East Suffolk Council
Renewed praise for Council’s approach to member development
East Suffolk Council has been commended for its ongoing commitment to supporting members with the skills and knowledge required to go on delivering for their communities.
The Council recently reported on this continuing work as part of a midway review of the ‘gold standard’ accreditation for councillor development it retained at the end of 2023.
The nationally recognised Councillor Development Charter Plus is awarded for a period of three years to local authorities that demonstrate a strategic approach to ensuring members are well equipped to effectively serve their communities.
Developed by the Local Government Association and the nine regional employers’ organisations, the Charter provides a robust framework designed to help enhance member development.
As well as reassessment to ensure continued compliance at the end of the three-year period, an 18-month interim review was submitted in May and included an evaluation of the Council’s response to recommendations made by assessors when initially granting Charter Plus status.
At East Suffolk, councillor development activities are led by a cross-party Member Development Steering Group, with activities including the creation of a Member Development Strategy, a comprehensive induction programme for all new councillors, an annual training programme and a Member Development Plan process that assesses member’s individual training needs on an annual basis.
Cllr Caroline Topping, Leader of East Suffolk Council and Chair of the Member Development Steering Group, said:
“It’s delightful to be told that we continue to meet and exceed the requirements of the Councillor Development Charter Plus award.
“We are committed to ensuring that our members are equipped with the best possible training, skills and knowledge required to effectively represent the needs of their communities.
“The support of our officers and external stakeholders – particularly in navigating the potential effects of local government reorganisation – remains fundamental to maintaining this standard of quality.”
Mark Palmer, Lead Assessor for the East of England Local Government Association, said:
“East Suffolk Council continues to excel in respect of its approach and commitment to councillor development.
“The Council continues to meet the demanding standards of the Charter Plus for Councillor Development.
“The Assessment Team were pleased to see the value placed on Councillor development as part of the journey towards Local Government Reorganisation.”