ADSO is hosting the highly popular course ‘Just a Minute’.   Just a Minute will be delivered as two, virtual three-hour workshops.  Delegates will be required to attend both of the virtual workshops.

Audience

This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who are required to take minutes of meetings.   The target audience will be those who are relatively new to democratic service teams and those with a few years’ experience.

How the course will be delivered

The course will be delivered virtually, to maximise the delegates learning experience the course has been broken into two virtual workshops.

The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with delegates from across the country.

This workshop aims to provide you with the skills and knowledge to write a local government minute, including:

• An understanding of the law relating to local government minutes
• Tips and good practice for notetaking and local government minute writing
• An awareness of the different minutes styles used for different types of meetings
• The opportunity to apply your knowledge in practical exercises and case studies with colleagues from other local authorities.

You will need to bring pen and paper, or laptop, or your own preferred minute writing medium!

Trainers 

Mark Towers
The virtual workshops will be led by Mark Towers, Director of Governance and Partnerships at Blackpool Council and Matthew Kane Associate Director – Corporate Affairs and Trust Secretary Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

Lennox Beattie
Lennox is an experienced Democratic Services practitioner having been the Executive and Regulatory Manager at Blackpool Council for the past 14 years. He has been responsible for support to the Executive and its governance for that period.  Lennox is also involved in ADSO work through the qualifications, which includes both the certificate and diploma.

Date and time

Workshop One: Wednesday 14th May 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Wednesday 21st May 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm

Delegates are required to attend both workshops.  Please note that you only need to book on 14th May course date to be able to attend both workshops.

Cost

• ADSO Member rate – £110 + VAT per person to attend the course
• Non-ADSO Member rate – £160 + VAT per person to attend the course
• ADSO Certificate in Democratic Services Knowledge Learner – Free

How to book a place 

To book a place please use the online booking form via the link below.  Terms and conditions for booking can be found here.

Please note that ADSO will now only be using their Membership bank account.  The details are below:

Account Number: 23545903
Sort Code: 20-02-25

Booking requirements

• A purchase order number is required for all bookings made out to ADSO (see note above).  Courses cannot be attended if a purchase order is not received.
• A hardcopy of the purchase order is required.
• Please provide us with your ADSO Membership number (if applicable)
• A few days after booking you will receive a calendar invite for the workshop(s).  Please note that your email address will be visible to all participants unless you advise us otherwise.

Please send the above information to adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk.