The role of what used to be called committee clerks– and today, democratic services staff – has changed radically in recent years. Now, a new professional association representing people holding this position is about to be launched, as John Austin explains
These are exciting times for local authority democratic services staff. And from next week, they will have their own professional body.
Known as the Association of Democratic Services Officers – or ADSO, for short – it will be launched at its inaugural conference in Birmingham on 14 October.
At the same time, a new award and certificate in democratic services will be unveiled. This professional qualification will be followed next year by a higher level diploma.
Both will be nationally recognised and supported by the Open University, giving them real status, quality and credibility. The current vocational award will be phased out when the new qualifications are introduced.
Democratic services staff have been at the forefront of unprecedented changes to political management, constitutional and governance arrangements following the Local Government Act 2000. Increasingly, members and officer colleagues have relied on the sector to respond to these changes, and introduce them within authorities with their usual efficient, professional, impartial and ‘no fuss’ approach. Members, in particular, have valued the expert way in which democratic services staff have supported them through such changes, and helped them develop their representational, executive, scrutiny and other roles. These staff are no longer ‘committee clerks’, just there to send the papers out and take minutes of the meetings. Their role has developed to include:
l constitutional and procedural advice
l clear, accessible and accountable decision-making arrangements
l member support and development
l community engagement in the democratic process through area committees and scrutiny
l the guardian of processes such as the Forward Plan, Call-In and the new petition arrangements
l acting as a ‘gateway’ into the democratic process for local communities.
It is important, therefore, that these staff are supported and developed as much as possible – not only for the benefit of themselves, but also for elected members and authorities, in general.
A more professional democratic services sector can only be good for local government as a whole.
There will be ever-increasing challenges to the sector brought about by the phased implementation of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act, the Local Democracy Bill and the Government’s community leadership agenda.
ADSO, and the new qualifications, will raise the profile and professional standing of democratic services. ADSO will also be a consultative forum and sounding board for both local and national bodies, representing the sector at these levels of government.
It will encourage the sharing of best practice among authorities and in the services we provide for members. Finally, it will support and develop local democracy, assisting local authorities to respond to ever-increasing demands and further constitutional changes.
ADSO will have a national executive board, but its strength will lie particularly in the regions. Existing regional networks are being developed, and new ones will be created where they don’t currently exist. This is especially important to reflect local government at its roots and encourage all democratic services staff, regardless of grade, experience or seniority to participate fully in the association’s activities.
Membership will be open to all staff within the areas of meeting support, member development and support, scrutiny, civic offices, and community governance. We will also welcome colleagues from the fire and police authorities, and other, similar organisations.
The ADSO website – www.asdso.co.uk – has already gone live, and contains a wealth of information about the new association and the qualifications. There will shortly be a ‘members-only’ area for questions and the exchange of information. This will be developed further to include job advertisements and support with recruitment within the sector.
The response from staff, members and authorities to both ADSO and the new qualifications has been extremely encouraging. The conference on 14 October is over-subscribed, and there are already many staff applying to join the association and planning to study for the Certificate in Democratic Services.
This can only mean one thing – that democratic services will go from strength to strength, and that the winners will not only be the staff concerned but also councillors plus their authorities and communities.
John Austin is assistant director, corporate governance at Enfield LBC, and chairman of the ADSO interim executive board
Known as the Association of Democratic Services Officers – or ADSO, for short – it will be launched at its inaugural conference in Birmingham on 14 October.
At the same time, a new award and certificate in democratic services will be unveiled. This professional qualification will be followed next year by a higher level diploma.
Both will be nationally recognised and supported by the Open University, giving them real status, quality and credibility. The current vocational award will be phased out when the new qualifications are introduced.
Democratic services staff have been at the forefront of unprecedented changes to political management, constitutional and governance arrangements following the Local Government Act 2000. Increasingly, members and officer colleagues have relied on the sector to respond to these changes, and introduce them within authorities with their usual efficient, professional, impartial and ‘no fuss’ approach. Members, in particular, have valued the expert way in which democratic services staff have supported them through such changes, and helped them develop their representational, executive, scrutiny and other roles. These staff are no longer ‘committee clerks’, just there to send the papers out and take minutes of the meetings. Their role has developed to include:
l constitutional and procedural advice
l clear, accessible and accountable decision-making arrangements
l member support and development
l community engagement in the democratic process through area committees and scrutiny
l the guardian of processes such as the Forward Plan, Call-In and the new petition arrangements
l acting as a ‘gateway’ into the democratic process for local communities.
It is important, therefore, that these staff are supported and developed as much as possible – not only for the benefit of themselves, but also for elected members and authorities, in general.
A more professional democratic services sector can only be good for local government as a whole.
There will be ever-increasing challenges to the sector brought about by the phased implementation of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act, the Local Democracy Bill and the Government’s community leadership agenda.
ADSO, and the new qualifications, will raise the profile and professional standing of democratic services. ADSO will also be a consultative forum and sounding board for both local and national bodies, representing the sector at these levels of government.
It will encourage the sharing of best practice among authorities and in the services we provide for members. Finally, it will support and develop local democracy, assisting local authorities to respond to ever-increasing demands and further constitutional changes.
ADSO will have a national executive board, but its strength will lie particularly in the regions. Existing regional networks are being developed, and new ones will be created where they don’t currently exist. This is especially important to reflect local government at its roots and encourage all democratic services staff, regardless of grade, experience or seniority to participate fully in the association’s activities.
Membership will be open to all staff within the areas of meeting support, member development and support, scrutiny, civic offices, and community governance. We will also welcome colleagues from the fire and police authorities, and other, similar organisations.
The ADSO website – www.asdso.co.uk – has already gone live, and contains a wealth of information about the new association and the qualifications. There will shortly be a ‘members-only’ area for questions and the exchange of information. This will be developed further to include job advertisements and support with recruitment within the sector.
The response from staff, members and authorities to both ADSO and the new qualifications has been extremely encouraging. The conference on 14 October is over-subscribed, and there are already many staff applying to join the association and planning to study for the Certificate in Democratic Services.
This can only mean one thing – that democratic services will go from strength to strength, and that the winners will not only be the staff concerned but also councillors plus their authorities and communities.
John Austin is assistant director, corporate governance at Enfield LBC, and chairman of the ADSO interim executive board
