Training

One off webinar sessions

We deliver live, and for free, webinars on the following issues:

• Scrutiny basics;
• Articulating scrutiny’s role;
• How to make an impact through scrutiny.

You can watch prerecorded webinars on council finances and online meetings during the pandemic. 

Please check the events page for a schedule of events, or e-mail us at info@cfgs.org.uk to be notified when event booking goes live.

Short courses

Our short courses are designed to provide a small cohort of around 20 people – councillors and officers – with the practical tools they need to address pressing issues in their own authority. Short courses involve:

• Initial 45 minute webinar between participants and facilitator to discuss objectives;
• Live 90 minute webinar introducing key concepts;
• Access to a short workbook to carry out short self-led exercises;
• Evaluation and feedback on exercises from your peers and an expert trainer;
• Signposting to further learning including putting together an action plan;
• Award of certificate

Short courses are designed to be completed remotely over 10 days, and cover the following subjects.

• Introduction to scrutiny
• Scrutiny improvement
• Work planning
• Managing information (with a particular focus on understanding financial and performance information)
• Understanding scrutiny for senior officers
• Basics of health scrutiny
• Chairing skills
• Questioning skills

Please check the events page for a schedule of events, or e-mail us at info@cfgs.org.uk to be notified when event booking goes live. Each course is run at least once over the course of a year. 

Longer courses

We offer longer courses designed for scrutiny managers and scrutiny chairs to dig into more advanced issues. These courses are designed for a smaller cohort, and are delivered over the course of around three weeks.

• Establishment of study group on Slack;
• Group discussion of objectives;
• Two 45 minute live webinars, each followed by 30 minute group discussion;
• Access to a longer workbook to carry out short self-led exercises with peer and course leader support;
• CfGS and peer evaluation of workbook material, signposting to further learning through an action plan;
• Award of certificate.

Courses offered:

• Advanced scrutiny skills
• Scrutiny of commercial activity and contracts
• Building positive working relationships
• Advanced chairing 

Please check the events page for a schedule of events, or e-mail us at info@cfgs.org.uk to be notified when event booking goes live.

Councillor training

Any of the subjects set out above can be catered for in your own council – through a single, short evening training session, through multiple workshops, or through coaching and mentoring. We have a long and successful track record in delivering high quality in-house member training to local authorities. Some of this training can be delivered for free through our LGA-funded support programme. 

Please e-mail Ian Parry on ian.parry@cfgs.org.uk to find out more.