Transcript Document
IMPROVING LOCAL COMMUNITIES TOGETHER! Jonathan Owen Chief Executive 11 October 2014 First Six Months at NALC • • • • My background Out and about Listening and Learning First impressions: diverse, committed, passionate • First impressions: up for the challenge, enthusiastic to deliver • Great opportunity – Fresh Start About NALC • • • • • Strengths Influential – role on Government’s Partnership Board Committed councillors and staff, eager for change Quality services Small HQ - £1m (70% affiliation fees, 30% income) 14 Staff. Great partners in CALCs and SLCC • • • • • Improvements Communications Are we providing the right services? Engaging councillors and CALCs in policy making and lobbying Customer focus Develop partnerships including CALCS & Society of Local Council Clerks SLCC/NALC new protocol • Twice yearly meeting between office holders, CEOs to meet every three months. • Mutual promotion of membership – aiming for 100% membership of the Association and the Society. • Complementary activity, more shared services. • Work together to promote joint advice and model procedures. Proposed annual work programme 2014/15 • Encourage participation in new local council award scheme and take-up of CILCA. • Establish sector led body to procure audit services. • Joint advice on working hours etc. • New model terms and conditions. • Work towards a complementary conference programme and joint events (Revisit the joint County Secretary and SLCC County Branch Secretary events?). A New Future: NALC’s strategic plan Three clear priorities 1. To deliver quality services to member councils and county associations 2. To create new councils and grow membership 3. To promote and represent the sector effectively. Priority 1 - Better services – employment (Cllr workshop 30/9/14) Issues raised by Cllrs • Councillor awareness, training and behaviours • Pensions • Workloads • Recruitment and retention • Skills and training • Appraisals/ performance management • Non-SLCC staff Solutions/joint work • Raise Cllrs awareness of role as employers • Joint SLCC/NALC training • Share good practice • Model policies • Joint guidance • Advice on working conditions • Succession planning • FAQs • Mediation/peer review/ HR checklist • Good councillors guide/ national training strategy Priority 2 – New Councils 5 New Councils 5 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Queen’s Park Chadwick End Badgers Mount Penrith Whitehaven Petitioning 27 Campaigning 94 Considering 131 Communities, ½ m people Priority 3 – A Strong National Voice • • • • • • Lobbying successes All parties committed to localism Finance: referenda principles, council tax support scheme – but more to do Cheque reform Electronic agenda National media coverage (see next slides) Need your help • • • • • Next steps Focussed manifesto with clear objectives Increase understanding esp around finance Extend influence across Government, with parties and think tanks Build sector’s reputation Campaigning together – local, regional and national advocacy Communications! Communications! Communications! • Need to raise understanding of sector, what it does, how it is changing and its potential to support devolution • Engage media more in all our work • Publicise examples of good work and achievements by local councils • Use new media to engage with different people and encourage councils to do so too • Get our stories across effectively at all levels – local regional and national • We need your help! Love your parish council Sunday Times, 27 April 2014 James Butcher, Age 21, Chairman, Lancing Parish Council Challenges ahead • Delivery! Localism, devolution, services. • 2015 council elections - and supporting new councillors • 2015 national elections and ensuring role, profile and influence of local councils enhanced • Building capacity and skills – local council award scheme • Working together / clustering to improve local communities. New Opportunities too • • • • The Scotland result and the English Question New constitutional settlement for the UK? Greater devolution to cities and regions? Parish and Town Councils (and community councils in Wales and Scotland) must be included too. • NALC manifesto: Stronger Local Democracy • NALC manifesto: Fairer funding • NALC manifesto: More powers Thank you for listening Any questions or comments? E: [email protected] 020 7290 0307 Thank you for listening