Guidance for new councillors 2019/20 - Local Government Association

 
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Guidance for new councillors 2019/20 - Local Government Association
Contents

Welcome
              Guidance for
Support
              new councillors
Community
leadership
              2019/20
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Guidance for new councillors 2019/20 - Local Government Association
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                  Welcome
                                  Contents           From the Chairman                              4

                                                     Welcome to the LGA                             5

                                                     The councillor’s role                          7

                                                     An introduction to local government           10
                                  Welcome
                                                  Support
                                                     Support for councillors                       16

                                                     Communications                                20

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                 .                Support            Access to information                         23

                                                  Community leadership
                                                     Local government finance                      26
                     ?
              he AGM
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                                  Community          Holding the council to account                29
                                  leadership
                                                     Children’s services, education and training   32
                     Send

          P                                          Adult social care and health                  35
      I O
Y U
                                                     Councils and the economy                      44
     J  K L
G H                               Information        Councils and the environment                  50
   B N  M
 V                                                   Safer, stronger communities                   55
                         return
space                                                Improvement and productivity                  59

                                                  Information
                                                     Where to find out more                        63

                                                                                                        2
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20 - Local Government Association
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                Welcome
                                Contents        This guide, produced by the Local
                                                Government Association (LGA), is
                                                designed to provide you with the         Lord Porter of Spalding CBE
                                                                                         LGA Chairman
                                                key information you need to know
                                                as a new councillor, and is a useful
                                                addition to the support and guidance
                                Welcome         you will receive from your own
                                                council. It explores some of the main
                                                issues and challenges facing local
                                                government today, and includes hints     Councillor Nick Forbes
                                                and tips from experienced councillors.   Labour Group Leader and LGA Senior Vice-Chairman

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              .                 Support         Whether you have a few hours to
                                                spare or just 10 minutes, you will
                                                find helpful information here about
                                                the areas in which you may become
                   ?
           he AGM                               involved. You can find lots of further
coming
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                                Community       information on our website:
                                                                                         Councillor James Jamieson
                                                                                         Conservative Group Leader and LGA Vice-Chairman
                                leadership      www.local.gov.uk
                  Send

      I O P
Y U
     J  K L
G H                             Information                                              Councillor Howard Sykes MBE
                                                                                         Liberal Democrat Group Leader and LGA Vice-Chairman
   B N  M
 V
                       return
space

                                                                                         Councillor Marianne Overton MBE
                                                                                         Independent Group Leader and LGA Vice-Chairman

                                                                                                                                               3
                                                 Welcome
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20 - Local Government Association
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                From the Chairman                          At its best, local government provides    The LGA is also a resource to help you
                                                                                           the strong and ambitious leadership       carry out the role to the best of your
                                Contents        Congratulations on being elected           that ensures the nation remains fit       ability. This guide outlines just some of
                                                as a new councillor from myself and        and well, economically resilient and      the services that we provide. With over
                                                everyone at the Local Government           continues to thrive. We achieve this      400 councils in membership across
                                                Association (LGA). I hope that you         through the 1,300 different statutory     England and Wales, the LGA provides
                                                will find your time as an elected          duties and responsibilities councils      a vast network to share best practice
                                                representative as rewarding as I have,
                                Welcome         and the LGA a useful resource. I like
                                                                                           provide to residents, who hold us         and help support you in your work.
                                                                                           to account via the ballot box. These
                                                to think of us as a family and, like all                                             I wish you the best of luck in your term
                                                                                           duties include caring for the elderly
                                                families, we are here to help you as                                                 in office.
                                                                                           and disabled, building homes,
                                                you take on the role of councillor.        keeping our green spaces pristine,
                                                I do hope that during your time as         repairing our roads, waste and
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              .                 Support         a councillor, you will gain a new          recycling collection; the list goes on.
                                                perspective on the vital work that         Through your work as councillors, you
                                                councils do in improving the lives         can make the lives of your residents
                                                of those in our communities. As I          better. And we are your voice, the
                   ?
           he AGM                               am sure you know, this has been a                                                    Lord Porter of Spalding CBE
coming
       to t
                                Community       challenging time for councils, with
                                                                                           local voice to national government,
                                                                                           working hard to make your case so         Chairman of the LGA
                                leadership      less money and higher demand for           you can deliver the best possible
                  Send                          our services. Despite this, it’s still     public services. Secretaries of State
                                                an exciting time to play your part
      I O P                                                                                and ministers, MPs and peers across
Y U                                             in local government, as our regular        Westminster and Whitehall, rely on
          L                                     polling shows that local councils and
     J  K                       Information
                                                                                           us to present your views to them as
G H                                             councillors are the most trusted to        they decide on the course of the ship
                                                take decisions about their local areas.
   B N  M                                                                                  of state. As a councillor you will be
 V                                              We are all working to ensure that in       able to get involved in this work, to
                       return                   the next year the Spending Review          help shape the landscape of local
space                                           provides us with the sustainable           government for the future.
                                                financial settlement we need so that
                                                local government can continue to
                                                deliver for our residents.

                                                                                                                                                                                 4
                                                 Welcome
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20 - Local Government Association
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                 Welcome to the                            priorities and their understanding
                                                                                           of our perspectives
                                 Contents        Local Government                                                                         Councillor viewpoint
                                                                                         • ensure that the right issues are
                                                 Association                               raised with the right people at the    Councillor Lynne Doherty, Conservative,
                                                                                           right time, increasing their chance    West Berkshire Council
                                                                                           of resolution                          I studied history at Cardiff University before

                                                 The national voice                      • speak with one voice to the public     embarking on a sales and marketing career.
                                 Welcome         of local government                       through the national media             Following the birth of my children, I joined
                                                                                                                                  the voluntary sector. I ran a family support
                                                                                         • take responsibility for driving        charity for six years and it was this work that
                                                 Twenty-one years ago, local
                                                                                           innovation and improvement across      led me to stand for election in 2015.
                                                 government came together to create
                                                                                           local government.
                                                 the LGA to support, promote and                                                  As Portfolio Holder for Children, Young
                                                 improve local government. We are        As a councillor you will automatically   People and Education, I am responsible for
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              .                  Support         politically led and cross-party,        have access to the full range of         children’s services to protect those
                                                                                         services that we provide.                in need, and for the provision of education
                                                 working with and on behalf of
                                                                                                                                  to all. I am proud to have overseen
                                                 councils in England and Wales to
                                                                                                                                  the improvement journey following an
                                                 give local government a strong,
                  GM?
                                                 credible voice at national level.
                                                                                         Support for councils                     ‘inadequate’ Ofsted rating, which resulted in
coming
       to the A
                                 Community                                               The current financial challenges mean
                                                                                                                                  a re-inspection finding of ‘good’.

