Pre-recorded module with Jacqui McKinlay, former Chief Executive at the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny; currently Chief Operating Officer at Liverpool City Council.

This module explores the meaning of governance in a local authority and the key characteristics of good governance; the role of the golden triangle in supporting good governance; the role of scrutiny in a council and how to achieve strategic scrutiny.

Pre-recorded module with David Carter, former joint Managing Director, Warwickshire County Council.

This module explores the key elements of local authority finance and includes stewardship of public finance; sources of revenue funding; sources of capital funding; and the financial cycle.

Pre-recorded module with Helen Bradley, Director of Legal & Democratic Services at Durham County Council. 

This module explores conflict resolution from a Monitoring Officer perspective and includes conflict resolution strategies, skills and practical tips.

Pre-recorded module with Kate Jasper and Rayhaneh Tehrani from Sellick Partnership.

This module explores what personal resilience is and why it is important; building personal resilience: skills, capabilities and self-care practices; developing and nurturing positive working relationships; managing stress; and avoiding burnout.

12th September 2024 09.30 - 12.30

Bethan Evans, GOVTC

The ability to navigate the political interface with elected members is, more than ever, an essential part of being a successful senior local government lawyer. This course covers everything you need to know about working at the political interface, and will enable you to properly understand the political dynamics of local government, be confident with the governance framework, and develop the personal skills needed for success.

The content covers:

• The role of elected councillors

• The role of officers including the Monitoring Officer and other statutory officers

• The importance of the relationship between members and officers in an effective council

• Does the traditional model still hold good?

• Standards, conduct and probity

• Dealing with the politics!

• Learning lessons about the political interface from recent high profile reports

• Practical actions to ensure good governance

• The personal values and skills you will need

• Tips for operating successfully in a political environment

The course includes plenty of examples and mini scenarios and is practical in nature, focusing on skills and tips for tackling real issues which will help you in your role at your council.

13th September 2024 09.00 - 16.30

We are delighted to be holding this year’s Monitoring Officer Conference in London, kindly hosted by Trowers & Hamlins. The Conference will include a varied programme of sessions covering some of the most topical and challenging issues facing MOs and those working alongside them.

We are delighted to be joined by Amerdeep Somal, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, who will be delivering the keynote address to open the Conference. Delegates will then hear from Bethan Evans, leading governance trainer and consultant, who will be exploring essential skills for Monitoring Officers, training and personal development. The Conference will also include a session on scrutiny with Ed Hammond, Deputy Chief Executive at the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny, Paul McDermott, Partner at Trowers & Hamlins, and Louis Sebastian, Senior Associate at Trowers & Hamlins, examining how the MO can encourage good scrutiny and work towards helping colleagues overcome the scepticism that can surround scrutiny. 

The Conference will also include a panel session on good governance in decision making and some lessons learned from the Teesworks report with speakers including Philip McCourt, Legal Director at Bevan Brittan, and Daniel Fenwick, Executive Director of Corporate Services and Monitoring Officer at Thurrock Council and former MO at Liverpool City Council. Delegates will also hear from Andrew Burns, Associate Director at CIPFA, who will be discussing effective working relationships between the MO and the section 151 Officer.

25th September 2024 09.30 - 12.00

David Kitson, Partner and Sarah Lamont, Partner, Bevan Brittan

2nd October 2024 09.30 - 14.45

Camilla de Bernhardt Lane, Director of Practice, Centre for Governance and Scrutiny

Natalie Rotherham, Head of Scrutiny, Hertfordshire County Council

The political landscape in which overview and scrutiny committees operate has been subject to pressures from both communities and local residents, to ensure they focus on issues that are of concern to them. Recent Inquiries have highlighted the need for more and increased openness and transparency of decision making and robust scrutiny of those decisions. Alongside this is the demand placed on the scrutiny function for real time holding to account through increased use of social media and digital technologies.

Scrutiny during the Covid-19 pandemic presented further challenges and opportunities for adapted ways of delivering governance, some of which will be explored during the session. 

