Enhancing the Role of Councillors

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Enhancing the Role of Councillors

• Mark Edgell, Regional Associate, IDeA

www.idea.gov.uk
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The Potential. The Challenge

• Public priorities, expectations
• Government control
• Resources - limited (so its what you do with them
  and the way you work that matters)
• Local Government Improvement
• Closer to People and Places
• Self Improvement and Regulation
• Reputation

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But perceived relevance is high
Q From this list, which two or three of the
following do you believe have most impact on
peoples everyday lives? You can select up to
three options?
Media
Local Councils
Business
Westminster
Civil Service
European Union
Cabinet
Base MORI Audit of Political Engagement 2003
(1,976 GB Adults)
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An image problem
Q Now I will read out a list of different people.
For each, would you tell me whether you generally
trust them to tell the truth or not?
Doctors
Teachers
Professors
Judges
Clergymen
TV/newsreaders
Scientists
The Police
Ordinary man/woman in street
Pollsters
Civil servants
Local Councillors
Managers in the NHS
TU officials
Managers in local government
Business leaders
Trust
Government Ministers
Journalists
Politicians generally
Base 2,141 British adults aged 15, Feb 2005
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But what is this based on..
Q How much, if anything, do you know about your
local council?
A great deal
A fair amount
Not very much
Nothing at all
Dont know
Base MORI Audit of Political Engagement 2003
(1,976 GB Adults)
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Creating Excellence The Key to Making the Most

• Structure v culture
• Evidence shows 3 ingredients to successful
  councils
• Inspirational political and community leadership
• Inspirational and effective officer leadership
• effective relationships between members and
  officers (purpose, shared determination for
  change and improvement)
• Correlation between high performance and good
  political and managerial leadership

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What do we Mean by Political Leadership?

• Developing and setting out the policy priorities
  for their area
• Challenging and scrutinising public services
• Bringing together different delivery partners
• Regulator
• Community leader and networker

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Councillor Development

• We expect a lot from our political leaders.
• They bring skills, knowledge and experience.
• But they also need to be invested in - councillor
  development is an essential element of a good
  council
• Various forms of development. Doesnt have to be
  training.

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Development Menu (just a selection)

• Personal Development Planning
• Seminar type sessions (eg LGEM/IDeA Regional
  Programme or IDeA Local Leadership Academy
  seminars)
• The Leadership Academy
• Beacon visits and learning from others
• Councillor Mentoring
• Member Development Charter

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VISIT US at www.idea.gov.ukSign up to Knowledge
Mark EdgellRegional Associate (East
Midlands)07747 636 910mark.edgell_at_idea.gov.uk
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Mentoring - A Meaningful Relationship
Mentoring is when one person (the mentor) helps
another (the mentee) to transform their
knowledge, work or overall thinking. This
happens in one-to-one meetings at which the
mentor invites the mentee to talk and the mentor
asks relevant searching non-threatening questions
to allow the mentee to discover the answers for
themselves.
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Mentoring what it is and isnt

• Nothing to do with failure
• It is a process that focuses specifically on
  providing guidance, direction and advice.
• Supported learning, through sharing knowledge and
  expertise. A fresh pair of eyes
• It is not supervisory or about monitoring
  performance

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What makes a good mentor?
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Benefits to the mentee

• Advice and support to the complex and important
  role of councillors
• Tailored development, information and expertise
• Enables new perspectives and provides challenge
• Addresses negative behaviours
• Raises effectiveness by developing skills and
  knowledge
• Enhancing mentoring skills of councillors
  involved -mentees can become mentors

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Benefits for the mentor

• Self-improvement through helping others
• Sharing a learning and development experience
  which also extends and enhances the skills and
  knowledge of the mentor
• Personal satisfaction and sense of achievement
• Self-esteem-knowing that someone trusts and
  respects you

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The National Councillor Mentoring Programme

• National Capacity Building Fund programme
• A single contact point for an established network
  of peer member mentors
• Supplying accredited and trained mentors and
  specialist providers
• Designed with an understanding of political,
  gender and diversity
• Providing a menu of mentoring options

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Mentoring Options
Political Group
Buddy system
Skills Mentoring
Role Mentoring
Leader Mentoring
One to One
Executive Mentoring
MENTORS
MENTEES
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Mentoring through Accredited Peers

• Helps to build capacity, confidence and
  sustainability in local government by sharing
  knowledge and experience and championing change,
  as well as by recognising and celebrating
  excellence in others.

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VISIT US at www.idea.gov.ukSign up to Knowledge
Mark EdgellRegional Associate (East
Midlands)07747 636 910mark.edgell_at_idea.gov.uk