                                 leadership      Having one national voice gives local   that finding new and innovative ways
                                                                                                                                  My advice for new councillors is:

                  Send                           government the capacity to:             to improve effectiveness, increase       • Don’t be afraid to question: if it is running
                                                                                         efficiency and reduce costs is             through your mind, it is most likely to be
          P                                      • pick up emerging government
      I O                                                                                                                           running through someone else’s.
Y U                                                thinking and ensure that local        more important than ever. The LGA
                                                                                         facilitates the sharing of ideas and     • Think ‘so what?’ on behalf of your
     J  K L                                        government’s views are heard at
G H                              Information       the heart of government               best practice, helping councils build      residents – what do decisions actually
                                                                                                                                    mean to those you represent?
                                                                                         capacity to support one another.
   B N  M                                        • think ahead to shape and develop
 V                                                                                                                                • Find a friend – find someone you trust to
                                                   the policies that councils need       During 2018, 107 councils received a       guide and support you in your early days
                        return
space                                            • work with public, private,            free ‘peer challenge’ to support them      as a councillor
                                                   community and voluntary               to improve, while 1,412 councillors
                                                   organisations to secure their         and 3,145 officers attended one of
                                                   support for local authorities’        our 100-plus free and subsidised

                                                                                                                                                                                    5
                                                  Welcome
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20 - Local Government Association
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                events. This approach, helping to          £650 million for adult and children’s      follow-up report and recommendations,
                                                coordinate improvement work on             social care and £420 million to tackle     to maintain pressure on government in
                                Contents        behalf of councils, has helped them to     potholes, repair roads and invest          the coming year.
                                                deliver millions of pounds of savings.     in bridges. We are now building a
                                                                                                                                      Meanwhile, to support the excellent
                                                                                           strong case for longer-term funding
                                                You can find out more about our                                                       work councils are doing to prepare
                                                                                           for local government ahead of this
                                                support offer for councils on our                                                     for Brexit, we secured a guarantee
                                                                                           year’s Spending Review through the
                                                website www.local.gov.uk/our-support                                                  from government that EU-funded
                                Welcome                                                    #councilscan campaign.
                                                                                                                                      projects would continue to be funded
                                                                                           For further information on the             by the Treasury to the end of 2020,
                                                Campaigning on                             campaign www.local.gov.uk/spending-        even under a ‘no deal’ scenario. We
                                                your behalf                                review-2019                                continue to keep councils up-to-date
                                                Supporting and speaking out for                                                       with the latest issues as they emerge.

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              .                 Support         councils is why we exist. Here are just    The scrapping of the housing               Other important wins for local government
                                                some of the things we have done over       borrowing cap was a major                  during the year have included securing:
                                                the past year.                             achievement. Government has finally
                                                                                           recognised that councils must be part      • a further £100 million in 2018/19
                                                During another challenging year for                                                     of new money to repair local roads
           he AGM
                   ?                                                                       of the solution to the chronic housing
coming
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                                Community       local government, we continued to
                                                                                           shortage, and that only an increase          after winter damage
                                                focus on those things that councils tell
                                leadership      us are their top priorities – funding,     of all types of housing – including        • an additional £250 million over
                  Send                          adult social care, children’s services     affordable housing and homes for             2018/19 and 2019/20 for schools’
                                                                                           social rent – will solve the housing         high needs funding
          P                                     (in particular special educational
      I O
Y U                                             needs) and housing – securing high         crisis. We also secured an extra £215      • an additional £100 million capital
                                                                                           million for homelessness support in          funding in 2019/20 for schools’
     J  K L                                     levels of media and parliamentary
G H                             Information     coverage and cross-party support for       2019/20.                                     special educational needs provision
        M                                       our campaigns.                                                                        • a power to increase the council tax
 V B N                                                                                     In the continued absence of the
                                                                                           Government’s social care Green               premium on empty homes
                       return
                                                Although it only scratches the surface,
space                                           our work to get local government           Paper, we published our own,               • new powers to fine householders
                                                recognised in the Budget helped            ‘The lives we want to lead’, widely          who dump rubbish illegally up to
                                                deliver over £1 billion in short-term      recognised as leading the debate on          £400 and access to a £10 million
                                                funding for 2019/20. That included         how we fund and deliver social care          fund to support innovation in waste
                                                                                           in the future. We will use this, and our     and recycling

                                                                                                                                                                                  6
                                                 Welcome
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20 - Local Government Association
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                  • for councils with their own or         As a councillor you will have many         views known and engage with you and
                                                    housing association tower blocks       different roles to balance. As the         the council. Good communication and
                                  Contents          – access to full funding for the       locally elected representative, you will   engagement is central to being an
                                                    removal and replacement of             engage with residents and groups           effective councillor.
                                                    dangerous cladding plus financial      on a wide range of different issues
                                                                                                                                      As a local councillor, your residents will
                                                    support to carry out emergency         and take on an important community
                                                                                                                                      expect you to:
                                                    remedial work on unsafe private        leadership role. At the council, you
                                  Welcome           sector buildings.                      will contribute to the development         • respond to their queries and
                                                                                           of polities and strategies, including        investigate their concerns
                                                  You can find out more about our
                                                                                           budget setting, and you may be               (casework)
                                                  campaigning work on our website
                                                                                           involved in scrutinising council
                                                  www.local.gov.uk                                                                    • communicate council decisions
                                                                                           decisions or taking decisions on
                                                                                                                                        that affect them
                                                                                           planning or licensing applications.
                                  Support                                                                                             • know your patch and be aware
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                                                  The councillor’s role                                                                 of any problems
                                                                                           Representing your                          • know and work with representatives
                                                  As a democratically elected local        local area                                   of local organisations, interest
                     ?
                                                  representative, you have a unique                                                     groups and businesses
               he AGM                                                                      A councillor’s primary role is to
coming
       to t
                                  Community       and privileged position – and the
                                                                                           represent their ward or division and       • represent their views at council
                                                  potential to make a real difference
                                  leadership      to people’s lives. However, being a
                                                                                           the people who live in it. Councillors       meetings
                   Send                                                                    provide a bridge between the               • lead local campaigns on their
                                                  councillor is hard work. Every day you
                                                                                           community and the council. As well
      I O P                                       will be expected to balance the needs                                                 behalf.
Y U                                               of your local area, your residents
                                                                                           as being an advocate for your local
          L                                                                                residents and signposting them to the
     J  K                         Information     and voters, community groups, local
G H                                               businesses, your political party (if
                                                                                           right people at the council, you will
                                                                                           need to keep them informed about the
   B N  M                                         you belong to one) and the council.
 V                                                                                         issues that affect them.
                                                  All will make legitimate demands on
                         return
space
                                                  your time – on top of your personal      In order to understand and represent
                                                  commitments to family, friends and       local views and priorities, you need
                                                  workplace.                               to build strong relationships and
                                                                                           encourage local people to make their

