Councillor Learning & Development

Alan Waters – Learning & Development manager

t:020 7554 2800 e: alan.waters@lgiu.org.uk

LGiU’s Councillor Learning & Development Programme


Alan Waters – Learning & Development manager
Our offer
The LGiU’s Training &Development
programmes for elected members are
unique. Our 28 years of experience working
with both local and central governments
means we understand what skills are
required of councillors.
Our vision
The LGiU exists to strengthen local
democracy. For this, we need productive,
dynamic and multi-skilled councillors. Our
training programmes are designed to meet
the challenges elected members face in a
rapidly changing environment – both inside
the town hall and out.
Who should attend these sessions?
The Localism Bill is currently changing many
aspects of local government and the growing
impact of technology and social media is
redefining what is expected of local
representatives. To meet these challenges
both new and existing councillors require
continual learning and development sessions
to ensure they are best equipped to lead
their community.
Run L&D sessions in your authority
We appreciate that training budgets are slim
this year. The LGiU is therefore offering to
run L&D session ‘in-house’. This enables
content to be tailored to all participants and
an unlimited number of attendees for each
sessions – making it the most cost effective
way of training your elected members.
Councillor Learning & Development
t:020 7554 2800 e: alan.waters@lgiu.org.uk
Training sessions
All our L&D sessions are designed to be
highly interactive and equip participants
with practical knowledge of the tools and
strategies required of today’s councillor.
Available training sessions include:
- Introduction to local government
- Introduction to overview & scrutiny
- Introduction to finance
- Strategic partnership working
- Community engagement
- Find, listen and engage online
- The Localism Bill
- Building the big society
- Health and Social Care Bill
- Working with the voluntary sector
- Effective procurement
- Time management
- Chairing skills
- The politics of commissioning
- Public speaking
- Speed reading
Prices, discounts and offers
All new councillors will receive a free copy of
our So you’ve been elected guides. The basic
rate is £800 for two sessions. LGiU can offer
discounted rates to Premium and Standard+
member authorities. Councils wishing to
book more than L&D sessions will receive
special offers on further bookings.
Get in touch
For more information on any of the above,
or a free consultation on your L&D options,
please call Alan on 020 7554 2800.
 Councillor Learning & Development
Alan Waters – Learning & Development manager
t:020 7554 2800 e: alan.waters@lgiu.org.uk

Full Councillor Learning and Development Programme

Our offer

The LGIU’s training and development programmes for elected members are unique. Our
focus is the councillor as local politician working in a political environment. All our
programmes for elected members, whether it is basic skills training for chairing meetings,
mastering the intricacies of local government finance or making sense of the bewildering
growth of partnership working and service commissioning are shaped around the personal
and political impacts on the councillor. In short we provide elected members with the tools
and strategies to be more effective local politicians.

Much current training is driven by ideas

about how elected members should
respond to the latest initiatives flowing
out of Whitehall.

The LGIU does not see the councillor as passively receiving and learning the latest top down
guidance, but as the key players in shaping their own roles and those of the communities
they represent. All our learning and development is designed to be highly interactive, giving
participants the opportunity to tackle the kinds of issues they face back in their own local
authority.

The LGIU understands the political environment in which elected members have to work –
not just in the formal settings of council chamber and committee rooms but also the internal
dynamics of the political group. We look at the role of councillor in the round – at the
complex balancing act that requires them to act as effective community leaders, not just in
their own patch but also to engage with the politics of partnership working at the strategic
level.

About LGiU

LGiU is the leading think tank and membership body for local government. We support
improvement and develop innovation across the local government sector, working with a
range of partners including our 130 member authorities.
 Councillor Learning & Development
Alan Waters – Learning & Development manager
t:020 7554 2800 e: alan.waters@lgiu.org.uk

All our trainers at LGIU have extensive

experience of working with elected
members and include those who have
served and currently serve as local
councillors. Part of our day to day activity is
working with a network of around 10,000
councillors and officers from the councils
who access our services.
.
In an environment of almost ‘permanent revolution’ for local government the LGIU is the
ideal training provider.

We draw on a wide range of policy expertise across the organisation in designing our
learning and development programmes. Our comprehensive policy briefing service; best
practice seminars and original contributions as a leading local government think tank means
that our training programmes take account of the very latest developments and provides in-
depth political analysis for elected members.

To give you a flavour of our work, here’s is a list of recent training programmes delivered
and planned for the first half of 2011 for elected members and officers in a wide variety of
English local authorities.

Introductions to local government, overview & scrutiny and finance

Strategic partnership working
Community engagement and leadership
Find, listen and engage online
The Localism Bill
Building the big society
Health and Social Care Bill
Working with the voluntary sector
Effective procurement
Time management
Chairing skills
The politics of commissioning
Public speaking
Speed reading

All of these sessions have been run regionally or ‘in-house’ for councils to help them
minimise costs and maximise benefits. In-house training also enables us to tailor our
programmes to individual requirements.
 Councillor Learning & Development
Alan Waters – Learning & Development manager
t:020 7554 2800 e: alan.waters@lgiu.org.uk

L&D for new and existing members

So you’ve been elected, what now?

A workshop that gives an overview of: the constitutional role of the councillor covering
community leadership, council constitution and meetings, council structures and processes.
It will touch on code of conduct, member/officer relations, and the role of Cabinet,
Overview and Scrutiny and council committees.

These workshops will provide practical information for new councillors about how the
council works, where to find key information and what support is available.

Introduction to Local Government

This workshop is designed to give a comprehensive introduction to the way local

government works and the key services it delivers. It explores local authorities’ relationships
with national government, the new landscape being shaped by ‘Localism’ and changes to
public services like health and policing.

