2012 COUNCILLOR INDUCTION PACK
NOTEBOOK 9: USEFUL
INFORMATION AND
FAQs
2012 Councillor Induction Pack
Contents
1. Frequently asked questions (FAQs) 1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
Roles and responsibilities
Corporate governance
Managing my ward
How the council works
Ethics, standards and information handling
Support
3
5
8
9
11
13
16
2. Glossary of terms
18
3. Acronyms
36
4. Key web links
43
5. References
46
This notebook is intended to be used as a quick reference guide
for questions that you may have and any terms that you come
across in your role as an elected member that you are unsure of.
It will also provide you with web links to organisations mentioned
throughout the series of elected member induction notebooks,
as well as to useful documents.
Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
1. Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
These FAQs summarise key information available in the series of
induction notebooks. If you have a question that does not
feature in the list, please speak to your council’s Members’
Services who will be able to assist. We have grouped the FAQs
under 6 areas. For quick access to an FAQ, please click on the
question below and you will be taken to the FAQ.
Roles and responsibilities
Q1.
Q2.
Q3.
Q4.
Q5.
What is my role as an elected member?
What does the role of being an elected member not involve?
What key roles do council officers perform?
Who are the council’s statutory officers and what are their roles?
What are the critical success factors for effective member-
officer relationships?
Corporate governance
Q6.
Q7.
Q8.
What is corporate governance?
What is the elected member role in performance management?
What is risk management and my role in it?
Managing my ward
Q9.
Q10.
Q11.
Q12.
Q13.
Q14.
Where can I get information about my ward?
How should I manage my casework?
What is a caseload management system?
How do I deal with difficult constituents?
How should I engage with my constituents?
How should I deal with complaints about the council?
How the council works
Q15.
Q16.
Q17.
What services does my council provide?
What is the full council meeting?
Can an individual elected member take decisions on behalf of the council?
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2012 Councillor Induction Pack
Q18.
Q19.
Q20.
Q21.
Q22.
How are committee places allocated?
What are pre-meetings/pre-agendas?
What are the council’s Standing Orders/Rules of Business?
What is the council’s Scheme of Delegation/Scheme of Administration?
What is Best Value?
Ethics, standards and information handling
Q23.
Q24.
Q25.
Q26.
Q27.
Q28.
Q29.
Q30.
What is the Councillors’ Code of Conduct?
When should I register an interest in a matter under consideration?
When should I declare an interest in relation to a matter being considered?
Can I accept gifts and hospitality in my role as an elected member?
Am I subject to Freedom of Information requests?
What do I do if a constituent makes a freedom of information request to me instead of the council?
What right of access do I have to information held by the council?
Am I subject to the Data Protection Act 1998?
Support
Q31.
Q32.
Q33.
Q34.
4
What support will I receive from my council to help me fulfil my duties?
What training and development support will I get from the council?
As an elected member, what forms of financial support will I receive?
If I am in employment, can I get time off for my councillor duties?
Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
1.1 Roles and responsibilities
Q1. What is my role as an elected member?
The broad roles that you will carry out as an elected member are:
See Notebook 1
• Representation – representing your ward and the people who
live in it.
• Leadership – being a leader within and of the community.
• Decision maker – ensuring the council has a clear direction
and accountability and appropriate working arrangements in
place to ensure that it achieves what it sets out to do.
• Developing and reviewing policy – influencing and
determining the development and review of the council’s
policy.
• Scrutinising service performance – monitoring how well
services are delivered by the council and its partners.
• Regulator – regulating the activities and performance of other
organisations and individuals, through licensing committees
and planning committees for example.
• The political role – if you have stood for a political party you
will have additional duties such as reporting back to your
ward party and meeting as a political group within the local
authority.
Q2. What does the role of being an elected
member not involve?
See Notebook 1
You are not expected:
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2012 Councillor Induction Pack
• to be an expert on all the services offered by the council;
• to manage services on a day-to-day basis;
• to solve all the difficulties and challenges posed by delivering
a complex range of services, within budget limits, to
communities who often have very high expectations of what
the council should do for them.
You have council officers to support and advise you on these
things.
Q3. What key roles do council officers perform?