                                                                                                                                                                                   7
                                                   Welcome
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                 Community                                    Planning and regulation                    or appointed to public office, nationally
                                                                                                                                         or locally, and everyone working in the
                                 Contents        leadership                                   Councils are not just service              civil service, local government, the
                                                                                              providers, they also act as regulators.    police, courts and probation services,
                                                                                              As a councillor you may be appointed       non-departmental public bodies and
                                                 Community leadership is at the
                                                                                              to sit on the planning and regulatory      in the health, education and social
                                                 heart of modern local government.
                                                                                              committee, considering issues such         care sectors. All public office holders
                                                 Councils work in partnership with
                                                                                              as planning applications, licences for
                                 Welcome         local communities and organisations –
                                                                                              pubs and restaurants and ensuring
                                                                                                                                         are both servants of the public and
                                                 including the public, voluntary, community                                              stewards of public resources. The
                                                                                              that businesses comply with the law. In    principles also apply to everyone
                                                 and private sectors – to develop a
                                                                                              these roles, councillors are required to   in other sectors delivering public
                                                 vision for their local area, working
                                                                                              act independently and are not subject      services.
                                                 collaboratively to improve services and
                                                                                              to the group/party whip. Most councils
                                                 quality of life for citizens. Councillors
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                                                                                              arrange special training for this.         All councils are required to promote
                                                                                                                                         and maintain high standards
                                                                                                                                         of conduct by councillors, but
                                                 Developing council policy                    Code of conduct                            individual councillors must also take
                    ?
                                                                                              and standards                              responsibility. For example, you must
           he AGM                                Councils need clear strategies and
coming
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                                 Community       policies to enable them to achieve           As a councillor you will be required to    register any disclosable pecuniary
                                                                                                                                         (financial) interests for yourself, your
                                 leadership      their vision for the area, make the          adhere to your council’s agreed code
                                                                                                                                         spouse or a partner you live with,
                   Send                          best use of resources and deliver            of conduct for elected members.
                                                                                              Each council adopts its own code, but      within 28 days of taking up office. It is
                                                 services that meet the needs of local
      I O P                                                                                   it must be based on the Committee          a criminal offence if you fail, without
Y U                                              communities. As a local councillor you                                                  reasonable excuse, to declare or
                                                 will contribute to the development of        on Standards in Public Life’s seven
     J  K L                                                                                                                              register interests to the monitoring
G H                              Information     these policies and strategies, bringing      principles of public life (see below).
                                                                                                                                         officer.
                                                 the views and priorities of your local
   B N  M                                                                                     These were developed by the Nolan
 V                                               area to the debate. How you do this          Committee, which looked at how to
                        return                   will depend on the committees and            improve ethical standards in public
space                                            forums you are appointed to. However,        life, and are often referred to as the
                                                 the council’s policy framework must          ‘Nolan principles’. They apply to
                                                 be signed off by full council, on which      anyone who works as a public office
                                                 every councillor sits.                       holder. This includes all those elected

                                                                                                                                                                                     8
                                                   Welcome
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                 SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC LIFE
                                 Contents        Holders of public office should uphold the following seven principles:

                                                 Selflessness
                                                 Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

                                                 Integrity
                                 Welcome         Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to
                                                 people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their
                                                 work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other
                                                 material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends. They must declare
                                                 and resolve any interests and relationships.

                                                 Objectivity
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                                                 Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on
                                                 merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

                                                 Accountability
                    ?
           he AGM                                Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and
coming
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                                 Community       actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
                                 leadership
                   Send
                                                 Openness
                                                 Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and
      I O P                                      transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless
Y U                                              there are clear and lawful reasons for doing so.
     J  K L
G H                              Information     Honesty

   B N  M                                        Holders of public office should be truthful.
 V
                        return                   Leadership
space                                            Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour.
                                                 They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be
                                                 willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

                                                                                                                                      9
                                                  Welcome
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                 An introduction to                          with more recent changes to the
                                                                                             way that public health, welfare and
                                                                                                                                       How is local government
                                 Contents        local government                                                                      organised?
                                                                                             the police are organised, have given
                                                                                             councils and communities more             Successive reorganisations of
                                                 Local government touches the lives          influence over the way their local area   local government have created a
                                                 of everybody, every day. Councils           is managed.                               complex and often baffling array of
                                                 deal with everything from schools                                                     arrangements which vary from area
                                                                                             Councils provide more than 800            to area. Much of England has two
                                 Welcome         to care of older people, from roads
                                                                                             services to local communities. Most       tiers of local government – county
                                                 to rubbish, libraries and local
                                                                                             are mandatory, which means that by        councils and district councils – with
                                                 planning. Behind all of this is a web
                                                                                             law the council must ensure they are      responsibility for services split between
                                                 of legislation and bureaucracy that
                                                                                             delivered (although in most cases         the two. Other areas have a single
                                                 most people don’t need to see. As a
                                                                                             the exact nature of that delivery is      unitary authority responsible for all
                                                 councillor, understanding how it works
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              .                  Support         will help you to represent your local
                                                                                             for the council to determine). Some       local services. Recently, the emphasis
                                                                                             mandatory functions are tightly           on greater devolution of powers and
                                                 community.
                                                                                             controlled by central government,         funding has led to the creation of
                                                                                             resulting in a similar level of service   combined authorities.
                  GM?
                                                 What do councils do?                        across the country.
coming
       to the A
                                 Community                                                                                             Two-tier areas
                                                 Councils work with local people and         Other services are discretionary,         • County councils provide services
                                 leadership      partners, such as local businesses          so the council has discretion over          that cover the whole county such as
                  Send                           and other organisations, to agree and       the type and level of service it            education, waste disposal and adult
                                                 deliver on local priorities. They provide   provides. They range from large
      I O P                                                                                                                              social care.
Y U                                              a wide range of services either             economic regeneration projects right
                                                                                                                                       • District councils (sometimes called
                                                 directly, in partnership with others or     down to the removal of wasp nests.
     J  K L                                                                                                                              borough or city councils) are smaller
G H                              Information     by commissioning them from a third          Councils are allowed to charge for
                                                                                                                                         and provide local services such
                                                 party.                                      discretionary services, provided it is
   B N  M                                                                                                                                as refuse collection, environmental
 V                                                                                           not prohibited by other legislation and
                                                 Since the Local Government Act                                                          health and leisure facilities.
                        return                                                               the council does not make a profit.
space                                            2000, councils have been responsible
                                                 for the economic, social and
                                                 environmental wellbeing of their
                                                 areas. The Localism Act 2011, along

                                                                                                                                                                                   10
                                                   Welcome
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                Unitary areas                                further education and the               were elected in May 2017. A new
                                                • Metropolitan councils were                 apprenticeship grant                    North of Tyne Combined Authority
                                Contents          councils set up in 1974 covering                                                   came into being in 2018.
                                                                                            • involvement in UK trade and
                                                  large urban areas.
                                                                                              investment services                  Town, parish and community
                                                • London boroughs are unitary                                                      councils
                                                  councils (although the Greater            • powers to pursue bus
                                                                                                                                   In some areas, the most local tier of
                                                  London Authority provides some              franchising, pooled and devolved
                                                                                                                                   local government is a parish or town
                                Welcome           services including fire, police,            local transport funding and
                                                                                                                                   council (or community councils in
                                                  transport and strategic planning).          ‘smart ticketing’ across local
                                                                                                                                   Wales). They maintain local amenities
                                                                                              transport
                                                • Unitary authorities may cover a                                                  such as recreational areas, footpaths
                                                  whole county, part of a county or         • powers over strategic planning,      and cemeteries. The parish council
                                                  a large town or city. For example,          and to establish public land         is also consulted on highway and

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              .                 Support           Cornwall Council, Nottingham City           commissions to influence             planning applications.
                                                  Council and Reading Borough                 disposal of public assets.
                                                                                                                                   A councillor may serve on more than
                                                  Council are all unitary councils.
                                                                                         • Elected mayors in combined              one tier of local government – so a
                                                  Wales has unitary councils.
                                                                                           authorities have varying powers,        county councillor may also be a district
           he AGM
                   ?
                                                Combined authorities                       but all chair the combined authority    councillor and a parish councillor.
coming
       to t
                                Community       • All councils in an area can come         cabinet, have their own mayoral
                                leadership        together and apply to central            spending plans (which can be
                                                                                                                                   At the start of 2019, England had 27
                                                                                                                                   counties split into 201 districts, 56
                  Send                            government to form a combined            rejected by the cabinet on a two-
                                                                                                                                   unitary authorities, 37 metropolitan
                                                  authority, with a directly elected       thirds majority) and sit on the local
      I O P                                                                                                                        districts, 32 London boroughs (plus
Y U                                               mayor, in return for a greater           enterprise partnership (LEP). They
                                                                                                                                   the City of London), 30 combined and
                                                  devolution of powers from central        can veto decisions which require
     J  K L                                                                                                                        metropolitan fire and rescue authorities
G H                             Information       government. Although each deal           unanimous approval of mayor and
                                                                                                                                   (FRAs), 15 county FRAs and 10,000
                                                  is unique, all have some common          cabinet, and can take on the role of
   B N  M                                                                                                                          parish and town councils. These
 V                                                elements, including:                     police and crime commissioner.
                                                                                                                                   figures changed slightly in April as a
                       return                      • a single investment fund allowing   • The first six combined authority
space                                                                                                                              result of reorganisation in Dorset and
                                                     central and local funding to be       mayors (Greater Manchester, West        Suffolk. Wales has 22 unitary councils,
                                                     pooled for economic growth            Midlands, Liverpool City Region,        1,000 community councils and a
                                                                                           Tees Valley, West of England and        regional assembly.
                                                   • a devolved adult skills budget
                                                                                           Cambridgeshire and Peterborough)
                                                     and control over post-16

                                                                                                                                                                              11
                                                 Welcome
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                Devolution                                 to push for devolution outside the      How are decisions made?
                                                                                           framework of a mayoral combined
                                Contents        Devolution is the transfer of power        authority.                              Councils are political organisations,
                                                and funding from national to local                                                 and their arrangements for
                                                government. This process is important      The LGA is working closely with         decision-making are known as their
                                                because it means decisions are made        central government, LEPs and            ‘governance’. Councils can adopt
                                                closer to the people, communities and      others to ensure that emerging local    (or be directed to adopt) one of the
                                                businesses they affect. This helps         industrial strategies are backed by     following four models:
                                Welcome         councils develop more effective public     the devolution of funding and powers
                                                                                           over key policies such as skills and    • a leader and cabinet
                                                services and provides residents with
                                                better value for money. It also helps to   employment support. We have also        • a committee system
                                                build stronger partnerships with local     made it clear that Brexit presents an   • executive arrangements with
                                                organisations such as businesses,          opportunity to empower councils,          a directly elected mayor
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              .                 Support         universities and the NHS.                  to provide them with new legislative
                                                                                                                                   • arrangements prescribed by
                                                                                           freedoms and flexibilities so that
                                                Since 2014, when the first ‘devolution                                               the Secretary of State.
                                                                                           residents and businesses benefit,
                                                deal’ was signed between                   as powers return to the UK from         Most operate a leader and cabinet
                                                government and the Greater                 Brussels.                               model. The full council elects a leader
                   ?
           he AGM                               Manchester Combined Authority,
coming
       to t
                                Community       similar deals have been struck around      Our ‘devolution hub’ has the latest
                                                                                                                                   who, in turn, appoints and chairs the
                                                                                                                                   cabinet. Each cabinet member has
                                leadership      the country, transferring new powers       publications and tools
                                                                                                                                   a specific area of responsibility – for
                  Send                          over skills, employment, health and        www.local.gov.uk/devolution
                                                                                                                                   example children and young people,
                                                housing to local areas.
      I O P                                                                                                                        housing or finance. The cabinet
Y U                                             The LGA has been involved                                                          meets regularly (weekly or fortnightly)
     J  K L                                                                                                                        so decisions are made quickly.
G H                             Information     throughout this process – advocating
                                                                                                                                   The cabinet may also be called the
                                                on behalf of member authorities,
   B N  M                                       working with national government to                                                executive.
 V
                                                develop policy, and providing direct                                               In some areas, an executive mayor
                       return
space                                           support to areas looking to develop                                                is elected for a four-year term. The
                                                and secure further devolution. We                                                  mayor has greater powers than a
                                                have built strong relationships with the                                           council leader and may or may not be
                                                elected ‘metro mayors’ and continue                                                a member of the majority party on the

                                                                                                                                                                             12
                                                 Welcome
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                council. He/she proposes the budget      directly elected mayor, the budget       • the role of officers
                                                and policy framework and appoints        and framework are proposed by the
                                Contents        and chairs the cabinet, which can be     mayor and can only be amended or
                                                                                                                                  • standards and ethical governance.

                                                single or cross-party.                   overturned by the council with a two-    It is important to familiarise yourself
                                                                                         thirds majority.                         with these parts of the constitution,
                                                Some councils opt for a committee                                                 in particular the standing orders. These
                                                system. The council establishes a        Councils that do not opt for the         specify the terms of reference of the
                                                number of committees, each with a        committee system must establish          council’s various member structures,
                                Welcome         specific area of responsibility. The     overview and scrutiny arrangements       the rules on declarations of interest,
                                                political groups appoint elected         through which non-cabinet councillors    the timings and order of business at
                                                members to those committees. More        can scrutinise decisions.                council meetings and
                                                councillors are actively involved in                                              the rules of debate.
                                                                                         There are some regulatory and quasi-
                                                decision making, but it can take
                                                                                         judicial functions over which the
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              .                 Support         longer to reach decisions.
the loc                                                                                  cabinet does not have responsibility     Agendas and minutes
                                                Increasingly, areas are creating joint   – for example, determining planning
                                                decision-making arrangements such        applications and making decisions        By law the council’s formal meetings
                                                as combined authorities or joint         on licensing. These are delegated        must be held in public, although the
           he AGM
                   ?
                                                leaders’ boards to deal with important   to separate planning and regulatory      public and press can be excluded for
coming
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                                Community       issues that cross local authority        committees.                              discussions on some confidential items
                                leadership      boundaries, such as economic                                                      (known as ‘Part 2’). Councils must give
                  Send                          growth and transport.                                                             at least five days’ notice of a meeting
                                                                                         The constitution                         and must make the agenda available
      I O P                                     Whichever system an authority                                                     at least five days before the meeting.
Y U                                             opts for, it must have a full council
                                                                                         As a new councillor you will receive
                                                                                         a copy of your council’s constitution,   The minutes should be published on
     J  K L                                     on which all councillors sit. This is
G H                             Information     responsible for setting the policy
                                                                                         which sets out how the council           the council’s website and available on
                                                                                         conducts its business, including:        request. The council must also publish
   B N  M                                       framework, agreeing the budget and                                                its forward plan, showing the key
 V
                                                spending plans, electing the leader      • who is responsible for making          decisions to be made in the next four
                       return
space                                           and making constitutional decisions.       decisions and how decisions are        months.
                                                It is also a forum for debate on           made
                                                major issues affecting the council       • procedural matters (set out in the
                                                and its local area. In councils with a     ‘standing orders’)

                                                                                                                                                                             13
                                                 Welcome
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                Defamation and privilege                   Officers fall broadly into two main       By law, every council must appoint
                                                                                           categories: front-line and support.       three key officers:
                                Contents        Councillors can be sued for                Front-line officers deliver services to
                                                defamation if they say or write                                                      1. A head of the paid staff – usually
                                                                                           the public – for example teachers,
                                                anything that will ‘lower a person                                                      the chief executive (or managing
                                                                                           social workers, care assistants
                                                in the estimation of right-thinking                                                     director) who advises councillors on
                                                                                           and refuse collectors. Support
                                                people’. However, in council meetings                                                   policy, procedure and legislation.
                                                                                           staff ensure that front-line services
                                                they have a qualified privilege to allow
                                Welcome         freedom of speech. This can protect
                                                                                           and the democratic process can            2. A monitoring officer – responsible
                                                                                           operate smoothly – for example               for advising councillors of the
                                                you against being sued for something       through administrative, finance, legal,      legal framework within which they
                                                you say as part of your duty as a          communications and IT support.               operate, and for ensuring that
                                                councillor or to defend or support
                                                                                                                                        they understand if their decisions
                                                the interests of the council – but it      Councils also deliver services through
                                                                                                                                        or actions could lead to a legal
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              .                 Support         only applies if you can show that you      various partnerships and outsourcing
                                                                                                                                        challenge or be found to be
                                                honestly believed what you said and        arrangements. These staff are not
                                                                                                                                        maladministration.
                                                were not motivated by malice.              directly employed by the council but
                                                                                           are affected by decisions made by         3. A Section 151 officer – usually
                                                                                           councillors.                                 the director of finance, whose
coming
       to the AGM
                   ?

