What a pleasure it is to see the flowers blooming and the days getting longer. Let’s hope we get some more sustained good weather so we can all enjoy what Spring has to offer, particularly with the school holidays looming. If you are taking time off in the run up to Easter, have a great break. There is a lot to tell you this week so let’s get started.
More from the ADSO Board Meeting on 25 March
As Joanna said last week, we had a good Board meeting on 25 March. We made some very important decisions to ensure that ADSO continues to develop and increase our national profile and influence. We have for example agreed to increased policy, campaigning, and research support to ensure that we can respond quickly to national and regional developments. This resource will provide much needed high-level support to me as chair and other Directors to enable ADSO to operate more effectively at a national level, whilst also keeping the Board ahead of the curve on issues that impact on you in your authorities (the recent Levelling Up White Paper for example). The purpose being to provide you with a more cutting-edge and proactive service.
We are also looking at succession planning on the Board including how we can increase member engagement and representation. I was delighted that Marianne Unwin, our Rookie of the Year, attended the meeting and participated so effectively. Marianne has been invited to attend all meetings during 2022 and she will also be on the judging panel for the awards. Also, Joanna told you last week about the appointment of Carl Whistlecraft as a Non-Executive Director. I am so pleased that Carl is joining us as he will bring fresh thinking to our discussions and the services we deliver to you as members.
The Board is always looking at ways in which we can re-invest our resources back to you as members and I have always argued that ADSO is stronger when working collaboratively with our partners. VVG is the equivalent organisation to ADSO in Holland and they are holding their conference on 6 & 7 October this year in Utrecht, not far from Amsterdam. They have kindly offered free conference access to any ADSO member who wishes to attend. This would just leave transport and accommodation to pay for.
The Board felt this would be a great opportunity for members to experience local government in another country (particularly learners of our qualifications). We have therefore agreed to sponsor up to 10 members to a maximum of £300 each to attend. Further details will be announced later but there will be a requirement for you to submit with your sponsorship application a short statement setting out what the benefits would be for you and your authority. If you wish to attend, get your thinking caps on now!
Webinars
Our webinar programme for 2022 is taking shape with upcoming sessions as follows:
- Wednesday 20 April – 11am-12pm (Presented by Colin Copus – Levelling Up: The Implications and Opportunities for DSOs) – bookings are now open: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3137367791467332368
- Friday 20 May – 10.30-11.30am (Presented by Paul Hoey – Code of Conduct & Related Guidance)
Please also see the ADSO website webinars page with all confirmed dates so far: https://www.adso.co.uk/adso-training/webinar-programme/
The format is for an ADSO member to chair the sessions and we pay £50 per webinar in recognition. There is a vacancy in the small pool of chairs as Andy Spragg will soon be leaving the sector. My thanks to Andy for his support. If anybody is interested in joining the pool as a webinar chair, please let me know (john.austin@adso.co.uk). Full training and support will be given.
Training Programme 2022
The ADSO training programme continues at a pace, and I am pleased to set out below details of two more excellent courses on offer. Don’t delay as places get booked very quickly.
1. Structures and Functions, 18 and 26 May
This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who wish to develop their understanding of the different kinds of local authorities, what they do and how they fit into the wider government landscape of the UK. The target audience will be those who are relatively new to democratic service teams and those with a few years’ experience.
The workshops will:
- Help learners understand local government in its wider context
- Describe the evolution of local government to the present
- Invite learners to discuss and dissect the structure of local government today
For more information visit here – https://www.adso.co.uk/adso-training/book-your-course/
2. ADSO – Becoming a DSO, an introduction
Specifically designed for those taking their first steps into the world of Democratic Services- this course is aimed at those in the first eight 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. 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 the impact of politics and what this means for you as an officer of the Council.
Available dates for 2022 (delegates only need attend one of these):
School Admission Appeals/Suspension and Permanent Exclusion Guidance
Two important consultations exercises closed last week in relation to school admission appeals/ permanent exclusions. Firstly, the consultation on permanent exclusions closed on 31 March – see link – https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/revised-behaviour-in-schools-guidance-and-suspension-and-permanent-exclusions-guidance
NASAC have sought views and submitted a collective response to the DfE, some of you will have contributed to this collective response.
The second DfE consultation was on the changes to the School Admissions Appeals Code (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-school-admission-appeals-code). This closed on 3 April. The consultation was primarily around revising the School Admissions Appeals Code to allow appeals to be held remotely (by telephone or video conference) as well as in person and to allow appeal hearings to continue with two panel members where the third panel member needs to withdraw. The changes make permanent some of the arrangements that were temporarily put in place as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Again, NASAC have submitted a collective response, which some of you will have contributed to.
We hope that as many councils as possible were able to make individual responses. These are important revisions which will allow local authorities the flexibility and choice needed to operate in the most beneficial way for all parties involved in these hearings.
It is likely (or hoped) that a new School Admissions Appeals Code will be published to coincide with the end of the Coronavirus Regulations permitting remote hearings in September 2022.
The DfE have yet to indicate when any revised statutory guidance will be published for permanent exclusions, the temporary Coronavirus Regulations relating to permanent exclusions expired on 24th March.
Have a great week.
John Austin, ADSO Chair