East Midlands Councils

Councillor Development Network

22 June 2011 - 10 am to 12 noon

Action Notes

Attendees

Jacqui Mansell Ashfield District Council Chas Leslie Local Government Group

Matthew Berry Blaby District Council Alison Edwards Local Government Group

Kath Whittingham Bolsover District Council Alan Waters LGIU

Sue Rodden Broxtowe Borough Council Cllr Robert Parker Lincolnshire County Council

Cllr Pat Lally Broxtowe Borough Council Frazer Powell North East Derbyshire Council

Ratna Taylor Derbyshire County Council John Newby North East Derbyshire Council

Ann Good East Lindsey District Council Natalie Sahunta North Kesteven District Council

Lisa Butterfill East Midlands Councils Cassie Triggs Northampton Borough Council

Kirsty Lowe East Midlands Councils Liz Reid-Jones Rushcliffe Borough Council

Anne Ireson Kettering Borough Council Cllr Debbie Mason Rushcliffe Borough Council

Cllr Mary Malin Kettering Borough Council Stephanie Cowell South Northants Council

Alex Kowalczuk Leicester City Council

Apologies

Cllr Ted Webster-Williams Blaby District Council Nigel West Lincolnshire County Council

Lorraine Bush Boston Borough Council Mark Pemberton Mansfield District Council

David Dalby Charnwood Borough Council Julie Grainger Mansfield District Council

Lyn Smith Charnwood Borough Council Marcella Heath North Kesteven District Council Pat Stevenson Chesterfield Borough Council Rosemary Plowright Northampton Borough Council

Phil O’Brien Derby City Council Julie Brailsford Nottinghamshire County Council

Margaret Sellors Derby City Council David Ellis Nottinghamshire County Council

Ian McFadyen Derbyshire County Council Amanda Taylor South Holland D C

John Makinson-Sanders Compass Business Point Louisa Horton Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council

Rebecca Owen Hinckley & Bosworth Sarah Evans Melton BC

Paul Clarke Local Government Group Neil Betteridge South Derbyshire District Council

Agenda Item Actions/Information Who 1. Welcome and introduction Jacqui Mansell welcomed everyone to the network meeting and thanked them for attending.

The network meeting commenced with a round of introductions.

Rushcliffe Borough Council informed the network that they had recently achieved the Member Development Charter.

Lincolnshire indicated that they would be going for the Charter Plus at the end of 2011.

Kettering Borough Council informed the network that they have achieved reaccreditation in the Member Development Charter and that they would be going for Charter Plus by the end of 2011.

Broxtowe Borough Council indicated that they may possibly be going for the Member Development Charter this year. 2. Induction Programmes – Jacqui welcomed Chas Leslie and Alison Edwards to the network meeting and Progress/Feedback All thanked them for agreeing to attend to talk about the regional Councillor induction events that are to take place later in the year. Sharing Information Chas provided a brief overview of the restructuring of the Local Government Group. New Regional Councillor He informed the network members that the Local Government Group had committed Induction Event to delivering a Councillor induction event in each region in the autumn of this year. He informed the network members of the intended structure of the day and that he would like feedback on the content of the day. He informed network members that the dates and venues for these sessions had yet to be agreed. Chas invited network members to share details of their induction programmes;

East Lindsey District Council  Introduction session from Chief Executive and Directors  IT user session  Mandatory training sessions  Scrutiny  Localism Bill briefing

Kettering Borough Council  Started with Personal Development plans to identify Councillors needs  3 hour session with Chief Executive  Induction session for new Councillors held by East Midlands Councils and Local Government Group  Planning training  Licensing training with East Northamptonshire  IT sessions  Session on budget with Section 151 Officer

Rushcliffe Borough Council  Have tried not to overload new Councillors with the induction programme  Have held practical information sessions  Have set up a buddy system

Blaby District Council  Have held 2 welcome events  Presentation from Chief Executive  Session on planning, focused on planning issues within authority

Broxtowe Borough Council  Induction day for new Members  Tour of Borough to highlight key development sites, facilities and areas that are being considered by scrutiny  Have done bite sized sessions of an hour long

Chas informed the network members of the topics currently being considered to be included in the induction events;  Facilitation role of Councillors  Local Government Finance  Member/Officer relationships  Planning from a ward cllr perspective

A discussion followed on depth and breadth of issues to be covered during the day. It was suggested that follow up support maybe required for some of the areas covered.

Contact details for Chas and Alison were circulated; [email protected] [email protected] 3. “The Localism Bill and Jacqui welcomed Alan Waters to the network meeting and thanked him for agreeing relationship with the Big to present at the network meeting on the Localism Bill. Society” The presentation covered;

 Overview of the Localism Bill & Relationship with Big Society  Big Society – key concepts  The General Power of Competence  Local Referendums on general issues  Council Tax Referendums  Community Right to Challenge  Assets of Community Value  Planning and Neighbourhoods  Impact of other Government policies  Governance arrangements and accountability  Issues of transparency & accountability  The role of Scrutiny  The Impact on Elected Members as community leaders  The Finance Context  CLG Select Committee

A discussion followed on how to get people involved in the role of localism. A discussion followed on private sector company’s interest in bidding to deliver services.

Action: A copy of the presentation and papers to be circulated with the minutes. Lisa Butterfill 4. Any Other Business Jacqui asked network members to email Kirsty or Lisa with items/themes for Network members the next network meeting.

5. Date of Future Meetings 21 September 2011