                                Community       The council workforce                                                                   task it is to monitor the financial
                                                                                           Specific provisions will be included
                                                                                                                                        affairs of the council.
                                leadership      A council’s paid employees are
                                                                                           in the standing orders about the
                                                called officers. Unlike civil servants,
                  Send                                                                     involvement that individual councillors   The senior management team will head
                                                who work for the government, local
                                                                                           can have in the appointment and           up the main functions or departments
      I O P                                     government officers have a duty to
Y U                                             support the whole council, not just the
                                                                                           dismissal of staff and in setting         of the council. Good member/
                                                                                           employment policies. Many councils        officer relationships are important
     J  K L                                     cabinet. This means that they must
G H                             Information                                                have protocols or policies to govern      to a high-performing authority, but
                                                remain politically neutral.
                                                                                           councillor/officer relations. All         the relationship between the leader
   B N  M
 V                                              Very simply, councillors set the           councillors have a general duty of        or elected mayor and the chief
                       return                   strategic direction and agree the          care towards officers, but the protocol   executive is particularly important
space                                                                                      will set a framework for members to
                                                policy framework of the council;                                                     and can have a profound effect on
                                                officers are responsible for delivering    promote equality and respect the          the council’s performance. In some
                                                the council’s policies and for the day-    impartiality and integrity of staff.      instances, more than one council share
                                                to-day operation of the organisation.                                                a senior management team or other
                                                                                                                                     management arrangements.

                                                                                                                                                                               14
                                                 Welcome
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                 Equality and community                    Councillors are expected to
                                                                                           understand the impact of cutting
                                 Contents        cohesion                                                                                  Councillor viewpoint
                                                                                           budgets and to mitigate potential
                                                 At the heart of the Equality Act is the   negative outcomes, especially
                                                 public sector equality duty, which                                               Councillor Mike Bush, Independent,
                                                                                           the cumulative impact on specific
                                                                                                                                  Tendring District Council
                                                 aims to tackle discrimination and         groups of people. Getting this right
                                                 inequality by embedding equality                                                 I live in the rural Essex village of Great Oakley
                                                                                           will ensure fairness and equality of
                                                 considerations in the day-to-day work                                            and was elected as a district councillor in
                                 Welcome         of all public bodies. Public bodies
                                                                                           opportunity for local people.
                                                                                                                                  2017. I am an active member-volunteer in
                                                                                                                                  our village community-run pub and, having
                                                 must have due regard to the need to:
                                                                                                                                  listened to the issues raised by local
                                                 • eliminate unlawful discrimination,                                             residents, I wanted to be their voice in council
                                                                                                                                  and make a difference to our village life.
                                                   harassment and victimisation
                                                                                                                                  It has been a steep but rewarding learning
the local par
              k.                 Support         • advance equality of opportunity
                                                                                                                                  curve and I have worked on a variety of
                                                   between different groups
                                                                                                                                  cases, from potholes, fly-tipping and
                                                 • foster good relations between                                                  flooding through to anti-social behaviour
                                                   different groups.                                                              and planning applications. I am also a
                    ?                                                                                                             parish councillor, which provides different
           he AGM
coming
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                                 Community       Councils must publish:                                                           challenges.

                                 leadership      • one or more equality objectives                                                My advice for new councillors is:
                   Send                            every four years                                                               • Introduce yourself to as many officers as
                                                 • information to demonstrate                                                       possible – get to know their roles and how
      I O P
Y U                                                compliance with the equality duty                                                they can provide support and advice to
                                                                                                                                    assist with your casework.
          L                                        each year
     J  K                        Information
G H                                              • information on their employees and
                                                                                                                                  • Get to know other councillors who have
                                                                                                                                    experience and knowledge to guide you
   B N  M                                          others affected by their policies
 V                                                 and practices.
                                                                                                                                    through the council protocol.

                        return                                                                                                    • Always respond to your residents’ issues
space                                                                                                                               promptly, keep them informed and ensure
                                                                                                                                    you get out in your community to let them
                                                                                                                                    know what you can do for them.

                                                                                                                                                                                      15
                                                  Welcome
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                Support                                 Induction and training                   Accessing information
                                Contents                                                Most councils offer induction courses    Most of the information you need
                                                                                        for new councillors to familiarise       to be effective in your new role as a
                                                Support for councillors                 them with their new role and how the     councillor will be available online. Your
                                                                                        council works. Your induction should     council’s website and intranet will
                                                Councils provide support
                                                                                        introduce you to the members and         contain lots of information about the
                                                to councillors in their role
                                                                                        officers you need to know to do your     council, the way it works, its services
                                Welcome         as democratically elected
                                                                                        job effectively, and show you how and    and the local area.
                                                representatives, although the level
                                                                                        where to access the information you
                                                and type of support provided will                                                Council papers may be provided
                                                                                        will need. It should also run through
                                                vary. It can include:                                                            electronically and/or in paper form.
                                                                                        the legal framework you will be
                                                                                                                                 Many councils have good tele-
                                                • induction and training                operating within.
                                                                                                                                 conference facilities that enable you
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              .                 Support         • access to space in the council        Some councils provide a wider range      to attend meetings with residents
                                                  offices, such as a members’ room      of training for councillors. This may    remotely, or you may be able to join
                                                • office equipment such as a mobile     build your knowledge in a particular     these meetings through video chat or
                                                  phone, computer and printer           service area (such as education, adult   voice call services.
                   ?
           he AGM                                                                       social care, housing or planning)
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                                Community       • access to media and general
                                                                                        or develop your skills – for example
                                                                                                                                 Officers have a duty to ensure that
                                                  communications advice
                                leadership                                              effective scrutiny, working with
                                                                                                                                 councillors have access to the
                  Send
                                                • research support.                                                              information they need in order to make
                                                                                        the media, presentations, political
                                                                                                                                 well-informed decisions. They may
                                                Some support is provided for all        leadership, influencing or time
      I O P                                                                                                                      do this by producing factual reports,
Y U                                             councillors, while other support is     management.
                                                                                                                                 making presentations or arranging
          L                                     provided via the political groups
     J  K                       Information                                             From time to time, your council may      visits – for example, taking members
G H                                             (or, if you are an independent
                                                                                        hold briefings and away-days to          of the planning committee to visit
        M                                       councillor, your council may have an
 V B N                                                                                  bring everyone up-to-date with the       a site that is subject to a planning
                                                independent group office). The leader
                                                                                        big issues affecting the council and     application. In some councils, the
                       return                   of the council and cabinet members
space                                                                                   its local area, or joint events where    larger political groups may have a
                                                are more likely to have access to
                                                                                        officers and councillors work together   political assistant who can carry out
                                                dedicated support, along with the
                                                                                        to formulate strategy and build good     research on their behalf.
                                                chairs of scrutiny in some councils.
                                                                                        working relationships.