Officers perform a different role from elected members in a
number of ways. Council officers:
See Notebook 1
• are responsible for the day-to-day running of council services;
• give professional advice to allow elected members to make
informed decisions – even if it is not what elected members
want to hear;
• implement the decisions made collectively by elected
members;
• observe a code of strict political neutrality and serve all
elected members irrespective of political party;
• are appointed by the council and not elected by the public;
• do not have a vote at council meetings or council committee
meetings;
• are paid employees of the council.
Q4. Who are the council’s statutory officers and
what are their roles?
Statutory officers1 are members of council staff who have specific
responsibilities set out in legislation. Councils are required by law
to designate senior managers to be Head of Paid Service,
Monitoring Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Social Work
Officer. The key roles of each are as follows:
Head of Paid Service (the Chief Executive) is the principal policy
adviser and primary manager of the council. The council is under
a statutory duty to consider reports prepared by the Head of Paid
service on the management and deployment of staff.
Monitoring Officer works with elected members to provide
guidance and support to help them fulfil their role. They advise
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See Notebook 1
Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
elected members about the legal position of proposed actions
and prepare a report for council if, at any stage, it appears that
any proposal, decision or omission by the council has given or is
likely to result in the council contravening legislation or any code
of practice.
Chief Financial Officer (section 95 officer) is responsible for the
proper administration of the financial affairs of the council. They
have the power to stop the council from spending money if they
think it is unwise or unlawful.
Chief Social Work Officer provides elected members and senior
officers with effective, professional advice about the delivery of
social work services.
Details of your council’s other statutory officers will be listed
within the council’s Scheme of Delegation.
Q5. What are the critical success factors for
effective member-officer relationships?
See Notebook 1
Getting the member-officer relationship right requires that:
• both should aim to develop a relationship based on mutual
respect;
• elected members should define the core values of the
organisation;
• elected members should identify priorities, assisted by the
officers;
• officers should provide clear advice and offer alternative
courses of action where they exist;
• elected members and officers should communicate clearly
and openly, avoiding ambiguity and the risk of
misunderstanding;
• elected members and officers should work in partnership to
turn the core values and priorities into practical policies for
implementation.
The Councillors’ Code of Conduct provides a protocol for
relations between councillors and employees in Scottish councils.
Your council may also have a Member-Officer Protocol in place.
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1.2 Corporate governance
Q6. What is corporate governance?
Good corporate governance2 is an essential element in the
efficient running of all organisations. Put simply, it describes the
need for any organisation to have a clear direction and
accountability and appropriate working arrangements in place to
ensure that it achieves what it sets out to do. The key role for
elected members in corporate governance is to make decisions
and provide assurance to stakeholders that the council is doing
the right things at the right time in an open, accountable and
efficient way.
Q7. What is the elected member role in
performance management?
You have a key role to play in ensuring that:
• council services are effective in achieving the outcomes they
have set out to achieve and targets are being met;
• people get the benefits from the services that elected
members intended;
• the council is efficient in the way it runs those services and it
uses its resources to get the maximum benefits for
communities and customers;
• the performance of services compares well with other
relevant organisations and those of other councils whose
scale and context is similar to your own;
• communities find out about the council’s performance in a
way that is useful to them.
8
See Notebook 3
See Notebook 3
Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
Q8. What is risk management and my role in it?
Risk management is the ongoing process of identifying risks,
evaluating their probability and potential consequences and
determining the most effective methods of controlling them or
responding to them. The key roles of elected members are to
oversee the effective management of risks by council officers and
to get involved in the identification of high level strategic risks
facing the council.
See Notebook 3
1.3 Managing my ward
Q9. Where can I get information about my ward?
Your council will hold a wealth of information including social,
economic and population details for each ward. You may also
wish to access the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics3 website
which will provide you with a range of information at ward level
such as data on health, educational achievement, poverty,
unemployment, housing, crime and population. As an elected
member, you are also entitled to a full copy of the electoral
register for the ward.
See Notebook 4
Q10. How should I manage my casework?
