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Charter Status for Elected Member Development

Charter Status for Elected Members

Colchester Borough Council was awarded Charter Status for Elected Member Development in April 2011.

This is recognition that the Council has achieved best practice in the way it provides learning and development opportunities for its elected members.  This  helps ensure that elected members have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively represent the community.

In order to achieve Charter Status the Council had to demonstrate that it has met all five of the following criteria:

  1. Being fully committed to developing elected members in order to achieve the Council's strategic objectives;
  2. Adopting a member led strategic approach to elected member development;
  3. Having a member learning and development plan in place that clearly identifies the difference that development activities will make;
  4. Demonstrating that member learning and development is effective in building capacity;
  5. Addressing wider development matters to promote work-life balance and citizenship.

To meet these criteria, the Council implemented a number of strategies, including a member development policy, Councillor training plan and an all-party member development group.

The award is independently evaluated by South East Employers on behalf of the region. It considers a portfolio of evidence from the Council and conducts an assessment day. The accreditation lasts for three years.