1. AS A HEALTH CHECK FOR THE COUNCIL AS A DEVELOPMENT TOOL

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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?

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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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?

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