                                                 Support                                                                                                                     16
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                Allowances
                                Contents        All councillors are entitled to a basic           Councillor viewpoint
                                                allowance. Those with additional
                                                roles may also receive a special          Councillor Kelly Braund, Labour, London
                                                responsibility allowance (SRA) which      Borough of Merton
                                                reflects the level of responsibility      I became a councillor in 2017, having run
                                                and expected time commitment.             the Merton campaign for Britain Stronger
                                Welcome         Allowances are set by the council         in Europe. I was a committed community
                                                on the recommendation of an               organiser and loved nothing better than
                                                independent remuneration panel.           being on the doorstep talking to residents.

                                                Councils may also cover the cost of       I have made a speech at every council
                                                childcare or dependent care, along        meeting I have attended – and now I even

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              .                 Support         with travel and subsistence.              look forward to it. Seeing as I was terrified
                                                                                          of public speaking only a few years ago, it
                                                Allowances are subject to income tax,     shows how becoming a councillor allows you
                                                and it is your responsibility to ensure   to challenge yourself.
                                                that you pay the correct amount.          My advice for new councillors is:
                   ?
           he AGM                               Some incidental costs, such as use
coming
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                                Community       of a home office and telephone, can
                                                                                          • Ask questions. At one of my first scrutiny
                                                                                            panels, everyone was using an acronym
                                leadership      be deducted before calculating the          that I didn’t recognise, so I asked. The
                  Send                          tax to be paid.                             other members sighed with relief – they
                                                                                            didn’t knew what it stood for either.
      I O P
Y U                                                                                       • It’s a steep learning curve: take advantage

     J  K L                                                                                 of all the training on offer, take time to
G H                             Information                                                 meet the officers and find a mentor to
                                                                                            show you the ropes.
   B N  M
 V                                                                                        • Say yes: positions are always coming up
                       return                                                               on committees, panels and task groups.
space                                                                                       Your fresh ideas might be exactly what are
                                                                                            needed.

                                                                                                                                          17
                                                 Support
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                Councillor development programmes
                                Contents
                                                                         Inspiring local communities,                 particular, our community leadership
                                                                         making a real difference and                 resources offer includes workbooks,
                                                                         changing people’s lives to help              e-learning tools and in-house training
                                                                         create a better future for the               to support you in your role as a
                                Welcome                                  people and places we represent               community leader, facilitator and
                                                                         requires ambitious, bold leadership.         broker.
                                                                         Effective political leadership is the
                                                                                                                      The Focus on Leadership series
                                                                         building block of a healthy and
                                                                                                                      provides seminars and workshops
                                                                         vibrant democracy.
                                                                                                                      to help councillors in their existing
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              .                 Support                                  The LGA’s range of political leadership      roles and as they move towards
                                                                         development programmes supports              challenging new leadership
                                                                         councillors to become more confident,        positions. These include the Young
                                                                         capable and skilled and better               Councillor’s Weekender, which
                   ?                                                     prepared to make a difference. There         helps councillors to build networks
           he AGM
coming
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                                Community                                is a programme for everyone, whether         with their peers early on in their
                                leadership                               you are a brand new councillor or a          careers; the BAME (black, Asian
                                                                         seasoned veteran at the top of your          and minority ethnic) programmes;
                  Send
                                                                         political career.                            programmes for women councillors;
      I O P                                                                                                           and the Effective Opposition
Y U                                                                      As a local politician, finding the time to
                                                                                                                      programme.
          L                                                              reflect, build your networks and learn
     J  K                       Information
G H                                                                      can be tricky. The LGA development
        M                                                                programmes provide opportunities to
 V B N
                                                                         do just that, building the leadership
                       return                                            capacity of individuals and the
space
                                                                         wider sector. For new councillors in

                                                Support                                                                                                        18
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                Contents
                                                Themed learning opportunities for          For councillors already in leadership
                                                                                                                                      For further information
                                                portfolio holders or service committee     positions and looking to stretch their
                                                                                                                                      www.local.gov.uk/councillor-
                                                chairs are available in the Leadership     skills further (including group leaders,
                                                                                                                                      development
                                                Essentials programme, which                portfolio holders, portfolio shadows
                                Welcome         concentrates on specific portfolio         and committee chairs), we provide
                                                areas (such as planning or adult           the highly respected Leadership
                                                social care) or a specific theme such      Academy. This modular programme
                                                as scrutiny or effective community         delivers accredited leadership
                                                engagement.                                development opportunities all year
                                                                                           round.
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              .                 Support         Next Generation is a modular
                                                development programme which                And for those who have reached their
                                                has been developed and designed            ambition of council leader we offer, by
                                                within party political groups. It offers   invitation, the Leaders programme,
           he AGM
                   ?                            ambitious and talented councillors an      aimed at new council leaders in their
coming
       to t
                                Community       unparalleled opportunity to develop        first term of leadership. Leaders may
                                leadership      their leadership, with a particular        also choose to be involved in the
                  Send                          focus on their own party traditions.       Leading Edge series, which brings
                                                                                           together leaders and chief executives
      I O P                                                                                to share ideas and look at the current
Y U                                                                                        challenges facing local government.
     J  K L
G H                             Information
   B N  M
 V
                       return
space

                                                Support                                                                                                              19
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                Communications                          Make the most of                          how communities come together on
                                                                                                                                  different issues. Whereas previously
                                Contents                                                available help
                                                                                                                                  a story in the local media might have
                                                An essential part of being a good       Most councils have a communications       been the way to raise awareness
                                                councillor is knowing how and           team whose job it is to represent the     (and still might be), depending on the
                                                what to communicate with different      council from a corporate point of view,   audience you are speaking to, you
                                                audiences. The following broad          reflecting the policy decisions made.     might find that a Facebook group,
                                                principles can help you.                The ‘code of recommended practice
                                Welcome                                                 on local authority publicity’ states
                                                                                                                                  social media campaign or organising a
                                                                                                                                  local forum will be more effective. You
                                                                                        that they are not allowed to write or
                                                Listen as well as promote               send out press releases on behalf
                                                                                                                                  need to think about who you are trying
                                                                                                                                  to reach, then use the channels that
                                                As an elected representative it is      of individual councillors, but they       audience uses. Your communications
                                                important to let local people know      can still help you to promote council     team might have this information
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              .                 Support         what you have been doing, but it’s      work you have been involved with. If      through resident surveys.
                                                equally important to listen to people   you think you have an item of interest
                                                and groups in your area, such as:       to your residents or the media, your      Good communications need not
                                                                                        communications team can advise you        cost a lot, sometimes just the price
                                                • local residents                                                                 of a coffee. You can:
           he AGM
                   ?                                                                    on how best to promote it.
coming
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                                Community       • fellow councillors and officers
                                                                                                                                  • visit local meeting places –
                                                                                        Find out what methods of
                                leadership      • local MPs
                                                                                        communication are available to              cafes, shops and markets
                  Send                          • your political party or group         you and who their audience is             • write newsletters
          P                                     • local organisations (businesses,      (for example council and party              (paper and/or email)
      I O
Y U                                               voluntary and community sector,       websites, newsletters and magazines,      • run events or meetings
     J  K L                                       partners)                             e-newsletters, social media channels
G H                             Information     • the media                             and events).
                                                                                                                                  • hold surgeries, either in person or
                                                                                                                                    online, providing opportunities for
   B N  M                                       • community and faith leaders.
 V                                                                                                                                  local people to ask questions or
                       return                                                           Meet people where they                      raise concerns
space                                                                                   are – online and offline                  • use social media such as Twitter,
                                                                                                                                    Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram,
                                                                                        Over the last decade, there has
                                                                                                                                    WhatsApp, LinkedIn and YouTube
                                                                                        been a dramatic shift in how
                                                                                                                                    (make sure your content is accurate,
                                                                                        people get their information and

