Elected Members
The quality of elected political leadership is core to the effective governance of communities. The introduction of STV and multi-member wards at the 2007 elections has created new challenges for councillors, whilst the introduction of a salary and pension system for members brings different expectations of them by the public.
This page contains information about the IS' work in this area and links to a range of guidance, good practice and other information.
IS activity in this area
The Improvement Service and its partners have developed local leadership and member development programmes. These explore issues such as scrutiny, corporate governance, decision making and public engagement, and how these developments impact on the roles of elected members.
In particular the IS has, and will continue to:
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Develop and promote a Continuous Professional Development framework for elected members and roll this out to all councils;
- Develop a draft national strategy for Elected Member Development, in partnership with COSLA, councils and other relevant bodies;
- Develop and implement an electronic briefing service for councillors to help support their knowledge;
- Develop a Top Team intervention programme to support the political/management interface within individual councils;
- Strengthen local governance through supporting elected members in areas such as performance management.
We have also developed a Masterclass series for councillors which will explore issues of importance to local government such as Single Outcome Agreements, partnerships, organisational development and continuous professional development. The series is made up of five workshops which can be taken individually or as a series. More information on the workshops and a booking form is in the Elected Member Masterclass Programme.
We have also published a range of materials to help councillors in their roles. These can be accessed in our Support for Councillors section. For further information about our activities related to Elected Members Development, please contact Mark McAteer on 01506 775562.
Something missing from this page? If you know of any useful websites or resources that we haven't featured, let us know at listen@improvementservice.org.uk
