Elected Members’ Development Framework 2018 – 2019
Topic
Description/ Update
Comments
IT
Basic users will be offered 1‐2‐1s to improve their confidence in using Outlook, Word and Excel.
Intermediate users can book on to the corporately offered IT training courses on Word, Excel and Projects. Dates
and a full description of these courses can be found on the Council’s Eventbrite website which will be shared with
all Elected Members.
Expected to attend: Self‐selection
Bond Training
Expected to attend: Strongly recommended for all Councillors
Delivered by Legal
Services
Bond training:
•
Raises awareness of the implications of the Bond and credit rating on how the Council operates
•
Highlights the consequences of breaches of market abuse regulations in terms of fines/imprisonment
•
Reminds all Councillors that they are on Permanent Insider List and will have to sign a letter indicating
that they understand the implications of being on insider list
Capital Training
Expected to attend: Strongly recommended for Group Leaders and highly recommended for all Councillors
Delivered by Senior
Programme Manager
As part of an initiative to enhance the quality of how capital projects are managed and delivered at ACC, the
political group leaders have agreed that all elected members are offered capital project training to support their
understanding of the capital programme and its governance. The objectives of this workshop are to provide:
An overview of the governance mechanisms and processes of the Capital Programme
Understanding of the member and key officer roles
An overview of project and programme methodologies in use at ACC
Guidance on the most appropriate and beneficial channels of communication
Chairing Skills
This session has been designed to explore how to effectively chair meetings. The learning outcomes of the session Democratic Services
are:
1
To reflect on the components of an efficiently chaired meeting.
To refresh knowledge on the role, function and purpose of the Convener in council and committee
meetings and specific knowledge required.
To clarify the role boundaries for Councillors’ differing tasks and supports available.
Application of standing orders
To highlight further input needed to ensure that participants feel confident to carry out the role.
Expected to attend: Convenors and Vice‐convenors
Corporate
Expected to attend: Recommended for all Councillors to attend
Integrated Children’s
Parenting
Services
The aim of the training is to increase awareness of Corporate Parenting; what our legal responsibilities are and
how we can deliver on these. The training will be provided by Who Cares? Scotland an organisation that
champions for care experienced young people. They have been given funding from the Scottish Government to
deliver Corporate Parenting training. Please note the training will also be opened up to other corporate parents
chief officers/senior managers.
The purpose of Corporate Parenting training is to provide an overview on our Corporate Parenting responsibilities
under Part 9 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. Corporate Parenting refers to the collective
responsibility of the Council, its community partners and other public bodies to provide good parenting for our
care experienced young people.
The Statutory Guidance on Corporate Parenting defines it as: “An organisation’s performance of actions necessary
to uphold the rights and safeguard the wellbeing of a looked after child or care leaver, and through which physical,
emotional, spiritual, social and educational development is promoted.” By ensuring that the needs of our care
experienced young people are being met they are more likely to achieve positive outcomes irrespective of their
care experience.
Committee Training Councillors who sit on specific Committees will require training, the Clerk and Executive Lead are responsible for
Committee Services
the Committees will at times require copies of Councillor training records to ensure they are appropriately trained,
if not they will advise the training coordinator what training needs to be arranged and when. It will be the
responsibility of the Executive Lead and Clerks to provide the training coordinator with a blurb for the training and
a key contact should individual 1‐2‐1’s need to be arranged.
2
Licensing Board
Committee to arrange
Committee Services
refresher
Expected to attend: Mandatory for all Board Members
Local Review Body
This session will be delivered jointly with Aberdeenshire Council. There has been a delay in arranging this from
Members to confirm
(LRB) Training
Aberdeenshire’s side. As it is not crucial to arrange immediately we are going to wait for Aberdeenshire to be
that they are interested
ready as opposed to delivering it ourselves.
in sitting on the LRB.
Training would then be
Expected to attend: Any Councillors who are interested in sitting on the LRB who have not already been trained
arranged.
plus those who have who are looking for a refresher
CPD Launch
All Councillors are encouraged to complete a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Profile this year.
Improvement Service
Information on the CPD profile will be made available via an A4 brief and at a face‐to‐face session which will
cover:
The background of the CPD Profile
What behaviours are assessed as part of the profile
How it is administered, and
What development materials Elected Members can access once they sign up to the profile
To be delivered by Improvement Services.
Date: June 2018
Expected to attend: Although not mandatory all Councillors are recommended to attend / participate in CPD
PDP Development
All Elected Members will be offered a 1‐2‐1 to create a PDP following completion of their CPD Profile.
