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Notts help councillors become better ambassadors |
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Nottinghamshire has become one of the first fire and rescue authorities in the country to sign up to a nationallyrecognised development programme, designed to help its elected members to better represent the communities they serve. The Regional Councillor Development Charter will promote the extra value that councillors can offer to an organisation, and to their constituents, and aims to champion best practice in councillor development.
The Regional Councillor Development Charter, which was developed by Local Government Officers and the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) has been adopted by Local Government East Midlands. It is based on a national template that has been adapted to reflect the culture of the East Midlands region. Nottinghamshire and the City of Nottingham Fire and Rescue Authority has pledged to achieve Charter status by the end of 2008, and is currently putting together an action plan that will meet this aim. The authority’s success will be measured through a portfolio of evidence and a formal audit of progress.
Some of the practical areas to be addressed include: launch induction programmes for new members; agree Personal Development Plans which identify individual members’ training needs; streamline the handover of responsibilities between members through succession planning; make sure a positive work-life balance can be achieved for councillors, whilst best-serving the needs of their local communities.
When the authority considers it has everything in place to demonstrate that it meets the required standard, a group of its peers will carry out an on-site assessment. If the standard is achieved, Charter status will be awarded at an annual celebration that brings together authorities which are dedicated to meeting the needs of their communities. “Many of our members have a variety of responsibilities and interests and we want to make sure that we support them in achieving excellence for fire and rescue services,” explained Cllr Darrell Pulk, Chair of the Fire and Rescue Authority. “If we can give them more information, opportunities for training and development, ways to share their experiences and their expertise, and help them to balance their work and home commitments, we – and the people they serve – will reap the benefits.”
Authorities achieving the Charter will be expected to demonstrate that they continue to maintain high standards, and will be subject to reassessment within three years of the award.
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