A programme providing structured development opportunities for existing and aspiring monitoring officers, enabling them to evidence skills and experience and work effectively in the golden triangle.
Do you aspire to be more? LLG Inspire offers a development opportunity for existing monitoring officers, and for lawyers and democratic service officers who aspire to become the monitoring officers of the future.
Moving up in your career in local government can be challenging the higher up the structure you rise. At lower levels, progression is attainable with sheer hard work and overtime, but securing that move to a statutory office role can be hard.
Why? Firstly, both the mindset and the skills required for leadership and governance are different to those required for the day job. Consequently, lawyers and governance officers need to prepare themselves to make that move, develop skills, seize opportunities, and learn how best to deal with the challenges of leadership.
As a Monitoring Officer you need to understand the principles of good governance, ethics, strategy, operational delivery, internal and external relationships and high-level decision-making. You may have seen great role models of monitoring officers on your journey - what attributes do they have that you are yet to acquire?
Through the programme you will learn about the laws that underpin local government, council structures and political awareness. You will understand business planning, finance and the management of business relationships. You will work towards gaining a comprehensive set of the essential competencies for a Monitoring Officer. If you are already in a senior role, it assists in learning the required skills and bedding in good habits, whilst providing a sounding board to discuss challenges and opportunities.
The statutory Officer development programme sits alongside programmes for Chief Executives and Chief Finance Officers, designed to deliver effective working within the golden triangle. The programme development has been part- funded through the LGA Sector-led Improvement Support Grant 2024/25 and is UK Government funded. The programme is open to lawyers and democratic services officers, and bursaries are available.
The programme has 6 modules:
Content is provided by face-to-face training, conference attendance, and live online meetings on Zoom, supported by optional pre-recorded online learning.
Each module will include live Zoom lunchtime meetings, with a range of people from the local government environment, giving you the opportunity to chat through the current learning topic and relate it to your workplace situation.
The modules will be staged throughout the 9-month learning period providing the opportunity to work at your own pace through the module, whilst learning alongside colleagues and utilising the network of the 2024/ 25 cohort.
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Governance Conference 2024 (December 2024) |
Full access to the Governance Conference with face-to-face attendance, including an Inspire break out session to meet the 2024 cohort and focus on a key learning objective. |
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Self- Assessment |
Delegates to complete a self-assessment questionnaire to establish current skill levels |
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An audience with Manisha Patel |
A zoom lunchtime session to discuss the importance of becoming an inclusive leader |
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The strategic role of Governance and Scrutiny |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Practical Leadership & Governance |
Pre-recorded online content |
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The Golden Triangle and the Code of Practice |
Face to face one day training session on Good Governance for Statutory Officers |
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The Monitoring Officer Conference 2025 |
Full access to the Monitoring Officer Conference with face to face or online attendance |
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Roles and responsibilities of a Monitoring Officer |
A one-day live online training session |
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Members & Officers, the basics |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Statutory Officers, roles and duties: The law |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Standards and Politics |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Values, skills and top tips |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Local Authority Finance |
A live training session on Zoom |
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CIPFA: The role of the Section 151 Officer |
Pre-recorded online content |
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A legal perspective of local authority finance |
Pre-recorded online content |
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The law underpinning local government |
Pre-recorded online content |
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An audience with Rachel McKoy |
A zoom lunchtime session to discuss communication in the workplace and across the council, and dealing with 'difficult' situations |
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Building business relationships |
Pre-recorded online content |
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An introduction to stakeholder management |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Engaging with your audience |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Personal resilience and holding your own |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Leading projects and deals |
Optional pre-recorded online content |
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External advisors: What do you need? |
Optional pre-recorded online content |
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The dreaded panel review process |
Optional pre-recorded online content |
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Price versus value, & “value adds” |
Optional pre-recorded online content |
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LLG Leadership conference |
Full access to the Leadership Conference with live online attendance |
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An audience with Deborah Evans |
A zoom lunchtime session to explore presenting with confidence |
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Lawyers as leaders |
Pre-recorded online content |
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An Audience with John Austin |
A zoom lunchtime session on how to lead a successful Democratic services team |
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Building a high performing team |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Leading a team day to day |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Managing a modern legal team |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Modern working practices and the flexible workplace |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Visible fairness for all: An impossible dream |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Appraisals in practice: A blessing or a curse? |
Pre-recorded online content |
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LGA event: |
Face to face one day training session on working together in the golden triangle in an ethical, client focussed way, looking at case studies |
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Moving from 'no' to 'yes' |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Building respect |
Pre-recorded online content |
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"The great protector" |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Getting to a solution |
Pre-recorded online content |
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"Choppy waters": Navigating difficult solutions |
Pre-recorded online content |
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How to stand your ground, politely but effectively |
Pre-recorded online content |
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An Audience with ....... |
A zoom lunchtime session on the importance of ethics in decision making |
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Case studies |
Documents within the hub illustrating ethical – decision making, good, bad and ugly, in practice |
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LGSCO Best practice in complaints handling |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Conflict resolution, a Monitoring Officers perspective |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Building resilience |
Pre-recorded online content |
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LGA event: Understanding democracy, power and the golden triangle |
Face to face one day training session with the Solace & CIPFA statutory office development cohorts on democracy, power and the political interface, using case studies to generate discussion |
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An audience with Bethan Evans & a councillor |
A zoom lunchtime session to enable delegates to understand political aims, ambitions, agendas and practice |
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The Current context for member/officer relations |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Governance: Roles and systems |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Council case studies: What can we learn |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Good governance: Practical actions |
Pre-recorded online content |
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Decisions, policy & plans |
Pre-recorded online content |
Bursaries recognise the financial duress many councils now face, which is impacting their ability to invest in the training and development of officers. Bursaries are available to assist councils who have restricted training budgets.