It is important that you understand the procedures for dealing
with casework in your council. You should consider the following
when dealing with casework:
See Notebook 4
•
•
•
•
identify the issue that your constituent has;
refer the issue to the appropriate council department/service;
provide regular feedback to the constituent;
consider the wider issues, such as why the issue occurred in
the first place and whether it is likely to affect other local
people;
• question if there is a trend building up through similar issues
being raised by your constituents;
• ask the constituent if they are happy for you to share their
information with your ward councillors.
Q11. What is a caseload management system?
A number of councils have introduced caseload management
systems for elected members, which enable them to manage
See Notebook 4
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their caseloads electronically. These systems are typically web
based and allow elected members to raise complaints or
enquiries on issues reported to them by constituents, such as
perceived poor service, or reasons why certain officer action has
been taken. These enquiries are then passed to the appropriate
council officers for resolution. The enquiry is tracked so that you
can review how it is progressing.
Q12. How do I deal with difficult constituents?
You may find that some constituents who attend your surgeries
are stressed, angry and frustrated about issues, such as decisions
the council has taken or services it has provided, anti-social
neighbours, prevalence of under-age drinking in the community
etc. Your council may provide you with advice on personal safety
and dealing with difficult constituents. If a constituent acts
aggressively:
See Notebook 4
• you should offer whatever help and advice you can but you
should not promise something that you cannot deliver to
de-fuse the situation;
• you should not be afraid to tell them that their behaviour or
attitude is unacceptable and if they are offensive in any way,
you should bring the interview to a close.
Q13. How should I engage with my constituents?
You should try and use a wide range of communication methods
that will deliver your message to as many people as possible. You
should consider the demographics of the communities that you
are trying to reach and use the most appropriate communication
method. Put simply, if you attend community events, hold
surgeries, make phone calls, produce newsletters, email
constituents and engage in online social media/blogging you will
be giving yourself the best chance to reach as many people in
your community as possible.
Q14. How should I deal with complaints about the
council?
As an elected member, you may be asked by a member of the
public to help them make a complaint or to make a complaint on
their behalf, so it is important for you to understand the
corporate complaints procedure at your council and when it is
appropriate for your constituent to refer a complaint to the
Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO)4.
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See Notebook 4
See Notebook 4
Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
1.4 How the council works
Q15. What services does my council provide?
Acts of Parliament lay down specific duties that councils must
carry out, which are referred to as mandatory functions – for
example, ensuring education is provided for school age children,
ensuring housing is available for the homeless and the operation
of an alcohol licensing scheme. They also lay down permissive
and adoptive functions, which are things that councils may do if
they wish – for example, the provision of nursery education or
the removal of wasps’ nests. Councils deliver services either
directly through their employees or by commissioning services
from outside organisations.
Q16. What is the full council meeting?
The full council meeting is the sovereign body of the council. Full
council is where all elected members meet to debate and take
the key decisions of the authority.
Q17. Can an individual elected member take
decisions on behalf of the council?
See Notebook 1
See Notebook 5
See Notebook 5
No decisions on behalf of the council can be taken by individual
elected members, regardless of their position within their
political group or indeed the council. For councils with cabinet/
executive decision making structures, individual cabinet/
executive members cannot take decisions – decisions are made
by the cabinet/executive overall.
Q18. How are committee places allocated?
Each council has its own way of selecting members for all
committees and panels. If you are elected on a party political
platform you should check with your party group on the method
adopted by your council. If you are an Independent councillor,
check with the appropriate senior officer on how committee
places are allocated.
Q19. What are pre-meetings/pre-agendas?
Party groups tend to meet before council and committee
meetings to determine the party group’s position on various
agenda items. The group will normally then consider its decisions
See Notebook 5
See Notebook 5
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to be binding on the group members. It is normally acceptable
for council officials to attend meetings when requested, but only
to explain and clarify the details of agenda items. It should be
noted that planning and regulatory matters are not normally
discussed at political group meetings.
Your council may also hold pre-agenda meetings prior to a
council or committee meeting, which are normally attended by
the Chair and Vice-Chair of that particular meeting. This is where
papers for the final agenda are agreed and any points of
uncertainty are clarified by officers.
Q20. What are the council’s Standing Orders/Rules
of Business?
