(All levels)
Repeated from East Midlands
Theme: Local Government Law
20 July 2017, 9.30am registration (9.45am start) – 1.00pm (followed by lunch) Sheffield City Council
VCE NOT AVAILABLE
Presented by Weightmans
Course overview
Suitable audience:
Monitoring Officers, their deputies and all those involved in governance matters
Overview:
The session will look at the latest development affecting local authority governance
Topics to be covered include:
• Brexit – the latest developments and what it means for local authorities;
• Ethical standards – the latest issues in member and officer conduct;
• Information governance – key issues for local authorities;
• Case Law – the latest court decisions which affect governance; and
• Statutory Officers – protection and decision making, including a case study.
Interactive elements
A case study looking at a position involving a statutory officer
Duration: Half a day (3 training hours) including lunch
Competencies
This course will cover:
A Ethics professionalism and judgement
B Technical legal practice
B2 Legal research
B4 Draft documents
B5 Advocacy
B6 Negotiation
C Working with other people
C1 Communicate clearly and effectively
D Managing themselves and their own work
Presenter profiles:
Simon Goacher joined Weightmans in February 2013 to head up the Local Government team.
Formerly Head of Legal and Democratic Services at Cheshire West and Cheshire Council, Simon has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in local government law spanning almost two decades.
He has led on significant projects including an innovative housing stock transfer at Wirral Council and on the promotion of a private Act of Parliament. He was awarded the title of Local Government Young Solicitor of the year in 2006. As Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer at Wirral Council, Simon was the lead legal adviser for key projects including regeneration schemes in New Brighton and Birkenhead.
In 2009, he was appointed Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer of the newly created Cheshire West and Chester Council. This involved the creation of a single authority from four councils.
Simon has been a member of the projects boards for a number of major projects including the creation of Council-owned companies, as well as significant outsourcing and regeneration projects.
Since joining Weightmans Simon has advised a number of local authorities on powers and governance on high profile matters. He has also provided training to council officers and members on governance and ethical standards and carried out a number of complex and sensitive investigations.
Jane Hackett is Solicitor to the Council & Monitoring Officer at Tamworth Borough Council. Previously she worked in Perth and latterly East Dunbartonshire Council. Following completion of the QLTT in 2007 she moved to England. Apart from her corporate governance and monitoring officer roles she is responsible for legal services which include right to buy and land charges, democratic services, scrutiny, election services, member services and mayoralty.
She is also the Safeguarding Officer, RIPA co-ordinator for the council and for the past 8 years appointed Deputy Returning Officer. She provides training for Council members and governance and standards and is also currently involved in several key investment and regeneration projects.