Member relationships and cross-party issues can either help or hinder scrutiny outcomes. Whilst these, and other pressures, create many challenges for officers who lead, manage and support scrutiny committees, they also provide opportunities for ensuring that scrutiny work is effectively linked to local priorities and outcomes. This practical course will provide space for consideration of these matters, giving attendees the opportunity to engage with the speaker and with each other, share experience and ask questions.

The course will consider the context and different ways of delivering the OSC function and role in a complex governance and accountability framework. It will consider the complexities and challenges faced by officers who are delivering multiple roles supporting committees. Sessions will include: 

• The legislative context and guidance

• Structures and systems in which overview and scrutiny is delivered

• Political and organisational culture

• Work programming

• Good practice examples and case studies

• The environment in which officers operate

• Member officer roles and responsibilities

• Looking forward- nationally and locally

• Considering the implications of pandemic on practice

4th October 2024 09.15 - 14.45

Artemis Kassi, Consultant and former Statutory Scrutiny Officer and Head of Scrutiny

Finance scrutiny in local government is crucial to transparency and robust decision-making, and has rarely been more important than currently. Balancing cost pressures, overspend and local budgets with ever-decreasing central government funding and ever-increasing service demands mean that the scrutiny lens is imperative to ensure local authorities’ financial probity. Recent cautionary examples underline the necessity for monitoring and scrutiny officers to understand the scrutiny function’s role in delivering this.

This course covers:

• How financial scrutiny fits into the Overview and Scrutiny landscape.

• The relationship with the Audit Committee and accountants.

• Good governance, financial and risk management.

• The legislative and CIPFA framework.

• The challenges often encountered.

• Examples from which learning can be extracted.

14th October 2024 09.30 - 12.30

Bethan Evans, GOVTC

This course explores some of the key challenges of being a Monitoring Officer and provides an update on current issues/developments. It explores:

• The context for being a Monitoring Officer now

• Some key challenges of the role including:

  • Collective responsibility for good governance in an authority

  • Working with the other statutory officers – the golden triangle

  • Other significant relationships, e.g. external audit

  • The MO role in code of conduct matters

• An update on current developments relevant to the MO role including caselaw, public interest reports, anticipated changes etc.

This session ensures delegates are updated on all relevant current issues and feel confident in how to navigate the role successfully.

24th October 2024 09.30 - 12.30

Bethan Evans, GOVTC

This course looks in detail at the current position relating to the standards regime relating to the conduct of elected members in England. There have been a number of significant recent developments relating to the standards regime in English local government including:

• The government announcement that significant sanctions will not be reintroduced;

• The publication of the LGA Model Code of Conduct and supporting guidance on the Code; and

• The publication of LGA guidance on the handling of standards complaints.

This course will bring delegates completely up to date and will cover:

• The context for a consideration of high standards in public life – a topical issue!

• A refresher on the current standards regime in English local government

• An analysis of different Codes of Conduct including the LGA Model Code

• Tricky issues including:

• When does the code apply – public/private lives

• Social Media

• What is disrespect?

• Member/officer relations

• Registration and disclosure of interests

• Handling Code of Conduct complaints

• Parish and Town Councils – what is your role?

• How to ensure high ethical standards in the absence of sanctions

Delegates will have the opportunity to discuss mini scenarios which will examine issues in relation to the code and handling complaints. 

14th November 2024 09.30 - 12.30

Bethan Evans and Gill Sinclair, GOVTC

Every council has to appoint at least one Independent Person to support their standards procedures. IPs play a vital role in ensuring the upholding of high ethical standards in local authorities.

This course focuses on the key role of the IP in ensuring code of conduct issues are dealt with fairly and consistently. The course covers:

• The statutory requirements in relation to the appointment of IPs

• The roles and responsibilities of IPs

• The key stages of a complaint when the IP needs to be involved

• Tricky issues in standards matters for both the MO and IP

• Cases and commentary which have explored the role of the IP

• Collective responsibility for high ethical standards in a local authority

For the final module in the Programme, delegates may select one course of their choice from all LLG half-day or full day courses running between 3rd September and 31st December 2024 (this does not include full day online Conferences or residential Conferences).