Knowledge Bites & NALC Star Council Awards!

Dear Colleagues

For those working hard yesterday to aid their councils and residents where elections were held, it’s time to put your feet up and grab a short break before reaching for bunting and the baking trays!  Oh.. and possibly the umbrellas.  Still the British spirit is to dress according to the weather and carry on regardless, so here’s to another short week!

We enjoyed the first of our lunch time Knowledge Bites this week, led by Helen.  The topic for the half hour was producing an Induction Pack for new councillors.  Lots of hints and tips shared and good interaction.  Our next Knowledge Bites will be on Standing Orders, why you should chose to have them and how knowing them, can help drive effective council meetings. 

Finally NALC have released a digital update to The Good Councillors Guide for Employers which you will be able to access on the NALC website, you’ll need you login details to access, they’ve also reminded us to respond to the infrastructure enquiry.  I’d like to encourage you all to think about the NALC Star Council Awards!  There are multiple categories we have achieved success in years gone by and there are a number of projects and councils which I feel could star this year.  I’d also like to draw your attention to the County Association Award, have we cut the mustard sufficiently to be nominated? 😊

Want to be crowned Council of the Year? Attention all local (parish and town) councils! Are you ready to stand out and raise the bar for your sector? NALC’s Council of the Year award calls for outstanding work in service delivery, service impact, community engagement, partnerships, and collaborative working. It’s your chance to shine! The winner of this prestigious award will be decided by a public vote, making it a true reflection of your council’s impact on your local community. So why not nominate a council today? To win, you must demonstrate how you’ve established, maintained, and managed effective relationships with other local authorities and organisations. You’ll also need to show how you’ve ensured effective service delivery to residents, improving the quality and range of local services. But it’s not just about what you’ve done – it’s about how you’ve engaged with your community and pushed boundaries to exceed expectations. With a 150-word supporting statement required for each criterion, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to showcase your achievements. Anyone can nominate, including council members and the general public, so don’t hesitate to complete the nomination form today. The deadline is 28 July 2023, so take advantage of this chance to be recognised as the NALC’s Council of the Year.      Find out how to submit an entry

We wish you all the merriest of weekends as you join neighbours, family and community both in celebration and shared efforts.  We look forward to talking to you next week.

Kind regards

Mel