I hope everyone is well and that you were able to enjoy the good weather over the weekend. Thanks to those who have processed their membership renewals. If you haven’t, please do so as soon as possible.
Local Government Association (LGA) – Councillor Training
Following the recent successful webinar, we have received an update from the LGA:
Since the launch of the Local Leadership Framework for Councillors, Will Oldham and Poonam Mistry have been working with councils and LGA colleagues to understand what further resources would be helpful to use the framework.
They have recently published the following resources, which can be used by either councils or councillors looking to use the framework in their council:
- A downloadable workshop pack to use as a template to run your own workshop on the framework:
Downloadable workshop pack
extension: pptx
- A downloadable workbook which can be printed or used as a digital resource, with editable textboxes, notes sections and checklists:
Downloadable workbook
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- Example councillor profiles to help councillors to develop their own:
Example councillor profiles
The LGA is also collating some good examples of councils using the framework, and they ask if you would promote the offer within your councils.
Remote Meetings – Government Call for Evidence
You may recall that ADSO and LLG referred the Government’s refusal to publish the outcome of the remote meeting call for evidence to the Information Commissioner (ICO). The Government argued that it was a vexatious request which would take too long to respond to. I am extremely disappointed to tell you that the ICO has sided with the Government and has upheld it’s decision not to publish the information. We asked the ICO for a review of its decision and following that review it confirmed it’s view that the Government was justified in it’s refusal. To say we are disappointed with the ICO is an understatement. It has completely failed in my view to support the principles of transparency and openness and has allowed the Government to ride roughshod over local government once again. In reaching it’s decision, the ICO has not even set a date by which the Government should publish the information. That means that the Government could go on saying that the collation of the responses is too onerous and keep kicking the can down the road. The ICO has also failed to live up to it’s own statement on its website that it exists to empower through information. You can view the ICO decision on it’s website – reference IC-239398-C6H1 dated 8 September.
We issued a press release following the ICO decision and it got some coverage in the LGC.
Helen McGrath (Head of Public Affairs at Lawyers in Local Government) has written an interesting blog on the current situation with regard to the Levelling Up Bill and her take on the chances of remote meetings being included in the Act when it becomes law. Helen has kindly agreed to share this with ADSO and it has been uploaded on our website.
Helen McGrath Blog – Levelling up Bill – October 2023
extension: pdf
ADSO going forward…
Growth and development was the focus of the Board’s recent Away Day, led by our new Director of Business Strategy & Development Matthew Hall.
A key topic of discussion was the need for more resilience and succession planning at Board level. Basically, too much work is being done by too few people, many of whom are doing busy day jobs as well. We want to ensure that Board positions are attractive and rewarding for our members, with the necessary operational support in place to allow the Board to focus on strategic matters. This will facilitate future growth and development.
In the coming months, you will see proposals to introduce paid operational support at a senior level. In addition to supporting the Board, we expect this added resource to increase the value ADSO provides to its members, and all those working in Democratic Services. It will further increase our capacity and capability, following the roles we have created over the last couple of years, namely our Qualifications Manager (Michelle Beaumont) and more recently a Sponsorship Manager (Charlie Sinclair).
Conference
Time is whizzing by and the annual conference is getting closer and closer. It will soon be time for you to choose which workshops you wish to attend. If you have booked a place, Sarah Hawkins will be writing to you within the coming weeks with details of the sessions and asking you to state your preferences. Whilst we can’t guarantee your first choices (due to room sizes in the main) we will do our best to accommodate you.
Have a good week everyone. I will be representing ADSO at the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) Conference in Hinckley on 11 & 12 October followed by a couple of days golfing in North Wales, I’m looking forward to both.
John Austin, ADSO Chair