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London Member Development Network (LMDN)Notes of Meeting held on 31 March 2009

AttendanceFiona Jamieson Barking & DagenhamAnne-Louise Clark BexleyRhiannon Leary BrentSheila Bennett Bromley

Lucy Fitzgerald CamdenSolomon Agutu CroydonPaul Jeffries EalingJanet Smith EalingLorraine Brook HackneyKayode Adewumi Hammersmith & FulhamKen Howgill HarrowMax Jones HounslowGrace Collins IDeAJohn Lynch IslingtonHannah Hutter Kensington & ChelseaOla Olaluwoye Kingston

Dave Burn LambethNike Shadiya LewishamKris Hibbert London CouncilsJosephine Buckle London CouncilsPaul Bateman MertonCllr Christine Bowden NewhamAngela McHale SouthwarkChris Mennaceur SuttonTina Dempsey Tower HamletsLynn Rackley Waltham ForestCllr Clyde Loakes Waltham ForestElena Hahn Westminster

Apologies

Asha Paul CamdenJanet Smith EalingNigel Lindsey HaringeyYuniea Semambo HaringeyJohanna Michalski HillingdonCllr Crada Onuegbu LewishamJoe Simpson Local LeadershipCllr Christine Bowden Newham

Presenters

Andrea Cooper Common Purpose

Bridget HarrisLeadership Centre for LocalGovernment

Presentations slides previously circulated.Common Purpose Andrea Cooper, Operational Director:The presentation covered Common Purposes aims and impact since its foundation in 1989. Ithas a network of 12,000 Leaders. It is about to facilitate a 6-month non-accredited developmentprogramme on pan London issues from June-November and costs 4,500 per placement.Participants would commit to 3 days on each course which includes action learning sets. Thecohort is around 70 participants with groups of 20 or 25 at any one time and these could alsoaccommodate some 10 councillors.

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Further details of these programmes can be found at:http://www.commonpurpose.org.uk/programmes.aspx . For further information on CommonPurpose and its services, please link to: http://www.commonpurpose.org.uk/home.aspx

For other specific enquiry email: [email protected]

2. 21st Century Councillor Bridget Harris, Leadership Centre for Local Government

Presentation covered:- how the programme was working to recruit and use councillors better following on from

the Councillors Commission

- three case studies: Liverpool Democracy Commission; How to win the hearts and mindsof Hertfordshire; Kirklees

- working with exemplar authorities across the country - LBs Hackney, Sutton andWestminster in London

For further information on the Local Leadership:http://www.localleadership.gov.uk/

3. Member Development Update Kris updated current developments:

Capital Ambition: Member Development Strategy taken to Capital AmbitionBoard in January 2009. Cllr Clyde Loakes is the CA Board Champion for theprogramme. Proposed work includes:- induction with Charter Councils sharing their information

- candidates Guide for 2010 and support after election- Capital Ambition website for Member DevelopmentSupport/volunteers are sought from LMDN to help develop the programme so itcomplements the offers made to members in their own authorities. If you would like to bepart of this group, please contact Josephine Buckle([email protected] ).

Training Providers: A list of providers is still being developed. The latest draft will becirculated. Colleagues are asked to include providers which have worked well with their

members. This can be shared for ideas of who to initially contact but colleagues will needto satisfy themselves that a provider will be right for their council.

Member Development Charter: Kris updated colleagues on boroughs that hadachieved Charter status and those awaiting assessment. Merton and Barking &Dagenham have recently been awarded the Charter. Tower Hamlets has been assessedand Ealing is scheduled for assessment on 28 April 2009. Dates are being arranged forLondon Boroughs of Croydon, Harrow and Southwark.

Member Development Charter Plus: This status is slightly more than the Charterwhich stretches the requirements of the portfolios for member development and includesthe requirement to support member development officers. The London Councils process

for achieving this and costs are yet to be determined.