Introduction to Overview & Scrutiny

This session provides a detailed introduction to the role of Overview & Scrutiny and how it
relates to other democratic processes, including its relationship to Cabinet. The session puts
overview and scrutiny in its legal context and assesses the impact of new legislation. It will
cover the skills needed to be a member of O&S and the specific responsibilities involved in
chairing a scrutiny committee.

Introduction to Local Government Finance

Local authority budgets are under scrutiny as never before. All councillors have a role to
play. Portfolio holders have to develop and implement the budget; councillors on scrutiny
committees should be reviewing the budget and financial planning processes and every
councillor needs to involve their residents in the political choices that have to be made
about budget priorities.

If you are going to make a difference as a councillor it is crucial that you understand the
basics of the system and are confident about the role you should play in the financial affairs
of the council. This is particularly important given the changes to the system and the deep
cuts to the funding of local government over the next four years.
 Councillor Learning & Development
Alan Waters – Learning & Development manager
t:020 7554 2800 e: alan.waters@lgiu.org.uk

Skills development

Councillors and Casework

As part of their role, councillors are responsible for responding to the concerns and issues of
their local constituents. This session is designed to assist councillors in developing their
skills in this area. It covers ground rules for effective casework; dealing with constituents;
information and support available to assist members with casework, pitfalls to avoid and
how to use casework to inform decision-making.

Online Councillor Skills - NEW

The LGiU have range of support sessions to help councillors best harness social media and
email communications. These skills are now imperative as they can:

-          Make case work more time and energy efficient

-          reach many more residents
- raise a councillor’s profile & community leadership role
-          provide instant and cheap feedback on key policy decisions

For each councillor there will be different needs. These sessions will equip participants with
the knowledge required to identify what tools and techniques best suit the digital
requirements of their ward.

Time Management

Councillors have a growing, complex role and this can put pressure on their time. Our time
management workshop provides techniques for councillors to deal with these time
pressures.

Speed Reading and Retention: Fast Reading Techniques & Memory Strategies

This is a highly interactive session that has been developed for Councillors, who want to
develop their skills in speed reading, and develop the ability to use memory techniques. It is
a very practical programme which will demonstrate how to use different reading styles in
order to maximise the limited time that is available for review and retention of material.

Public Speaking skills for councillors

Councillors are expected to speak publicly in a wide variety of different settings such as
Council meetings and committees, community engagement events of many different kinds,
in meetings with tenants and residents, in area forums, in partnership working, as a
representative of the council on outside bodies, as the mayor or chairman of the council, as
 Councillor Learning & Development
Alan Waters – Learning & Development manager
t:020 7554 2800 e: alan.waters@lgiu.org.uk

an advocate or mediator in neighbourhood issues, as a cabinet member or frontline

administration councillor, as an opposition leader or front-line councillor, in radio and
television interviews and in statements to the press.

This session will enable councillors to:

Consider the range of different public speaking events at which they may have to
speak
Explore the full range of appropriate styles, skills and competences they need to
operate effectively in each setting
Assess their own strengths, weaknesses and areas for development
Prepare their approaches to a range of common scenarios
Practice their public speaking skills in a safe environment with positive feedback and
advice
Identify any further learning needs and plan actions to take after the sessions

Chairing Meetings

Chairing meetings requires a number of skills including time-keeping and adhering to the
agenda, keeping speakers on the issue, negotiating, listening, redirecting discussion, and
ensuring all voices are heard. This workshop provides members with an overview of the
different skills required to effectively chair meetings and how they can be applied.

An introduction to Community Leadership for councillors

In their community leadership role councillors are the conduit between their local
community, the council and its partners. This workshop provides practical guidance for
developing this role.

In the wider context, effective engagement with communities is essential for local
authorities. In a changing and challenging environment of the Big Society agenda, the ability
of elected members and officers to consult, involve and empower communities is now more
important than ever.

The seminar will help participants to strengthen their understanding of community

engagement and how to manage the use of engagement methods. The seminar includes:

 Comparing different engagement methods and considering their different

advantages and disadvantages
 Issues to consider in targeting consultation for particular communities and groups
 Councillor Learning & Development
Alan Waters – Learning & Development manager
t:020 7554 2800 e: alan.waters@lgiu.org.uk

 An overview of public meetings, focus groups and surveys as key methods of

engagement

This is a practical seminar and will give participants plenty of opportunity to explore
different approaches and techniques which they can apply in their work as officers or local
councillors.

Performance Management for Elected Members

Overview of the Performance system for local government and practical tools and advice to
members about how they can effectively monitor the performance of their council and local
partners

Introduction to Overview and Scrutiny

This session is designed for members who have been appointed to a scrutiny panel or who
may serve on scrutiny in the future and/or officers who work in a scrutiny capacity. It
provides a detailed introduction to what Overview and Scrutiny is and places it in the
council’s constitutional framework. The session looks at the role of overview and scrutiny in
other democratic processes, its duties and its relationship to Cabinet, partners and the
wider community. It will cover the various roles and responsibilities of overview and
scrutiny participants.

Specialist sessions

LGiU also offers specialists sessions on current and topical issues.

Climate Change Skills – these sessions look at what members need to know about climate
change including sea level rise, feed in tariffs and green deal. Councils in Yorkshire and
Humber might be able to receive this training course for free.

Local Health – training will prepare councillors for the changes happening in health
provision and explore how they can plan for healthy local communities

The Big Society – following extensive work with 6-month long Big Society Learning Network,
this event takes stock of the current landscape, consider how councillors can move forward
with commissioning services from the voluntary and community sector, and learn from
other authorities who are driving forward with such initiatives.

Get in touch - For more information on any of the above, or a free consultation on your
L&D options, please call Alan on 020 7554 2800. For more information on LGiU membership,
please call our Partnerships Manager Chris Naylor on 020 7554 2834.