Sector support offers
National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP)
Sign up and join Cohort 26 to recruit bright and motivated graduates that add value across three placements whilst completing a prestigious learning and development programme over a two-year period. Having undertaken a national marketing campaign, the rigorous recruitment process is well underway with the aim of finding the future leaders of our sector. Get in touch by the end of February: ngdp@local.gov.uk.
LGA sustainability survey
Councils are taking urgent action in their areas to address sustainability. The LGA is committed to supporting this and has launched a survey to inform the support work. Each local authority is invited to provide a collective response, and has been assigned and sent its own unique link to the survey. If your council has not received its unique link, please contact keiron.watt@local.gov.uk to receive the link.
One-to-one coaching for councillors
The LGA is offering coaching support to councillors who are seeking to develop their leadership skills. Councillors can benefit from one-to-one support from an experienced coach to grow, develop and be brilliant leaders of their communities. It is available to senior councillors from all political parties, including independents. Coaching is also available for disabled councillors. To find out more, please email grace.collins@local.gov.uk.
Transformation matching service
One of the new tools on offer to councils is the transformation matching service, which seeks to match councils who wish to learn from what good looks like from other councils’ transformation activities. This offer is open to both officers and councillors. Please visit our website for more information on the matching service and complete and expression of interest form to request support.
Transformation bespoke advice service
The LGA Transformation Programme offers councils a bespoke advice service which aims to provide support, resources, good practice, and expertise to those seeking help to transform. This bespoke offer intends to resolve queries from councils with wide-ranging focuses. If you would like to enquire about support please email transformation@local.gov.uk
Pre-election period guidance
Ahead of what promises to be a busy year of elections in 2024, we will be updating our guide to the pre-election period. If there are any relevant issues that are not covered in the existing guidance that you would value support around, please email commsnet@local.gov.uk
Local Government Disability Champions Network
The Local Government Disability Champions Network launched on 15th December 2023. Chaired by LGA Vice Chair Baroness Brinton, the Network meets online every month and is open to anyone within local government who has a formal, or informal, role as a Disability Champion, as well as allies and external stakeholders. The network is also supported by an online Knowledge Hub where members can share resources and good practice outside of meetings. For more information or to sign up please contact viola.owembabazi@local.gov.uk
Sustainability masterclasses
Are you a councillor or senior council officer who has responsibility for delivering your council's ambitions for delivering net zero, climate adaptation or biodiversity targets? Sign up for one of our Sustainability masterclasses to learn how you can take meaningful action and become carbon literacy accredited, with plenty of opportunities for collaboration, discussion, and support.
2024 dates:
- Sustainability masterclasses – Councillor cohort 1: 28 and 29 February 2024
- Sustainability masterclasses – Councillor cohort 2: 13 and 14 March 2024
- Please do sign up for the sessions and FAQs
Events
Thursday 1 February 2024, 5.15pm - 7.45pm | Virtual event
Good use of data within councils is crucial to informing decision-making and monitoring performance. This interactive introductory session will help councillors to understand data, interpret performance reports, ask the right questions and use data to make informed decisions.
Tuesday 6 February 2024, 10:00am - 11:30am | Virtual event
This roundtable for councillors only has been organised to focus on how councillors have a role in the delivery of sustainability and net zero projects that aim to meet decarbonisation targets. It will feature a ‘spotlight on’ talk from a member that has experience and insights on leading councils on their sustainability journey before we progress into a roundtable discussion.
Tuesday 5 March 2024, 2.00pm - 3.30pm | Virtual event
As part of the LGA’s support for councillor safety, we are offering this session for councillors to build confidence around handling online abuse and intimidation, a growing problem faced by many councillors.
Thursday 7 March 2024, 5.15pm - 7.00pm | Hybrid event
Following the UK’s AI Safety Summit in November 2023, the LGA’s next Smith Square Debate will bring together a panel of expert speakers to discuss the risks and rewards of AI for local government and explore the readiness and appetite of local councils to integrate AI into their systems and service delivery.
Thursday 14 March 2024, 10.00am – 11.30am | Virtual event
For net zero to be reached, adaptation must happen. Adapting to current and predicted changes to our climate, both at the national and local levels, are vital across society and the economy. This session will highlight local government examples and guidance to help you to develop capability and capacity to implement adaptation action plans, strategies, and projects. It will assist your organisation and local place with tackling sustainability-based vulnerabilities in the face of growing hazards and risks.
Tuesday 2 – Thursday 4 July 2024 | Harrogate
Join us in Harrogate for the biggest event in the local government calendar, where we’ll be discussing the latest issues affecting local government.
Additionally, you might be interested in...
Revision of councillor workbooks
As part of the review and digitisation of the suite of LGA councillor workbooks, updates have been made to three workbooks this month. The changes either complement and highlight other LGA initiatives. Or make changes to how councillors might now undertake their roles as community leaders:
Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tool Suite
The Greenhouse Gas Accounting Tool provides a straightforward and consistent approach for councils seeking to calculate their own carbon baseline. Featured alongside the tool is a Waste Emissions Calculator to assist with carbon footprinting. You can download both free tools today and help your council to measure emissions. If you have any questions or suggestions for improvement in relation to the tool and/or the calculator, please contact ghgaccounting@localpartnerships.gov.uk.
LG Inform and LG Inform Plus
For more information on subscribing to LG Inform Plus/LG Inform contact us at lginformplus@local.gov.uk or lginform@local.gov.uk
Making use of our API - We offer 2GB of data free of charge!
Did you know when you register with LG Inform Plus, organisations can access 2GB of data free of charge? We are seeing more and more organisations trying it out and making use of our API. We welcome colleagues experimenting with the service to see if helps their reporting.
View a series of short training videos from LG Inform Plus on how to use Power BI in conjunction with the LG Inform Plus direct data feed API (Application Programmable Interface).
first magazine
Yours faithfully,
Cllr Abi Brown
Chairman, LGA Improvement and Innovation Board
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