Introduction to the Political Aspects of Local Government

This training consists of a live ½ day virtual session preceded by some work in advance which will be introduced by a short, recorded session for you to view in your own time.

We will explore how to operate confidently at the political interface of your council. This is a particularly important skill for officers in a legal role. Your work requires you to be confident about the political context for the operation of the council and, depending on your practice area, may well bring you into direct contact with elected members in a range of roles.

As well as equipping local government lawyers to undertake their current roles effectively, this workshop will also set good foundations for the development of your career. As you are promoted to more senior roles, the need to navigate the politics of a council confidently will become more important.

The purpose of the workshop is to:

• Understand the political structure of a local authority

• Explore the role and operation of the political groups

• Consider the respective roles of members/officers and the interface between them

• Look at the wider context including national and regional politics

We will cover:

• How a local authority works

• The role and operation of the political parties

• The standards regime for elected members

• The roles of members and officers

• Political change and elections

• National and regional politics

The live session will be interactive, practical and fast-moving! You will engage with colleagues in similar roles from authorities across the country and will learn from their experiences. We will build on the reading you have done in advance and use mini scenarios to bring it all to life.

The aim of the workshop is to ensure that you feel immediately more confident about operating effectively in the political environment of a local authority.