Members Support
Expected to attend: Although not mandatory all Councillors are recommended to participate in PDP
Media Training
As elected members and nominated spokespeople for the Council, media duties are regular and varied. It is highly
Internal Comms
recommended that you attend this media training session. It will be delivered in‐house by the communications
team, designed to give an overview of the role of councillors in proactive and reactive situations as well as advice
and guidance in the following areas:
•
Preparing for media interviews;
3
•
The importance of clear messaging;
•
Interview tips and techniques;
•
The Council’s approach to incident response communications and the role of members;
The half‐day group session will also provide practical interview exercises for each participant in proactive and
reactive scenarios. A short follow‐up session will be conducted on an individual basis to provide feedback and
consider any further training requirements.
Expected to attend: Group Leaders / Vice Conveeners / Conveeners
Planning
This session is an opportunity for Councillors to gain knowledge essential to make planning decisions or for those who wish to
Planning and Committee
refresh their knowledge
to arrange
This session will provide guidance to you on the planning system. The session will focus on:
Making decisions on planning applications
How Councillors interact with development plans
What to expect at the Local Review Body
Code of conduct in relation to planning issues
Legal challenges against planning decisions
This session will provide an opportunity for you to gain further insight into your role in the planning process.
Expected to attend: Committee members
ALEO
This training session aims to break down the myths about ALEOs and provides an overview of the legal
Committee Services
requirements in respect of this area. The session will also explore the Councillors duties as board members,
directors or advisors of ALEOS.
Expected to attend: This refresher training session is strongly recommended for all Councillors.
Code of Conduct
Councillors function within a statutory framework that describes the standards required and the parameters for
Democratic Services
update
action and interaction with Officers. Presentations with Q&A on all aspects of the Code of Conduct, including:
4
•
the Code of Conduct document
•
the parameters that govern their role
•
the parameters for interaction with Officers (including Member Officer Protocol)
•
Nolan Principles of Public Life
•
general conduct (including potential litigious comment)
•
registration of interests
•
declaration of interests
•
lobbying
•
taking decisions on individual applications
•
Standing Orders of the Council
•
the Bribery Act 2010
By the end of the session Councillors will understand their statutory responsibilities with particular reference to
the Code of Conduct.
Expected to attend: This training is strongly recommended for all new and re‐elected Councillors to ensure that
they are aware of their responsibilities in relation to the Code of Conduct.
5
Elected Members’ Development Framework
1.
Introduction
As an Elected Member, you operate in a highly complex and political environment with many different
demands being made of you. You are expected to:
Represent the interests of your constituents,
Develop, make and scrutinise council decisions and policy,
Support Aberdeen City Council to improve,
Provide leadership and direction,
Ensure best value is delivered within the council, and
Hold Aberdeen City Council to account.
This report sets out a proposed Elected Members Development Framework designed to ensure you have
the vital skills and knowledge necessary for you to carry out these complex roles.
2.
Development Framework Principles
The Aberdeen City Council Development Framework will be based on the following principles:
1. The programme will be tailored to the needs of each Member depending on their level of skill and
experience,
2. The programme will be delivered in partnership between Members and officers and will be based on
the IS National Strategy – while officers will commit to the organisation and delivery of the
programme there will be an equal expectation that Members will engage with the opportunities
offered,
3. To cater for the different learning styles of Members, and to ensure development is provided in a
time and cost efficient manner, the programme will be delivered using a range of different
approaches, and
4.
A Members’ Development Steering Group will be established to allow Members to engage more
directly with their own development and the development of the programme.
Principle 1 – A tailored programme
Whether you are a new Elected Member, you have been in the role for a while or you are a longstanding
Councillor, the framework aims to meet your needs. Your length of service will indicate the level of
induction you will receive and the number of recommended training sessions you should attend. See table
below:
6
New to the role:
•
Full induction ‐ allowing you to easily navigate the Council
•
Mix of mandatory and highly recommended development opportunities
Been in the role 2+ years:
•
Induction materials available for reference
•
Mandatory committee specific sessions
•
Kept up to date on local and national developments e.g. upcoming bills
•
ACC Hot topic sessions for organisation specific developments
Longstanding members:
•
Refresher skills sessions
•
Committee specific training
•
Kept up to date on local and national developments e.g. upcoming bills
•
ACC Hot topic sessions for organisation specific developments
Principle 2 – Partnership working
The role of the Improvement Service
In consultation with Councils and other key stakeholders, the IS developed a National Elected Member
Development Strategy specifically for Scottish Local Government. Through the ‘Supporting Elected
Member’ programme IS currently provide:
Induction materials for all newly elected and returning Elected Members,
Induction materials for all newly elected and returning Elected Members on the planning system in
Scotland,
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Framework for Elected Members in Scottish local
government,
Elected Member Briefing Series,
The CPD Framework is a particularly valuable tool which provides Members with professional and personal
development opportunities and generates comprehensive, constructive feedback on how you perform
against fourteen key political skills, which are as follows:
Political Cluster
Political Skill
Promoting change and
1. Promoting and leading change
improvement
2. Providing and improving services
3. Political awareness
Political understanding
4. Representation
5. Personal integrity and values
6. Working with stakeholders
Working collaboratively
7. Effective partnership working
Effective communicator
8. Effective communication
9. Negotiation and diplomacy
Effective decision maker
10. Decision making
11. Analysis and innovative problem solving
12. Corporate focus and direction
Effective leader
13. Providing leadership and direction
14. Personal effectiveness
Personal effectiveness
7
The CPD Framework offers the unique option of a confidential, 360 degree feedback tool which allows you
to gain an understanding of how your behaviours are perceived by others. It also provides access to a range
of learning and development materials, including online learning.
