Event description
Purpose of the session:
• To explore the roles and responsibilities of elected councillors
• To consider the central importance of the relationship between members and officers in an effective council and
• To understand the codes and protocols which apply to the relationship.
She was an in-house lawyer for nearly 20 years, at four different councils in England. She moved from a lawyer into management posts, culminating in roles as a County Solicitor and a Director of Corporate Services in a unitary authority (South Gloucestershire Council from its start in 1995/6 until 1999). Beth led the Welsh Local Government Agency responsible for improvement and development in Welsh local government for three years.
In 2001 Beth moved to a role as a partner with Bevan Brittan LLP where she led the local government team for 17 years, for 4 years of which she was Senior Partner of the firm. The firm has, for many years, been ranked Band One legal advisors for local authorities.
Beth is an experienced and highly regarded trainer. She specialises in member development and officer training which she can now focus on, following her retirement from full time legal practice in 2018.
Learning outcomes
Outcome of the session:
• That all councillors (both newly elected and returning)
o understand the key inter-dependent roles and responsibilities of members and officers
o have an opportunity to reflect on the other stakeholder relationships of an elected member and
o are confident in the codes and protocols which apply to the relationships