4. Borough preparation for 2010 Induction

Lambeth: Currently reviewing 2006 induction process. Had a Saturday informationsession e.g. learning about IT support etc and aiming to link briefing sessions byexploring alternative induction processes. David is being supported by IDeA graduatesfrom the ngdp scheme.

Croydon: Members wanted more than a one day session covering everything as it is notall needed at once. A mock up of an induction day with a follow-up within 3 months with

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more information is being presented to members. Have got some time from OD/HRcolleagues to help. It has been agreed that 2010 induction will incorporate:

- more interactive sessions- input from current members- some ideas from staff induction

Sutton: Feedback from the previous induction will be incorporated.

- consultation from members on what is necessary for members to have in the first2 weeks to hit the ground running

- some evening sessions between the election and first council- a freshers fair involving partner organisations- a mock council- a 6-month theme refresh

Tower Hamlets: Borough held an evening session on Future Councillors Programmeinvolving key partners such as the Borough Commander, PCT, GLA and leading membersand the council chief executive. This took them through key process in making decisions.Looking at similar processes for new members in 2010.Kensington & Chelsea: 12 new councillors were elected in 2006. 4 have been selected toinform effective induction processes for next year. RB Kensington & Chelseas Membersprospectus and newsletter are enclosed with these notes.

Westminster: In 2006 28 sessions were held on different evenings with repeat sessions tomaximise attendance on certain dates. Members preference was e-learning rather than faceto face (1:1). Currently producing real life case studies for the code of conduct.

Kingston: About to look at plans for 2010 induction. Anticipate members requirements willbe based on the members survey results.

Southwark: Review of 2006 programme on knowledge and key skills. Currently assessing

other innovative sessions for new and existing councillors including re-engagement of others(partners, officers etc). Key topics will include refresher skills with more interactive sessionsand flexibility. Also to include back to the floor visits e.g. to the customer service centre. Anew member elected at a by election was interested in licensing. Other councillors wereinvited to a refresh at the same time as she was learning about the subject.

Barking and Dagenham: Fiona has only been in post for 2 weeks but will share withcolleagues B&D developments in due course.

Brent: Rhiannon has been in post 7 weeks. Currently reviewing 2006 induction to find outwhat was successful and not so positive by getting 2006 members together. Also planningon refresher sessions and engagement of partners and experienced councillors help with

induction.

Hackney: Exemplar work on boroughs Overview and Scrutiny (Policy) being carried out.Taking strategic approach to 2010 induction. Have an informal member working group.Members are feeding back their induction experiences. The want more interactive andflexible sessions and are keen to drive the induction processes forward.

Merton: Saturday stalls/training events held in 2006 inductions were very positive and will berepeated in 2010. Mentoring sessions and programmes for new councillors are planned for 3months after the elections. Working with group leaders. They have mentored colleaguesand want to do more. Take members through housekeeping issues, explain where supportcoming from and show them round the building.

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Hounslow: No definite plans for 2010 yet. Will be looking at induction with members thiscoming May.

Ealing: Will have some sort of repeat of 2006 induction as it worked well. Had a Saturdaysession (two days) after the elections which covered housekeeping car park, IT password,and members handbook introduced to Chief Officers, the 3 whips, life as a councillor.

Held four or five evening seminars: Chief Executive policy/future issues, Chief Officers,Democratic Services, decision making, Quiz about the borough Who wants to be amillionaire? will be event for all candidates in January 2010 and democratic services willundertake exit interviews with councillors not standing in 2010 and will also try for those notelected.

Harrow: Ken has not been in post long. Induction for 2010 is on the April agenda of theMember Development Working Group. The 2006 induction programmes were facilitated bythe boroughs Democratic Services team. Member development services currently sits in theLearning and Development Team in HR.

Islington: Will start to look at induction plans around September 2009. Concentration on thefirst two weeks will be on what councillors need e.g. basic essentials, IT and training,photos, badges, surgeries etc. Successful events from 2006 will be repeated such as aborough tour to key sites (as with staff induction) and meeting partners. Will haveknowledge based training a couple of months later.

