 20th June the CfPS will be holding a symposium in London on the Government’s Scrutiny Guidance. If you are interested in attending here is the links to the relevant pages:
https://www.cfps.org.uk/government-scrutiny-guidance-symposium-20th-june-london-book-now/
There is a programme and more info here
https://cfpsevents.eventhq.co.uk/government-scrutiny-guidance-symposium
Symposium seems to be the in word at the moment. The standard meaning is a conference or meeting to discuss a particular subject. There is another meaning which is a drinking party or convivial discussion, especially as held in ancient Greece after a banquet (and notable as the title of a work by Plato). Now that would encourage me to attend!
Have a good week