This course is available for Members of the Association of Monitoring Officers to attend at a reduced price of £75 + VAT. Email bookings@llg.org.uk to secure your discounted place!
This virtual session (9.30am to 12.30pm Thursday 8 October) will cover all aspects of the creation and operation of Combined Authorities (soon to be Strategic Authorities) which the government has made clear will be a universal model across England.
The session will be led by Beth Evans of GOV TC, an experienced local government practitioner who delivers governance training to local authorities including Combined Authorities. Beth will be joined by Helen Edwards (formerly the Monitoring Officer at the West Midlands Combined Authority) and Jill Coule from GOV TC (formerly MO at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority).
The session will cover:
The current state of play in the creation of new Combined/Strategic Authorities
The different types of new Strategic Authority
Areas of competence/functions
Governance and structure
Working with an elected Mayor
Interfaces and potential conflicts with constituent authorities
The role of statutory officers at the CA
The experience and practical perspective of a CA Monitoring officer, including the challenges, the differences from the role of a LA MO etc.
The further changes to be introduced by the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act
Questions/discussion
The session will be perfect for any colleagues wanting to understand the structure and governance of a CA/SA as this model is rolled out across England, and colleagues interested in a MO/DMO role at a Combined Authority
Bethan Evans Governance Training and Consultancy, GOV TC
Beth is a recognised expert in local authority governance and decision-making, having worked in this field for over 40 years. She was an in-house lawyer for nearly 20 years, at four different councils in England (including Bristol City Council, Avon County Council and South Gloucestershire Council). She moved from a practitioner specialising in education, housing, commercial and social care law into management posts, culminating in roles as a County Solicitor and a Director of Corporate Services in a unitary authority.
Beth led the Welsh Local Government Agency responsible for improvement and development in the 22 unitary councils in Wales (and the regional employer) for three years from 1998.
In 2001 Beth moved to a role as a partner with Bevan Brittan LLP, a leading national law firm, where she led the local government team for 17 years, for 4 years of which she was Senior Partner of the firm. The firm has, for many years, been ranked Band One legal advisors for local authorities.
Legal 500 rankings 2017 – UK Local Government Law
Bethan Evans is the “undisputed leader in the field”
In 2016, Beth left her legal role and set up her business as an independent governance trainer and advisor. She is an experienced and highly regarded practitioner in this field. She specialises in member and officer development for local authorities. She has a wealth of practical experience which enables her to bring these insights to her training.
In this capacity, Beth has provided sessions for over 120 councils over the last few years, including county councils, unitaries, London boroughs, combined authorities, districts, and parishes.
Beth works extensively with LLG on their programme of governance related sessions and on training for Monitoring Officers.
Other roles
In addition to her professional business, Beth has held trustee/non-executive roles including:
Chair of the charity Ablaze which seeks to address inequality of opportunity and achievement in young people by bringing businesses and schools together in reading, maths, and mentoring programmes
Non-executive Director of Bristol Energy Limited for 2 years
Recently retired, Helen was the Chief Legal & Governance Officer and Monitoring Officer at the West Midlands Combined Authority. Helen is also a Past President of LLG.
Jill Coule is from GOV TC and was formerly the Monitoring Officer at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Related events
09:30 - 12:30
Online