Mock planning and licensing committees with former councillors and real life scenarios werewell received and will be repeated. Area Committees decide planning issues so all membersneed to know about planning.

Hammersmith & Fulham: There was a change of administration in 2006. The LeadershipCentre worked with groups the new administration and the new opposition. Had a Saturday

programme, briefings and a bus tour. Expect to build on these for 2010.Camden: Officer new to member development. A working group is being organised to lookat 2010 induction programmes. In 2006 a third of councillors were new and there was achange of administration. The Council is aiming to provide a better and successful inductionfor 2010. Looking at scenario planning e.g. for different types of councillors needing differentlevels of support.

Waltham Forest: Have had 5 new members in by-elections within 4 months. Reviewingplans for member development. As part of the review, 2 Saturday events are planned forJune and November with various sessions. This will form the basis of the inductionprogramme for 2010. Will have market stalls with departments and partners and councillors

will be asked to evaluate the session. Looking at having short snappy sessions.Currently assessing E-learning programmes. Experienced councillors have beenapproached to lead the Saturday sessions. Pre-election event is planed in October andanticipating programme plan by December 2009. Reviewing members handbook.

Lewisham: Have a great member development group. Have had one focus group on the2006 induction and will hold another. In 2006 did a bus tour and had a members handbook.A letter from the Chief Executive was sent to all candidates to put training dates in theirdiaries. Had 100% attendance on essential courses. Held a Be A Councillor event butmay broaden another out into being part of civic life. Will run the core 2006 programme andmake an enhanced offer e.g. coaching.

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5. Modern Councillor Package Chris (Sutton)Issues:- Sutton brought Learning Pool to officers and gave sign in to some members. Using

some councillor packages but it is expensive for what it is.

- Ealing, Harrow, Lambeth and Lewisham will be reviewing it- Not worth the cost for the content it provides

- Information security can be purchased cheaper if boroughs had already signed up with

the Learning Pool- Harrow re-launched to members. Panel councillors reviewed it and though only suitable

for less experienced councillors.

6. IDeA Update Grace Collins updated on the latest developments:

- currently in the process of posting a podcast on local government finance on the NationalMember Development Community of Practice website

- Creation of workbooks on:

Community Safety

Community leadership

Equalities & Councillors- Introduction to Business Planning - complements earlier workbook on performancemanagement

- Good feedback on Culture Services. Will re-run.

For further information on the National Member Development Community of Practice, link to:http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=6814589

- No 23 - Ambitious local government - changes since the 2006 white paper. This providesan introduction and summary of the developments since the 2006 white paper oncommunity empowerment: http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/aio/9581310

- 2009-2010 Leadership Academy dates and available at:http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1700460

- IDeAs Open summer school, details at: http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1700468

For further information on the IDeAs other services, log on to:http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1

7. Borough Issues

- Croydon: Effective Budget Scrutiny support from IDeA and member peer

- Barking & Dagenham: How to investigate and share information on training- Brent: Interactive role play presentation- Camden: Councillor Call for Action Screening process and management- Lambeth: Developing criteria for councillor call for action which will go to boroughs

council for recommendation

- Hackney: Member and officer relationships case work being developed

8. Future Agenda items/topics

- Induction programmes (to be retained on meeting agenda)- Innovation new methods of delivery- Feedback and progress on Exemplar Projects (Hackney, Sutton, Westminster)

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http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=6814589http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/aio/9581310http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1700460http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1700468http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1700468http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=6814589http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/aio/9581310http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1700460http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1700468http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1700468http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1


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- CRB Council Checks for Councillors/Members Code of Conduct

9. Any Other BusinessKris circulated a list of members (Officers) on the London Member Development Networkand colleagues are requested to send to Kris/Josephine amendments on their boroughsrepresentation.

10. Date of Next meeting16th July 2009 at 10am 12.30 pm The venue for this meeting will be informed nearer thedate.

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