Agenda item

The Committee considered the the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To seek approval from the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to proceed with an application and assessment process for re-accreditation of the Elected Member Development Charter Award.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Approve Corporate HR officers to begin work on an application to enable an assessment process to be conducted for Belfast City Council’s re-accreditation of the Elected Member Development Charter Award.

·        Note members’ participation will be required as part of the Charter assessment process.

·        Note the council’s preference to have North West Employers, given its approach, conduct the re-accreditation assessment.

3.0       Main report

            Background

3.1       Belfast City Council was the first Council in Northern Ireland to be successful in gaining the Northern Ireland Charter for Elected Member Development in 2011. The award was in recognition of excellence in elected member development. In 2015 the council gained re-accreditation of Charter status (level one).

3.2       Intrinsic to gaining this accreditation was the Council demonstrating that members are developed in such a way that they are able to work strategically with partners and stakeholders, engage and lead local communities and deliver tangible, sustainable and beneficial outcomes for the citizens of the city.

            Current Position

3.3       The Charter is awarded for a three-year period which means that the Council, should it wish to retain Charter status, is required to apply for re-accreditation this year.

3.4       It is proposed the Council proceeds with a Charter Level Two assessment, to be conducted by September 2018. This level requires evidence that the Council has continued with, and improved, its strategies for member development and that this work has clear links to the aims of the Belfast Agenda and outcomes which directly impact and deliver benefits for local communities.

3.5       NILGA works with both South East Employers and North West Employers as awarding bodies for the Charter. Having considered both organisations approaches in respect of level two accreditation the North West Employer’s approach best fits our needs in respect of the measurement of the link between member development and community benefits. North West Employers will therefore be asked to conduct and oversee the assessment process should the Council decide it wishes to proceed.

3.6       Key issues - Charter Level Two Assessment Process

            Charter Level Two considers if and how the Council can demonstrate how the community has benefitted from investment in elected member development. The main evidence requirements that the assessors will look for when considering awarding Charter Level Two are set out at Appendix One.

3.7       Given that Level Two has a clear focus on outcomes and in particular community impact it is proposed that selected geographically dispersed LIF and BIF projects are the focus for the application. This will allow the Council to demonstrate that the impact of delivering specific projects, and corresponding member development interventions, has helped to resolve issues being experienced by communities.

            Next Steps

3.8       It is proposed that the Council submits an application for Charter Level Two. Initial feedback will be provided by North West Employers advising if sufficient evidence has been provided to proceed with a formal level 2 assessment.

3.9       If agreed that the Council is in a position to be assessed for Charter Level Two an assessment visit will be arranged. The assessment team will comprise a councillor from North West Employers’ Regional Development Committee, a local (NI) councillor (as a peer mentor/ assessor) and an officer from North West Employers supported by NILGA.

3.10     The assessment process will be designed around the specific project(s). The assessment team will interview elected members, community representatives, officers, representatives from partner organisations and key stakeholders. Given the nature of the Charter Level Two award members’ participation and involvement in the assessment process will be critical to the possibility of achieving a successful outcome.

3.11     Financial & Resource Implications

            The cost of the Level 2 assessment will be in the region of £4,180, plus travel costs incurred by the external assessors for the assessment visit. It is anticipated a 25% contribution to the assessment cost, if re-accreditation is achieved, will be made by NILGA/Local Government Training Group. The costs will be met from the 2018-2019 Corporate OD budget.

3.12     Corporate HR will work with key departmental officers, specifically Property and Projects staff, to collate the evidence required for the assessment process.

3.13     Equality or Good Relations Implications

            None associated with this report.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.