Events Calendar

EVENT CANCELLED Clerk's Gathering: ELECTIONS Guidance to nominations, councillor inductions

Shires Farm WYFC HQ

PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE THE AGREEMENT OF YOUR COUNCIL TO PAY THE COURSE FEE

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Social media for councils: advanced strategies

Zoom

More and more Councils are looking to use a range of social media platforms in order to increase their digital reach into the community. In this session we look at how different platforms can help councils take their social media presence to the next level. We explore how to get the most from each platform and how to ensure your social media content is delivering on your council's communications objectives.

Communicating with your community Part 1

Zoom

creating a communications strategy

It's important for councils to create a communications strategy that supports the delivery of your council’s priorities, aims and objectives. In this session we explore best practice for creating an effective and resource-appropriate communications strategy that fits with the needs and aspirations of your council.

Finance for Councillors

Zoom

This session is for councillors only and is designed to give them a greater understanding of their duties with regard to the council’s finances.

VAT for VAT registered councils

Zoom

 For clerks, finance staff and councillors from councils that are VAT registered, who wish to develop their knowledge (VAT registered councils have a 9-digit registration number, submit quarterly VAT returns online and charge VAT on taxable sales. If your council submits a VAT126 claim, it is not VAT registered).

 Freedom of Information for councils

Zoom

This course looks at what requirements and obligations local councils have when it comes to Freedom of Information and related legislation including EIR. We look at what policies and procedures councils should have in place, how to ensure officers and councillors are aware of their obligations and what steps to take when you get an FOI request, and what exemptions may potentially apply and when.

CANCELLED Code of Conduct Refresher for Councillors

Zoom

All parish and town councils must adopt a Code of Conduct that sets out the standards expected of members. The Local Government Association recently produced a model code that has been adopted across most of the country, including by Worcestershire’s county and district councils. It is recommended that all the county’s parish and town councils do the same.

From the introduction to the model Code:

“The role of councillors across all tiers of local government is a vital part of our country’s system of democracy. It is important that as councillors we can be held accountable, and all adopt the behaviours and responsibilities associated with the role. Our conduct as an individual councillor affects the reputation of all councillors. We want the role of councillors to be one that people aspire to. We also want individuals from a range of backgrounds and circumstances to be putting themselves forward to become councillors.

As councillors, we represent local residents, work to develop better services and deliver local change. The public have high expectations of us and entrust us to represent our area, taking decisions fairly, openly, and transparently. We have both an individual and collective responsibility to meet these expectations by maintaining high standards and demonstrating good conduct, and by challenging behaviour which falls below expectations.

Importantly, we should be able to undertake our role as a councillor without being intimidated, abused, bullied, or threatened by anyone, including the general public.

This code has been designed to protect our democratic role, encourage good conduct and safeguard the public’s trust in local government.”

This session will identify the requirements of the Code and what it means in practice. We shall have a quiz to test your knowledge on when to declare and when not to declare. The handout will be sent out in advance so there is plenty of time to look up the answers, although there won’t be any prizes active participation is a must!

PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE THE AGREEMENT OF YOUR COUNCIL TO PAY THE COURSE FEE

Please read Full terms and conditions of registration