AS A HEALTH CHECK FOR THE COUNCIL AS A DEVELOPMENT TOOL

LOCAL COUNCIL AWARD SCHEME JOURNEY STARTING YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL AWARD SCHEME JOURNEY Where is your council now and where does it want to go? How much time can the council commit? How difficult will it be?

Most aspects of Foundation level are fundamental to local councils, regardless of size and budget Working through an application to Foundation level will ensure the council has the most up to date documents Assures clerks, councillors and residents that the council is acting lawfully and working to standard practice

Does the council have? Standing orders and financial regulations Which include up-to-date reference to recording meetings and procuring contracts – updated since January 2016 A code of conduct With a link to councillors’ register of interests A publication scheme To explain what information is available and how – required by law

It’s most recent Annual Return Transparent Information about council payments As required by relevant Transparency Codes A calendar of all meetings Including the annual parish/town meeting Minutes for a year of council meetings Including committees if relevant

Current agendas Budget and precept information for the current or next financial year Complaints’ procedures Council contact details and councillor information in line with the Transparency Code

If you don’t have these in place… How long will it take to meet these criteria? Do you know how to meet these criteria? What support might be required?

If you have these in place… You are halfway through the Foundation level checklist

You also need… An action plan for the current year Evidence of consulting the community Publicity advertising council activities Evidence of participating in town and country planning

A risk management scheme A register of assets Contracts for all members of staff Disciplinary and grievance procedures

Training Criteria A policy for training new staff and councillors A record of all training undertaken by staff and councillors in the last year A clerk who has achieved 12 CPD points in the last year

Training criteria Training policy doesn’t need to be complicated but should set out the council’s commitment to training encourage councillors and clerks to undertake training outline how to identify training needs

Training criteria A clerk who has achieved 12 CPD points in the last year Not just qualifications In-house assessment Learning at work Attendance at conferences and events Reading

Training Criteria Is this difficult to achieve? Why might this be a barrier for councils? Why might clerks and councillors be reluctant to undertake training Do you think training is necessary?

How can we encourage councils to embrace training? One last question How can we encourage councils to embrace training?