There are three sources of bursary available to delegates for the Inspire Programme for Monitoring Officers, delivered by Lawyers for Local Government:
Receipt of applications will be emailed within ten working days
The Statutory Officer Development Programme bursary recognises the importance of developing the statutory role of Monitoring Officers and the need for equality of opportunity, regardless of the type of Council they are employed by, or its financial standing.
The programme has received an amount of funding through the LGA Improvement Support Grant 24/25 to commit to a bursary scheme for local government Monitoring Officers.
Seven bursaries of £1430 will be available each year within the overall cohort of paid participants on each programme. Bursary applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis based on ability to pay, and places allocated to those legally qualified and those not legally qualified undertaking the role of Monitoring officer, subject to meeting the bursary requirements, on a first come first served basis. Reasons for decisions will be given but no correspondence will be entered into following the determination letter.
To apply for an LGA Inspire bursary, you must meet the following criteria:
The LLG Inspire bursary scheme applies to aspiring monitoring officers who are lawyers and members of LLG.
Five bursaries of £1430 will be available each year within the overall cohort of paid participants on each programme.
Bursary applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and places allocated’ on a first come first served basis. Reasons for decisions will be given but no correspondence will be entered into following the determination letter.
To apply for an LLG Inspire bursary, you must meet the following criteria:
The ADSO Inspire bursary scheme applies to Monitoring Officers, Deputies and aspiring Monitoring Officers who are democratic services / governance officers and members of ADSO.
Five bursaries (up to 100% of cost) of will be available each year within the overall cohort of paid participants on each programme.
Bursary applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and places allocated’ on a first come first served basis. Reasons for decisions will be given but no correspondence will be entered into following the determination letter.
To apply for an ADSO Inspire bursary, you must meet the following criteria:
Following receipt of a bursary award, the applicant is required to attend the whole course for which the monies have been provided unless there are exceptional circumstances which preclude attendance, or the course has been cancelled.
Where the course, or an event within the course has been cancelled and reorganised to another date and time, the applicant is expected to use their best endeavours to attend the course.
In any case where an applicant does not complete the course for which bursary monies have been paid, they must notify LLG / ADSO and repay the bursary amount within 28 days of non-attendance/cancellation.
Where an applicant does not complete the course, LLG / ADSO may waive repayment of bursary amount in exceptional circumstances. The applicant must notify LLG of the reasons within 14 days of the date of the course/event having not been attended. LLG will determine any waive at its own discretion having considered the facts presented with evidence where appropriate.
Please complete your statement in the form attachment below and submit to: training@llg.org.uk
For general enquiries please contact: membership@llg.org.uk
Bookings can be made online at www.llg.org.uk and will be open from 28th June 2024
Training will begin 30 September 2024. The in-person introduction to the programme will be held at the LLG Governance Conference. All Inspire delegates will join the Governance Conference for the full day programme, an ideal opportunity to meet your Inspire colleagues along with senior leaders, Monitoring Officers and Deputy Monitoring Officers attending the conference.
The cost is £2750 + Vat for the 9-month programme and includes access to webinars, online training, the Governance Conference, and a number of in person and online events, along with mentoring.
Three types of bursaries are available for this programme, for delegates employed by a best value authority as defined by Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1999 in England.
