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

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

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 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 

Michelle Beaumont is currently a Democratic Services Manager at the London Borough of Richmond and has worked in Democratic and Member Services at both the London boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth and Spelthorne Borough Council since 2013. She has also been an active ADSO member holding several positions including joint Company Secretary (2020-21), Qualifications Manager (2021-present) and assessor (2018 – present). Michelle was recently appointed Training Officer for NACO having managed both the Richmond and Wandsworth Civic Office. Michelle also supports the elections for Richmond and Spelthorne as senior presiding officer and assistant count supervisor. Outside of work Michelle is a keen runner and runs a marathon every year for the Mayor’s charities.

Rachel Basham has over fifteen years’ experience of working in local government, in a variety of roles across Democratic Services and Leadership teams. Her current substantive post is Member Services Manager at Surrey County Council, although she is currently on a 12-month secondment at Woking Borough Council, providing additional strategic support to their Leadership team. Rachel is a City and Guilds qualified adult trainer alongside being an assessor for both the ASDO Certificate in Democratic Services and the Charter for Member Development.

Date and time

Workshop One: Thursday 16^th May 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Thursday 23^rd May 2024 9.30am-12.30pm

Delegates are required to attend both workshops.  Please note that you only need to book on 16^th 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

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.

Booking requirements

• A purchase order number is required for all bookings made out to ADSO.  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.