Elected Member Development
LGYH recognises the important role that elected member development plays in helping councillors (both individually and collectively) to achieve the high level of corporate governance required under the Comprehensive Performance Assessment regime.
On a more basic but equally important level, it provides councillors with an opportunity to develop the high level of skills required to effectively undertake their role as a directly elected representative of their communities, and in particular the enhance community leadership role promoted in the recent Local Government Bill. LGYH promotes and supports elected member development through a range of different activities, some of which are listed below.
The Charter for Elected Member Development
The Yorkshire & Humber Charter is based on a framework of national standards (similar in nature to Investors in People) developed in partnership with the IDeA, and builds on the good and innovative practice pioneered by North West Employers.
Click on the Related Documents for further information.
Direct Support as a Development Provider
Regional/Sub-Regional Workshops
LGYH promotes and supports the Improvement and Development Agency's (IDeA) Local Leadership Academy initiative by working with them to develop short regional/sub-regional workshops based on nationally devised modules. Councillors benefit from attending these events because they allow members to meet with others from a wide variety of authorities (both large and small, and with a mix of political administrations).
Our programme of regional Modern Members is currently being developed. Details will be published on our Events page in due course.
In-Authority Consultancy
LGYH is able to offer individual authorities the option of a more bespoke development activity, delivered how and when they want it. Some authorities use these workshops as a collective as well as individual developmental process, often with officers attending. In addition to the obvious benefits of reduced travel time and costs, the programme content can be focussed on relationship as well as skills development issues.
Examples of recent in-authority workshops include:
Scrutiny Development
Partnerships and Community Engagement
Effective Casework and Advice Surgeries
For further information about our 'single authority' workshops please contact us.
Indirect Support as a 'Broker'
LGYH has a regional role in supporting local authorities to develop the individual skills of their own elected members. In addition to co-ordinating officer networks we provide a 'broker' service whereby we assist in the identification of an individual speaker/development provider or other local authorities that have developed different approaches / models / specialist skills relating to member development. Through our wider national network of regional employers organisations we can often save local authorities time, effort and in some cases money.
The LGYH lead officer on member development is Karen Weaver, Workforce and OD Services Manager who can be contacted either by email on karen.weaver@lgyh.gov.uk or by telephone on 01924 331616.
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