ADSO Awards 2020:
The judging panel of Steve Garratt from Civica, Sue Keogh, ADSO Qualifications Manager and John Lynch, ADSO Finance Director were grateful to everyone who submitted entries into the Awards this year. We had a brilliant response with the highest number of entries ever, so thank you! We were very impressed with the quality and standard of the entries and all the fantastic work that authorities have been doing. However, that made judging a very difficult task and we just wish we could give an award to everyone to recognise the brilliant work that was being undertaken.
We will be holding interviews for the following authorities on 28th September that have been shortlisted for Team of the Year:
North Kesteven DC, Thanet DC, West Suffolk Council, LB Redbridge, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils.
We have also shortlisted Nikki Dunne from Eastleigh BC and Emilia Peters from Sevenoaks DC for Rookie of the Year and will announce the winners once we have completed the interviews for Team of the Year.
Many congratulations to the above and thanks again to everyone who submitted a nomination. We will be organising a virtual awards ceremony later in the year.
New Coronavirus Regulations – ‘The rule of six’:
At the time of writing, we await new Regulations from the Government and what this might mean differently, if anything, for local authority meetings.
In the meantime (and assuming nothing to the contrary in the new regulations) it remains possible to hold council meetings with physical attendance but there are a number of procedural issues to be considered and followed. These are set out in the MHCLG guidance:
Some of the key points are set out below:
MHCLG advice:
The current MHCLG advice (updated this week), which must be considered under regulations, provides:
Any reopening plans must be consistent with:
- core public health guidance regarding health, hygiene, and social distancing
- safe workplace guidelines, to ensure employees are safe to return to work
- any local lockdown areas or restrictions
There must be a H&S plan assessing:
- who might be harmed and how
- what you’re already doing to control the risks
- what further action you need to take to control the risks
- who needs to carry out the action
- when the action is needed by
The MHCLG continue to recommend in their guidance that where meetings can take place digitally, without the need for face-to-face contact, they should do so. Where council buildings need to be used for physical meetings, these meetings must be managed within the social distancing guidance and principles set out above. They have published additional guidance:
The principles set out in the ‘Safer workplaces’ guidance apply but are not limited to:
- meetings of civic, political or community groups (e.g. parish council meeting, ward meeting of political party; charity board of trustees)
- MP or councillor surgery/drop-in sessions
- public meetings and local consultations (e.g. planning)
Local authorities in England still have the powers to hold public meetings virtually by using video or telephone conferencing technology. It is enabling not prescriptive.
At the moment it does not appear that requirement to wear a face covering in indoor places extends to a council meeting, but the advice does state that where a venue is not listed but where where social distancing may be difficult and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet, a face mask is recommended.
The reason I’ve decided to include this in the bulletin is because we are picking up that one or two Councils have asked about the recommencement of ‘face-to-face’ committee meetings, so hopefully it’s useful to have this advice up your sleeve if asked the question.
ADSO consultancy services:
ADSO’s support to Councils continues to flourish with on-line training courses being run for Members in three Councils in the last week. ADSO also supports constitution review work. If your authority needs expert, external support for governance review work or Member training, ask ADSO before looking elsewhere. We are the experts and we provide excellent value for money.
Board meeting:
We have our next Board meeting on Friday 18th September, so next week’s bulletin will include a read-out from that.
Director nominations:
If you’re interested in becoming a Board Member and wish to stand for election to one of the director positions, don’t forget to get your nominations in by 14th October. Any questions on the process, contact our Company Secretary, Pete Savage: peter.savage@adso.co.uk
Peter Sass, ADSO Vice Chair