                                                 Support                                                                                                                    20
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                   informative, balanced and objective     • Go to where your audience is:           interest, don’t assume that issuing a
                                                   – if in any doubt then check your         if the people you want to connect       press release will automatically do the
                                Contents           council’s social media policy)            with are on a particular platform,      job. Get to know local media deadlines
                                                • set up a basic website, blog               forum or group, join it.                and give reporters as much notice as
                                                  or vlog.                                 • Content is king: by creating            possible.
                                                                                             sharable and engaging content
                                                                                             you can contribute to the
                                                Using social media                                                                   Present a story
                                Welcome                                                      conversation and be heard.
                                                Councillors, officers and the council                                                The best news stories are those that
                                                                                           • Be authentic: don’t pretend to
                                                itself will use social media in distinct                                             tell the TRUTH: topical, relevant,
                                                                                             be something you are not.
                                                ways. However, there is a set of                                                     unusual, trouble or human.
                                                                                           • The internet is forever: remember
                                                universal principles that are useful                                                 Remember that your greatest strength
                                                                                             that what you post now could be
                                                to keep in mind.
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              .                 Support                                                      found in years to come.                 with the media is as a community
                                                • Be strategic – plan ahead: who do                                                  leader. A local reporter may not be
                                                  you want to engage with, why and                                                   interested in a political press release,
                                                  how? What do you want to achieve?
                                                                                           Develop a positive                        but they will take notice if you are
           he AGM
                   ?
                                                • Be human: be approachable in
                                                                                           relationship with                         campaigning on behalf of your
coming
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                                Community         your language and tone, behave           the local media                           residents on high-profile local issues.
                                leadership        online as you would in person.           Local journalists are always looking      Know your residents, relate to their
                  Send                          • Be engaging: respond to                  for good stories. By building and         concerns, understand their ambitions
                                                  questions and join in when you can       maintaining a positive relationship       and be their champion. Work with
      I O P
Y U                                               move the conversation on or help.        with reporters in your area, you can      community groups – often they will be
                                                                                           establish yourself as a valuable          involved in campaigns of interest to
     J  K L                                     • Be professional: remember that
G H                             Information       you represent your council, so be
                                                                                           and credible contact for news and         the media that can help to boost your
                                                                                           comment.                                  profile. And think pictures: if a story has
   B N  M                                         aware of how your public voice
 V                                                                                                                                   an obvious visual angle involving local
                                                  comes across.                            Journalists you have built up trust
                       return                                                                                                        people, it is far more likely to be covered.
space                                           • Share and attribute: you can             with may call you looking for tip-offs.
                                                  share what others have posted            Think about the stories you can offer     If you want to know more about best
                                                  but it is polite to acknowledge and      – even if they are not necessarily        practice in communications, visit
                                                  attribute where this has come from.      council-related. If you have a story of   www.local.gov.uk/comms-hub

                                                  Support                                                                                                                           21
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                • #FutureComms pulls together         • You will find information and tools
                                                  fresh thinking from leading           to help you build a stronger
                                Contents          figures in the communications         dialogue with local residents on
                                                                                                                                       Councillor viewpoint
                                                  industry, along with case studies     our resident communications
                                                  highlighting best practice            page: www.local.gov.uk/resident-      Councillor Philippa Hart, Liberal Democrat,
                                                                                                                              South Cambridgeshire District Council
                                                  across local government:              communications
                                                  www.local.gov.uk/future-comms                                               I grew up in my ward and love representing its
                                                                                                                              residents. Forty per cent of my council time
                                Welcome         • Our digital communications
                                                                                                                              is spent dealing with casework, often liaising
                                                  resource shares guidance on                                                 with officers to ask them to assist with a
                                                  social media and how best to                                                particular matter. Twenty per cent is spent
                                                  communicate with residents via                                              keeping residents informed: I write reports
                                                  email: www.local.gov.uk/digital-                                            for meetings and magazines and, with
                                                  communications                                                              fellow Lib Dem councillors, a monthly email
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              .                 Support                                                                                       newsletter.

                                                                                                                              The other 40 per cent of my time goes
                                                                                                                              on being on the scrutiny and planning
                                                                                                                              committees and attending monthly full
           he AGM
                   ?                                                                                                          council meetings.
coming
       to t
                                Community                                                                                     My advice for new councillors is:
                                leadership                                                                                    • For at least six months you will feel like you
                  Send                                                                                                          don’t know anything. Democratic services
                                                                                                                                were a lifeline during that time.
      I O P
Y U

G H  J  K L
                                Information
                                                                                       #FutureComms                           • Some councillors schedule meetings at
                                                                                                                                school pick-up or evening meal times. Ask
                                                                                                                                for meetings to be held at family-friendly
                                                                                          Building local public services        times so that candidates from a wider age
   B N  M                                                                                 for the future through modern
 V                                                                                        communications                        range can consider becoming a councillor.
                       return                                                                                                 • Face and name recall are very useful. The
                                                                                          www.local.gov.uk/future-comms
space                                                                                                                           people you meet will remember your name,
                                                                                                                                so it’s nice to repay the compliment by
                                                                                                                                remembering who they are.

                                                                                                                                                                                 22
                                                 Support
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                 Access to                                As a councillor, the decisions you
                                                                                          make and the actions you take are
                                                                                                                                  The new Act contains six data
                                                                                                                                  protection principles which state that
                                 Contents        information                              all subject to public scrutiny. Your    personal information should be:
                                                                                          allowance, along with any expenses
                                                                                                                                  • processed lawfully, fairly and in
                                                                                          that you claim, will be published on
                                                                                                                                    a transparent manner
                                                 Freedom of information                   the council’s website.
                                                                                                                                  • collected for specified, explicit and
                                                 The Freedom of Information Act 2000                                                legitimate purposes and not further
                                 Welcome         gives people rights of access to the     Protecting data                           processed in a manner that is
                                                 information held by councils and other                                             incompatible with those purposes
                                                                                          The General Data Protection
                                                 public bodies. The legislation aims to
                                                                                          Regulation (GDPR) is a Europe-          • adequate, relevant, and limited to
                                                 give people a better understanding
                                                                                          wide law which replaced the Data          what is necessary
                                                 of how organisations make decisions,
                                                                                          Protection Act 1998 in the UK, and      • accurate and, where necessary,
the local par
              k.                 Support         carry out their duties and spend
                                                                                          was enacted in the Data Protection        kept up-to-date
                                                 public money. The Act created two
                                                                                          Act 2018, with some additional
                                                 principal obligations for councils:                                              • retained only for as long as
                                                                                          provisions. The Government has
                                                                                                                                    necessary
                                                 1. All councils must adopt and           indicated that these provisions and
           he AGM
                    ?
                                                    maintain a publication scheme         the GDPR will continue to apply after   • processed in an appropriate
coming
       to t
                                 Community          setting out details of information    the UK exits the EU.                      manner to maintain security.
                                 leadership         they will routinely make available,
                                                                                          The GDPR sets out requirements          Councillors will continue to have data
                   Send                             how the information can be                                                    protection responsibilities for the
                                                                                          for how organisations must handle
                                                    obtained and whether there is                                                 personal information they process,
      I O P                                                                               personal data. In addition to other
Y U                                                 a charge for it.
                                                                                          changes, it enhances the rights of      although they are no longer required
     J  K L                                      2. All councils must comply with         people whose data is held (known        to pay a fee to the Information
G H                              Information                                              as ‘data subjects’ under the Data       Commissioner’s Office (ICO). This
                                                    requests made under the Act
   B N  M                                           for information they hold (unless     Protection Act 1998) and gives them     means you are responsible for
 V                                                                                                                                ensuring all personal data is handled
                                                    an exemption from disclosure          more control over what happens to
                        return                                                                                                    in a way which complies with the
space                                               applies). Requests for information    their data.
                                                    should be responded to as quickly                                             requirements of the GDPR.
                                                    as possible, and within 20 working
                                                    days, except in some limited
                                                    circumstances.

