The business of governance
Risk oversight and strategy
A six-hour forum focusing on the various roles and functions of managing and monitoring of risk in the local government environment. Topics include the identification of the deliverables of a successful risk framework, communicating and getting buy-in to risk and assurance, and the best structure for an audit and risk committee. This forum will allow both elected members and management to refresh and/or update existing practice, and development of a clear pathway to improve the way risk is considered and reported within the Council.
Facilitated by:
Philip Jones and Elizabeth Hughes
EnquireDecision making in the political environment
A four-hour workshop for elected members that supports effective decision-making which is critical to any elected representative’s role. This workshop provides information and case studies on the processes that are used to make decisions and includes material on relevant legislation, tactics for decision making and the roles and responsibilities of various “players”. It also provides participants with a Word-based tool to measure and use “community intelligence” – elected member contacts with the community and how to integrate the knowledge they have with their community into decision making.
Facilitated by:
Steve McDowell and Vern Walsh
EnquireConflicts of interest / code of conduct
This three-hour workshop provides insight to elected members on the principles relating to conflicts of interest and how to manage situations where members are conflicted. The workshop will discuss financial and non-financial conflicts, processes to systematically assess potential conflicts of interest and scenarios to demonstrate types of conflicts of interest. Every local authority is required to adopt a code of conduct for the elected council (it is discretionary for Community Boards). Understanding the requirements for inclusion in the code and the implications of the code to elected members is important in ensuring that members do not breach the code. Clarity on the process for investigating an alleged breach of the code is covered in this workshop along with the key contents of the code.
Facilitated by:
Steve McDowell and Vern Walsh
EnquireWhat are the roles of elected members in a long-term plan?
A four-hour forum focusing on the key roles and responsibilities of elected members of a long-term plan Topics include key inputs, the importance of having understandable financial and infrastructure strategies, and the relationship between Asset management planning and the long-term plan.
Facilitated by:
Philip Jones
EnquireFinancial planning and reporting
A six-hour forum focusing the importance having a good understanding of financial planning and reporting. Topics include why local government accounting is different than profit-based accounting including how expenditure and revenue levels are set, explaining key accounting terms and how to read financial statements, and the key financial inputs and outputs of the Long-Term Plan including the linkage to rates. This forum will allow elected members to better understand financial matters and ask the ask the right questions.
Facilitated by:
Philip Jones
EnquireWhat are the roles of elected members in the setting of rates?
Often, the setting of rates is seen as the domain of management, however there are key roles the that elected members need to undertake. This four-hour forum focuses on providing elected members with an overview of the rates process, including how to avoid making mistakes that can to lead to litigation. Topics include what are rates, the rate setting process and gaining assurance the rates are robust and legally defendable.
Facilitated by:
Philip Jones
Enquire“I have always enjoyed Vern & Steve’s workshops because of the fact that they are approachable and more importantly, they make it comfortable for participants to speak, comment and ask questions.”