APPENDIX 3
 

 
 

Skills and Knowledge - Key Areas
 

 
 

1)     The Local Government context - a National overview
 

 
 

2)     The Council and how it works - to include
 

     a)     Functions and structure
 

     b)      Constitution - Council, Executive, Committees, PAGS etc.
 

     c)      Member/officer relationships and protocols
 

     d)     Current National and local issues - CPA, Best Value etc.
 

     e)     Support services for members including IT, expense claims etc.
 

     f)     Emerging issues/new legislation affecting the Council
 

 
 

3)     Service Specific Knowledge
 

     a)     Set of Service Plans
 

b)     Policy documents for members with service-specific roles e.g. Planning Committee (more detail here to be included by CC)
 

c)     Emerging issues/new legislation re the service
 

 
 

4)     Finance and Budgetary Aspects
 

     a)     The National system
 

     b)     The local context
 

     c)     Future developments
 

     d)     The member’s role
 

 
 

5)     Best Value/Scrutiny and the Council’s Performance Management Framework
 

 
 

6)     Community Leadership
 

     Duty to promote social, economic and environmental well-being
 

     Community Strategy
 

     LSP etc.
 

     Partnership working - with examples of key partnerships such as BASP
 

 
 

7)     Personal Competencies
 

     a)     Chairing meetings
 

     b)     Time Management
 

     c)     IT Skills - basic use of Internet, GroupWise, word processing, file management
 

     d)     Interviewing skills: recruitment; appraisal; disciplinary
 

     e)     Dealing with the media
 

     f)     Public speaking/presentation skills
 

     g)     Assertiveness
 

          etc.