Local Political Leadership Conference 2010

About the event

The new political and economic climate requires councillors to think and act in new ways in order to find innovative solutions. Is there a distinct set of 'political skills' and what is the best way for councillors to develop them? What new skills do councillors need to develop to address the new and changing local government agenda, the changing expectations of their communities and take advantage of new communications technology?

Who should attend?

This event will be of interest to:

• all councillors; but especially those with an interest in, or responsibility for, member development
• member development officers
• democratic services officers
• officers with an interest in, or responsibility for, member development
• representatives from other national and regional bodies with an interest or involvement in member development.

Programme

09.15 Registration and refreshments
10.00 Chair's welcome and introduction
Marianne Abley, Regional Associate, LG Improvement and Development
10.10 Keynote session: the new government's agenda and new ways of working
Speaker to be confirmed
10.40 Questions and discussion
10.50 Presentation one: a personal journey

• Pascoe Sawyers, Programme Manager, Political Leadership, LG Improvement and Development
• Councillor Debo Sellis, West Devon District Council
• Councillor James Alexander, City of York Council.

An interview with two leading members on how they developed their political skills; what have been their key events and experiences; who are their mentors and role models and whether there is a distinct set of 'political skills'.
11.15 Refreshments, exhibition viewing and networking
11.30 Session two: developing your skills
Professor Jo Silvester, Director, Organisational Psychology Research Group, City University London.
This session will present the findings of a research project into how politicians develop their skills - in particular the role of mentoring. 
12.10 Open discussion and questions to speakers
12.40 Lunch
13.45 Workshops: session A

• A1. Standards of behaviour
• A2. Developing councillors to use social media
• A3. Keeping an eye on the cash
• A4. The councillor's role in policing our communities
• A5. Knowing your community
• A6. Community engagement and empowerment: what it means for councillors.

15.00 Comfort break and move to workshops
15.05 Workshops: session B

• B1. Standards of behaviour
• B2. Developing councillors to use social media
• B3. Keeping an eye on the cash
• B4. The councillor's role in policing our communities
• B5. Understanding customer needs and redesigning services
• B6. The councillor's role in third-sector commissioning.

16.15 Conference close.

Workshops

A1. Standards of behaviour
This workshop will look at understanding what the code of conduct means in practice; discuss current standards concerns as well as issues being raised and the implications for member development.
Anne Rehill, Advice and Guidance Manager, Standards Board for England

A2. Developing councillors to use social media
Many councillors are starting to use social media such as blogs and Twitter to engage with their communities - not always successfully. How can councillors use this media to best advantage and what skills do they need to develop?
Ingrid Koehler, Improvement Strategist, LG Improvement and Development.

A3. Keeping an eye on the cash
It is important that all members ask the right questions and get to grips with their authority's finances in the coming year. This workshop will provide some essential guidance and tools to help members do so, highlighting approaches that have worked well for other councils.
Jessica Crowe, Executive Director, Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS)

A4. The councillor's role in policing our communities
Sunderland City Council won a National Innovations Award on the 'Policing Our Communities Together' theme. In this workshop they will discuss their approach to effective partnership in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and the role of the ward councillor within it.
Chris Williams, National Policing Improvement Agency. Representatives from Sunderland City Council.

A5. Knowing your community
Knowing your community would seem to be a basic requirement for effective local government. Ward councillors should be at the forefront of understanding what is happening locally and how this translates into good service delivery and strong and cohesive neighbourhoods.
Michael Keating, National Adviser for Equalities and Cohesion, LG Improvement and Development.

A6. Community engagement and empowerment: what it means for councillors
What do we really mean by empowerment? What or who are we trying to empower? What decisions do we really want people to be able to have a direct say in and how? This workshop will to explore these questions, and the resources and tools available for councillors.
Jen Wingate, Community Engagement Adviser, LG Improvement and Development.
Helen Hughes, National Adviser for the Third Sector and Communities, LG Improvement and Development.
Councillor representative to be confirmed

B5. Understanding your customer needs and redesigning services
This workshop will explore how ward councillors can use customer insight and social media tools and techniques to better engage with and understand their communities. They can then use this intelligence to redesign local public services more efficiently and effectively.
Richard Greening, Improvement Adviser, LG Improvement and Development.
Councillor representative to be confirmed.

B6. The councillor's role in third-sector commissioning
This workshop will build upon the toolkit, developed by the programme, specifically for councillors and primary care trust (PCT) non-executive directors. It will explore councillors' involvement including the opportunities and capacity of the third sector and an outline of the tools available to enable assessment of delivery of local strategies and outcomes for success in building community services.
Helen Hughes, National Adviser for the Third Sector and Communities, LG Improvement and Development.
Tina Holland, Programme Manager, National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning (NPTSC).
Councillors from London Councils to be confirmed

Booking information 

Online booking form

Further information

Contact:

telephone: 020 7296 6630
email: Rachel.Stevens@idea.gov.uk

Sponsorship and exhibition details

The Local Government Association (LGA) Group's conferences offer you great opportunities to network with key decision makers within local government and its partner organisations. Positioning your organisation, brand and message alongside the LGA Group means you will be working with the most influential local government organisation in England and Wales.

We can tailor packages to suit your requirements and budget. All our packages contain a number of branding and integrated opportunities which will maximise your presence and ensure that you are way ahead of your competitors. A number of space-only stands are available to book at the conference venue.

All refreshment breaks and lunches will take place in the exhibition area. For further information on sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact:

Richard Mole
telephone: 020 7664 3157