Delegates must complete an application form in which they confirm that without the bursary, they would not be able to attend the training due to prevailing financial constraints at their place of work. Evidence or third party confirmation may be requested.
Only one bursary per programme and per candidate can be applied for and will be awarded on a first come first served basis.
Bursary options are as follows:
The programme will offer c60 hours of training over a 9-month period, the equivalent of 1 full day training a month. Delegates will begin by undertaking self-assessment to establish their current skills, any gaps, and identify development needs. Delegates also have access to the Inspire Hub offering useful documents including the Code of Practice on Good Governance for Statutory Officers, the Core Competencies for Monitoring Officers, and optional online learning.
For all enquiries about LLG’s Inspire programme and to reserve your place for the September 2024 start date contact the LLG Team by email on training@llg.org.uk or click here to book now.
Associate Director and Fellow, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
Andrew Burns is an Associate Director and Fellow at CIPFA where his role is to further develop strong links between CIPFA and the local government sector, building trust to improve public financial management and governance.
He was CIPFA President in 2017/18 serving an Institute with over 14,000 members worldwide who work throughout the public services, in national audit agencies, in major accountancy firms and in other public bodies where public money needs to be effectively and efficiently managed.
Until December 2018, he spent 12 years as Director of Finance and Resources for Staffordshire County Council; was Treasurer of the Staffordshire Pension Fund and a former President of the Society of County Treasurers.
He is also a trustee of the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) the leading national organisation promoting and supporting excellence in governance and scrutiny across public services and a Non-Executive Director at the Housing Plus Group, a Charitable Community Benefit Society providing homes and care services across Shropshire and Staffordshire.
Andrew brings over 30 years of practical, real life, experience in professional services to his work with lawyers, and others, to help equip them with the commercial skills they need to really stand out in today’s highly competitive market. His experience-based approach helps to engage lawyers in a unique and relatable way - he has sat where they sit, and understands, from first-hand experience, the pressures, challenges and opportunities of working in professional services today.
Andrew spent three decades as a practising solicitor in Central London, and was a Partner and Board Member at Addleshaw Goddard. He subsequently worked as Chief Operating Officer at Invicta Law, a local authority owned law firm, before becoming an independent consultant and adviser, with his business Watson Fox.
Andrew has an LLB honours degree in law from the University of Exeter and is a qualified, non-practising, solicitor. He is also a trained actor and has appeared in several professional theatre productions, in the West End and elsewhere. Andrew is also a qualified rugby coach.
Beth is a recognised expert in local authority governance, having worked in the field for over 35 years. She worked as an in-house lawyer for nearly 20 years at four different councils in England specialising in housing, education and social care. Beth then moved 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 Welsh local government for three years. In 2001 she joined Bevan Brittan LLP as a partner where she led the local government team for 17 years, four of which she spent as senior partner.
Beth acted as secretary and chair of a branch and then as national chair of the (then) Local Government Group in 1998/99.
Jacqui McKinlay is Chief Operating Officer at Liverpool City Council. She joined Liverpool City Council in January 2022 to lead on improvement and transformation, with responsibilities for areas including strategy, equalities, performance, customer services, HR, digital and Violence Against Women and Girls.
Prior to joining Liverpool, Jacqui was chief executive of the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS), the national centre of expertise on governance and scrutiny. Jacqui oversaw CfGS’ work with a range of sectors including local and national government, health, housing, police and the private sector. Regularly sitting on national advisory boards, advising Government, giving evidence to Select Committees and speaking at conferences .
Previously Jacqui was Director of Strategy and Customer Services at Staffordshire County Council and has worked in health, sport and the civil service.
She is also a New Local board member.
John's career in local government was within democratic services, culminating in the position of Assistant Director, Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer at the London Borough of Enfield.
Having retired in 2016 John worked with others to set up a professional association for the democratic services sector. Established in 2009 ADSO has gone from strength to strength, representing its many members as the voice for good governance.
John is also an advisor for the Certificate and Diploma and facilitates a number of training courses both within and
outside of ADSO.
Additionally John carries out independent investigations into complaints against councillors and works for the Everton FC charity 'Everton in the Community'
Manisha Patel is an Inclusion and Culture Strategist, Non-Executive Director, Executive Coach, and Founder of the Female Executive Mentoring Programme.
Manisha is currently working with a range of high profile organisations as a strategic advisor on diversity, inclusion and culture. In her role as Non-Executive Director at LLG, Manisha advises and supports the Board on ensuring all strategic decisions embed equality, diversity and inclusion.
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