Sharing Learning
Online resources
On this site we have put together some useful information to support your work in the Member Development area. This information is shared between local authorities to improve performance and to address needs. Please click on the topic you are interested in:
- Regional Provider Index
- Community of Practice - West Midlands Supporting Councillors Network
- New Member Induction Resources
- The Local Community Leaders' support programme
- West Midlands Toolkit of Ideas
- Evaluation - Toolkits and Case Studies
- West Midlands Training & Consultancy
- West Midlands CAA Glossary
- Skills/Development framework
- IDeA resources
- Leadership Centre for Local Government link
- The Centre for Public Scrutiny link
Regional Provider Index
The Regional Provider Index is a list of providers used by local authorities in the Region and the areas they cover.
Download the latest version of the Provider Index.
If you would like to add any new provider to this list you have worked with email the details to Carrie Rowberry
Community of Practice - West Midlands Supporting Councillors Network
We have set up an online West Midlands Supporting Councillors Network community on the Community of Practice for Local Government platform. The purpose of this online community is to share learning and development across the region, to give advice how to deal with current topics as well as giving an overview of events available. It is aimed at councillors and officers. Nano Hill acts as the Lead facilitator of the group, to keep online discussions vibrant, to give feedback and to welcome new community members. We are sure the online community is a great opportunity to network with colleagues in the member development area.
Join the online community today by following the instructions given on the website.
For further informations contact Carrie Rowberry.
New Member Induction Resources
Member Induction Health Check - Rate your Authority
Ever wondered what a local authority should be aiming for in its Member Induction Programme?
Rate yours by using this 5 minute tool. At the end you will be given a percentage score on how well your Council does. This checklist was developed by the IDeA using best practice from authorities which lead in this area. Access the 21st Century Councillor Website and choose Rate Your Authority.
The fulll checklist can be downloaded as a pdf.
Know Your Constitution Board Game
Try this entertaining way to help your Members to get to know your authority. View a sample of how the game works . To order a game contact Carrie Rowberry.
Playing Cards for Member TNA
Try this different way to engage members in identifying their training needs. The competencies used are based on the Welsh LGA Member Development Framework. If you are interested in these cards contact Carrie Rowberry for samples.
Induction Programme Examples
Share your induction programme with colleagues accross the region. If you have a tried and tested Induction programme which you will allow other authorities to use or adapt get in touch with Carrie Rowberry who will arrange for them to be uploaded in this section.
The Local Community Leaders' Support Programme
This unique, comprehensive programme was designed after extensive stake holder consultation and will assist members in performing their role in the areas of Local Area Agreements and Community Leadership.
View the Local Community Leaders' support programme.
This is a series of briefing papers produced for Members by Members. The briefing papers provide information on topics related to Community Leadership and LAA delivery.
Member Development Officers will receive them by email at regular intervals for distribution to their members.
View here the released 'Know How' briefing papers.
For more information contact Carrie Rowberry.
Leadership Academy Subsidy
This subsidy of 75% for District Councils and 50 % for upper Tier and County Councils on the prestigious programme can save authorities up to £4k.
Go to the Local Community Leaders' support brochure (pages 17-19).
West Midlands Toolkit of Ideas
This toolkit has been constructed to help authorities to formulate, implement and embed a proactive member development strategy.
Download 'West Midlands Toolkit of Ideas'.
Evaluation - Toolkits and Case Studies
Download the West Midlands evaluation toolkit.
View North West Employers' Organisation's Evaluation toolkit. This gives several examples of how to evidence community impact.
Read how 6 authorities in the north west evidenced the community impact of Member Development to achieve North West Employers Organisation's Level 2 - Member Development Charter. Case Studies
Download a copy of the Kirkpatrick Model for different Levels of Evaluation
West Midlands Training & Consultancy
Get more information about West Midlands Training & Consultancy.
West Midlands CAA Glossary
A new publication 'Understanding the jargon - a guide for councillors' provides a detailed glossary of terms for the new performance management framework. View the full glossary here: CAA glossary
Skills/Development frameworks
'The New Welsh LGA Member Development Framework 2009'
'Skill framework for elected members'
'Elected members' planning skills framework'
IDeA resources
Procurement: Members' Guides
This series of member guides provide tips on how your authority can make savings through better procurement.
View the Procurement Members' Guides.
Giving councillors the tools for the job: the supporting councillors declaration
Local Leadership Councillor workbooks
The Local Leadership Councillor workbooks are a series of distance learning materials for the local councillor. The workbooks are available for a variety of topics and can be viewed here.
Politicans and Personality - A councillor's guide
'Politicans and personality' is a report looking at the character traits of councillors compared with the general population and managers. The data was collected from councillors attending the IDeA's flagship Leadership Academy for comparison with existing research on the other two groups.
Download a copy of 'Politicans and personality'.
Connected Councillors
A guide to using social media to support local leadership. Download a copy.
Leadership Centre for Local Government link
The Leadership Centre for Local Government offers a variety of resources to support elected members and advocates changes needed to improve and promote local governance. Visit the website here.
The Centre for Public Scrutiny link
The Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) produces a range of publications designed to support non-executives in their scrutiny role, for example: The good scrutiny guide, The scrutiny map, Citizens, Scrutiny and Public Governance, On the Radar.
Further details can be downloaded on the website.