                                                  Support                                                                                                                   23
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                Detail on how these legislative          • support public sector                    • represent local government interests
                                                changes affect councillors can be          transformation and digitisation            in the areas of transparency, open
                                Contents        found on the ICO website (www.ico.                                                    data publishing and consistency of
                                                                                         • engage and empower citizens
                                                org.uk/for-organisations/political).       within their communities                   data quality
                                                There is also helpful guidance on the                                               • commission initiatives to
                                                                                         • be transparent and publicly
                                                Freedom of Information Act and the                                                    demonstrate the benefit of sector-
                                                                                           accountable.
                                                Data Protection Act, including how                                                    wide data standards.
                                Welcome         they work together. The ICO also has     In 2019/20, initiatives are being
                                                a telephone helpdesk.                    developed to:
                                                                                                                                    Open data
                                                                                         • brief, debate and instruct
                                                                                                                                    Since 2010 there has been a strong
                                                Better use of data                         councillors to remain on top of the
                                                                                                                                    emphasis on transparency in local
                                                in local government                        extraordinary developments in IT,
                                                                                                                                    government, with an expectation by
the loc
       al park
              .                 Support         Data is increasingly being recognised
                                                                                           digital communications and data
                                                                                                                                    the public of more information being
                                                                                           practices in recent years
                                                as important in the design, delivery                                                shared openly. Some data is mandated
                                                and transformation of local public       • develop projects, products and           to be shared in the ‘Transparency
                                                services. It can be used to improve        services to encourage closer             code’, and the LGA offers guidance for
           he AGM
                   ?
                                                outcomes and drive efficiencies,           working between local service            councillors and officers on this: http://
coming
       to t
                                Community       which is particularly valuable within      delivery organisations by pooling        transparency.opendata.esd.org.uk
                                leadership      current financial constraints. The LGA     learning, expertise and resources
                                                                                                                                    Publishing data openly, and sharing
                  Send                          delivers a programme of work to help     • facilitate capabilities to allow
                                                                                                                                    it within and between local service
                                                councillors and councils get a better      councils and fire authorities to self-
      I O P                                                                                                                         providers, can create opportunities for
Y U                                             understanding of the value of data         assess their data practices, then
                                                                                                                                    efficiency savings and organisational
                                                in public services and to support          suggest options for improvement
     J  K L                                                                                                                         innovation. The LGA leads on a range
G H                             Information     them in using it. This work aims to        ‘next steps’
                                                                                                                                    of projects and support services to
                                                encourage councils to open up,
   B N  M                                                                                • continue to maintain and promote         encourage sector-led learning and
 V                                              share and better use data to:              the use of local government’s            improvement in all aspects of data
                       return                                                              information-sharing standards and
space                                           • design services around user needs                                                 standards, governance and information
                                                                                           publishing practices, to remain          best practice.
                                                • drive efficiencies within services       compliant with the expectations
                                                  and across the council                   of the transparency agenda and           A series of online eLearning modules
                                                                                           national data practices                  has been developed to encourage

                                                 Support                                                                                                                        24
Guidance for new councillors 2019/20

                                                local government to support greater        voluntary sectors, to a consistent data
                                                transparency and better use of its         standard. This will support easier
                                Contents        data. There are six modules: the first     discovery and encourage innovation
                                                                                                                                               Councillor viewpoint
                                                three are for information officers and     through emerging ‘apps’ to identify        Councillor James Hill, Conservative,
                                                focus on data standards and open           appropriate services matched to            Northampton Borough Council
                                                publishing; the second three are for       individuals’ specific needs, eligibility
                                                                                                                                      I became a councillor in 2015. It came
                                                council officers and councillors, and      and location. Pilot trials are planned     somewhat out of blue, I wasn’t expecting
                                Welcome         outline practical examples and case        during 2019 to apply this strategy to      to be elected. I stood because I felt it was
                                                studies for promoting better use and       tackle the challenge of loneliness.        important to have younger people on the
                                                re-use of data.                                                                       council to reflect the electorate.
                                                                                           There will also be continued support
                                                The eLearning modules can be               for local government’s response to         The chance to make a small but important
                                                                                                                                      difference in people’s lives is very satisfying.
                                                found at http://lga.learndata.info         the requirements of data protection
                                                                                                                                      I am the Assistant Cabinet Member for
the loc
       al park
              .                 Support                                                    standards in the GDPR, via an
                                                                                                                                      Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning, a
                                                                                           online knowledge-sharing portal
                                                Using data                                 and services such as the powers
                                                                                                                                      role which is essentially about the future
                                                                                                                                      regeneration of the town, which is really
                                                Together with local government, the        and duties tool, to help explain the       exciting.

                   ?
                                                LGA has assembled a range of case          legislative framework.                     My advice for new councillors is:
           he AGM
coming
       to t
                                Community       studies, guidance, tools, training
                                                                                           The LG Inform service, now entering        • The first six months are a whirlwind –
                                                and other resources in one place, to
                                leadership      help councils improve outcomes for
                                                                                           its 10th year, brings together a range       it takes time to find your feet and learn
                  Send                                                                     of key performance data for councils         how the council works, but don’t worry,
                                                communities by being more efficient                                                     every new councillor feels like this.
                                                                                           in an online tool. It presents the
      I O P                                     and the better use of data. These
Y U                                             resources are gathered in a larger
                                                                                           latest metrics, measures and context       • Involve your family and friends. As a
                                                                                           about local places and organisations,        married father of four I involve my family
     J  K L                                     ‘improvement hub’, which was made
G H                             Information     available for councils to test in April,
                                                                                           allowing reports and comparisons             wherever possible. This might include
                                                                                                                                        bringing them to community activities
                                                                                           to be made. It includes data and
   B N  M                                       for launch in July. See page 60.                                                        such as litter picks and fun days.
 V                                                                                         statistics drawn from education,
                                                                                           health, democracy, housing,                • Use various ways to engage with residents:
                       return                   A strategy is currently being
space                                           produced for the open publishing           environment and waste management,            as well as social media I run surgeries,
                                                                                                                                        use email and am always available on the
                                                of information about services              safety, council assets, facilities and
                                                                                                                                        phone.
                                                delivered locally by councils, and         population demographics.
                                                their partners in the private and          www.lginform.local.gov.uk

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                                                  Support
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