WLGA

 

Wales Charter for Member Support and Development

What is the Charter?

 

Elected members today face increasing challenges. Under the modernisation agenda, there are heightened expectations on them to undertake a diversity of roles ranging from that of community leader to their special responsibilities within the Council. Throughout Wales, authorities are striving to provide the best possible support for their members to enable them to meet these challenges. This takes the form of skill and knowledge development, support facilities, and support services.

 

The Welsh Local Government Association has a long history of working with authorities to help them develop these activities. To provide structure to the national programme of support, the Wales Charter for Member Support and Development was developed collaboratively by the Association, members representing each of the political groups and member support officers from each authority.

 

The Charter aims to provide a broad framework for local planning, self-assessment, action and review together with networking and comparison amongst authorities and the sharing of good and innovative practice. Its wide adoption has raised the overall amount and standard of support given to members in Wales.

 

What is the current position?

 

The Charter and Advanced Charter have been awarded to the following authorities.

 

2021

  • Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority - Advanced Level

2019

  • Brecon Beacons National Park Authority - Advanced Level (Renewed)
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council (Renewed)
  • Isle of Anglesey County Council (Renewed)

2018

  • Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council (Renewed)
  • Gwynedd Council (Renewed)
  • Powys County Council (Renewed)

2016

  • Snowdonia National Park Authority (Renewed)
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council - Good Practice and Innovation Award (Details below)

2015

  • Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council (Renewed)
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council (Renewed)

2014

  • Brecon Beacons National Park Authority - Advanced Level (Renewed)
  • Powys County Council (Renewed)
  • Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (Renewed)
  • Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council - Advanced Level (Renewed)

2013

  • Bridgend County Borough Council - Good Practice and Innovation Award (Details below)
  • Isle of Anglesey County Council
  • Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authoirty (Renewed)
  • Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council - Good Practice and Innovation Award (Details below)

2012

  • The Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 has introduced legislative requirements for corporate governance and member support and development. Therefore in 2012 the Charter criteria were developed to enhance and enable these legal requirements.

2011

  • Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
  • Brecon Beacons National Park Authority - Advanced Level
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council (Renewed)
  • Flintshire County Council (Renewed)
  • Powys County Council
  • Torfaen County Borough Council

2010

  • Bridgend County Borough Council
  • Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
  • Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority
  • Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council - Advanced Level
  • South Wales Fire and Rescue Service

2009

  • Brecon Beacons National Park Authority
  • Conwy County Borough Council
  • Denbighshire County Council
  • North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority
  • Gwynedd County Council
  • Snowdonia National Park Authority

2008

  • Flintshire County Council
  • Mid and West Wales Fire Authority
  • Wrexham County Borough Council

2007

  • Caerphilly County Borough Council
  • Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
  • The Vale of Glamorgan Council

 

The Assessment Process

 

Authorities can apply for the Charter followed by the Advanced Charter. These awards will need to be renewed every three years.

 

Assessment for the Charter will be a self assessment undertaken by the Authority and submitted to the WLGA who will review the submission and make the award. The Charter is designed to establish that an essential range of support and development arrangements for councillors is in place.

 

Assessment for the Advanced Charter will be a peer assessment including a site visit undertaken by officers, and member peers from Wales and England. The Advanced Charter is designed to recognise that the arrangements required for the Charter are working effectively.

 

Reassessments at both Charter and Advanced Charter level will be assessed through self assessment and review.

 

The Good Practice and Innovation Award for Member Support and Development

 

This award seeks to recognise and share excellent or innovative practice in member support and development to improve practice in Wales.

 

Assessment of the Good Practice and Innovation Award will be based on a review of the written submission to a WLGA peer panel.

 

On receipt of the award, the authority will be invited to make a presentation to the Member Support and Development and Lead Members Network. The submission will also be included on the WLGA website.


For more information contact: Sarah Titcombe

https://www.wlga.gov.uk/wales-charter-for-member-support-and-development-