Stepping Stones

“Overall an interesting and informative day. Lovely to see and hear ideas from other councillors on how they deal with all aspects of ‘The Job’” York delegate

“A very good day well worth attending...” London delegate

“…a good event – more like it welcomed.” Coventry delegate

“Really useful, got lots of ideas.” York delegate

This spring has seen NALC out on the road with three ‘Stepping Stones’ events aimed at sharing knowledge across the sector and linking the Government’s empowerment agenda with the work taking in place in our communities and delivered by local councils. Sponsored by the Standards Board for England, Commission for Rural Communities and Department for Communities and Local Government, the events have proven to be a great success.

Venues in York, London and Coventry were chosen and a selection of speakers covering a wide variety of topics were invited. Across the three events delegates heard from both central and local government speakers including Ron Scrutton from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Stuart Hoggan from the Department for Communities and Local Government and Cllr Keith Ross and Chris Lawrence-Pietroni from the Local Government Association. Of great encouragement were the words of our LGA colleagues about how local councils and principal authorities can work more closely together to deliver for our communities.

It is obviously very important that we consider where we are going as a tier and what broad opportunities there may be for the tier as a whole. However, it is also vital that as a tier we spread knowledge, ideas and experience and a key aim of the events was to provide opportunities for delegates to learn practical lessons. With this in mind Buntingford Town Council, Morpeth Town Council, Iver Parish Council, Clerk of the Year Cally Morris of Silchester and Monk Sherbourne Parish Councils, Dunstable Town Council, Council of the Year Halewood Town Council and Shildon Town Council talked us through their projects and experiences. In addition to this, representatives of Buckinghamshire County Council and the Isle of Wight Council gave their perspectives on partnership working.

This was not all - sessions also covered planning, audit, Quality status, training, local assessment and the code of conduct, and introduced delegates to the work of the Citizenship Foundation. The Commission for Rural Communities also held fringe sessions on the impact of the Participation Inquiry.

Stepping Stones (York) 
Saturday 21 February 2009
The Hospitium, Museum Gardens, Marygate, York, YO30 7DR      

Click here for a draft programme for Stepping Stones (York)
There are no presentations available from this event.


Stepping Stones (London) 
Tuesday 10 March 2009
The Council Chamber, Congress Centre, 28 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS  

Click here to view presentations from the Stepping Stones London event
Click here for a programme Stepping Stones (London) 


Stepping Stones (Coventry) 
Wednesday 22 April 2009
The Oak Tree Conference Centre, Binley Business Park, Harry Weston Road, Coventry, CV3 2UN
     
Click here to view presentations from the Stepping Stones Coventry event
Click here for a draft programme Stepping Stones (Coventry)

Should you require any additional information please contact NALC on 020 7637 1865, or by e-mail nalc@nalc.gov.uk