The CPD Framework enables Elected Members to:
Access enhanced, more focused and more structured support as you lead local government through
a period of considerable change,
Develop in your existing role, preparing you for greater responsibilities, helping you become more
creative in tackling new challenges and providing you with transferable skills,
Fulfil governance roles more effectively, thereby improving local governance and accountability of
public services to local communities, and
Access the online Development Programme 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with the learning
resources being available for ‘just in case, just in time’ occasions.
It is proposed that the Aberdeen City Council Development Framework utilises the comprehensive and well
established support framework created by IS. Specifically the ACC programme recommends that all Elected
Members:
Undertake the CPD profile (either via self‐assessment or 360 degree review),
Create a Personal Development Plan (PDP) based on the outcomes of your profile either individually
or in conjunction with a member of the Organisational Development team,
Become familiar with the wealth of online resources available through IS designed specifically for
Scottish Councillors such as case studies, eLearning, briefing notes and reading materials ‐ these are
only available to those who sign up to the CPD Profile, and
Engage with the various development opportunities offered, which will be mapped to the fourteen
political skills mentioned above.
8
Officer and Member commitment
Officers will commit to arrange and, where appropriate, fund and deliver elements of the programme. In
terms of arranging events we will ensure that information is given in a timely manner and would ask that
Members commit to responding in an equally timely manner. We will ensure that dates do not clash with
Council, committee or sub‐committee meetings. And will also endeavour to vary the start time of sessions.
In terms of delivery, we will liaise with Services to ensure that clear outcomes and benefits of any officer led
sessions are agreed and communicated to Members upfront so that you can more easily assess the
relevance and value of any sessions.
9
Principle 3 – Framework approach
The following provides a logical structure for the proposed Development Framework. If approved it is
assumed that from here on, when we deliver development opportunities, they will be categorised under
one of the following quadrants.
Skills Practice
Information Giving
Objective: To provide opportunities to apply
Objective: To provide you with information on
skills gained and means by which progress
a timely and informal basis that will be of value
can be reviewed
and interest to your role. Could be achieved
by a variety of means such as face‐to‐face
sessions, short podcasts or written briefs
Examples:
Examples:
Committee diary (Maps to IS Skill:
1‐2‐1’s to review PDPs
Providing and improving services )
Self‐evaluation/ 360 degree review
Key contacts (Maps to IS Skill: Providing
Feedback from committees
and improving services )
Brief on Members Enquiry vs. Complaints
(All map to IS Skill: Providing and improving
(Maps to IS Skill: Providing and improving
services. Specifically: Encourages and
services )
supports honest self‐assessment and
learning)
Skills Acquisition
Knowledge Transfer
Objective: To develop and enhance the skills
Objective: To provide a more formal means to
you need to be effective through, for
ensure your knowledge is kept up to date on
example, workshops and coaching
latest legislation, policies and initiatives that
impact on your role
Examples:
Examples:
Committee specific workshops (Maps to IS
Upcoming bills (Maps to IS Skill: Political
Skill: Decision making)
awareness)
Skills sessions such as Chairing Skills and
Hot topics in the Council (Maps to IS Skill:
Media Training (Maps to IS Skill: Providing
Providing and improving services )
and improving services)
Initiatives such as City Deal (Maps to IS
Skill: Representation)
Caseload management (Maps to IS Skill:
Representation)
The four quadrants ensure that there is a clear structure to your development and that we provide a
balance in all four areas allowing for varying needs and learning styles. In the past the development
programme may have placed too heavy an emphasis on information giving sessions. However, we recognise
10
that the acquisition and practice of skills is equally important and therefore key to delivering a more
interactive and engaging programme.
11
Principle 4 – Members’ engagement
A Members’ Development Steering Group will be established to allow Members to engage more directly
with their own development and the development of the programme. The purpose of this group will be to:
Evaluate the training opportunities delivered,
Ensure the proposed content for the next quarter is relevant,
Report attendance figures back to group meetings, and
Champion the Development Framework.
12