See Notebook 5
This may be two separate documents: one specifying general
Standing Orders and the other detailing contract Standing
Orders. These provide the framework within which the council
conducts its business and makes decisions. They describe the
council’s democratic decision making structure, who is
responsible for making decisions, how decisions are taken, how
contracts are awarded and money spent. The Standing Orders
(they are referred to in some councils as Rules of Business) must
be read and complied with and you must know when to
challenge them if they have been breached.
Q21. What is the council’s Scheme of Delegation/
Scheme of Administration?
In some councils these are separate documents and in others the
Scheme of Delegation and Administration are combined. The
Scheme of Delegation itemises the functions which the council
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See Notebook 5
Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
has asked the Chief Executive, Directors, Heads of Service and
other statutory officers to undertake on its behalf, and the
conditions with which they must comply when doing so. The
Scheme of Administration provides the framework and guidance
for, and the powers given to, Committees and Sub-Committees.
Q22. What is Best Value?
Councils and other public bodies have a statutory duty to
demonstrate best value5 in all that they do. This involves:
See Notebook 1
• making improvements in outcomes for people in their area;
• balancing the cost and quality of services they deliver;
• taking equalities duties into consideration in how they make
decisions.
1.5 Ethics, standards and information
handling
Q23. What is the Councillors’ Code of Conduct?
The Councillors’ Code of Conduct6 plays a vital role in setting out,
openly and clearly, the standards elected members must apply
when undertaking their council duties. The Code is vital to give
assurance to the public that their elected members are acting in
accordance with high ethical standards. The Code applies to
every member of a local authority in Scotland, and it is your
responsibility to make sure that you are familiar with, and that
your actions comply with, its provisions.
Q24. When should I register an interest in a matter
under consideration?
See Notebook 6
See Notebook 6
You must register any interests listed in Section 4 of the
Councillors’ Code of Conduct7 within a month of taking office, or
within a month of your circumstances changing, so that the
public, officers and fellow elected members know which interests
might give rise to a conflict of interest. The register should cover
the period commencing from 12 months prior to and including
your current term of office.
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Q25. When should I declare an interest in relation
to a matter being considered?
See Notebook 6
You must consider at the earliest stage of a meeting whether you
have an interest to declare in relation to any matter that is to be
considered. Your declaration of interest must be made as soon as
practicable at a meeting where that interest arises. If you do
identify the need for a declaration of interest only when a
particular matter is being discussed, you must declare the
interest as soon as you realise it is necessary.
Q26. Can I accept gifts and hospitality in my role as
an elected member?
See Notebook 6
Section 3 of the Code of Conduct8 provides guidance on the
acceptance of gifts and hospitality. You must not accept any offer
by way of gift or hospitality which could give rise to real or
substantive personal gain or a reasonable suspicion of influence
on your part to show favour or disadvantage to any individual or
organisation. The term ‘gift’ includes benefits such as relief from
indebtedness, loan concessions, or provision of services at a cost
below that generally charged to members of the public.
Q27. Am I subject to Freedom of Information (FOI)
requests?
As an elected member, you are not individually subject to the
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) when you
act for your party or constituents. However, since the council is
required to comply with the Act, any requests that relate to your
work for the council will need to be answered. Information which
is passed to a local authority by an elected member also falls
within the scope of FOISA. You should therefore be aware that
the following can be subject to a freedom of information request:
• emails from elected members to Chief Officers;
• comments on reports which have been prepared for
consideration by a council committee;
• details of expense claims submitted;
• correspondence to the local authority regarding a
constituency matter.
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See Notebook 6
Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
Q28. What do I do if a constituent makes a
freedom of information request to me instead of
the council?
See Notebook 6
It is possible that members of the public will make a request for
information held by the council to an elected member instead of
to the council. Make sure you know what arrangements your
council has in place to enable you to pass across any requests for
information which you receive so that they can be dealt with as
appropriate by the council.
Q29. What right of access do I have to information
held by the council?
See Notebook 6
In statute and common law, you have a legal right to inspect
council documentation. This statutory right does not, however,
apply to confidential information and exempt information
considered in private at committee or sub-committee meetings.
In common law, you are entitled to view and obtain copies of all
documentation held by the council, provided that you can show
you have a ‘need to know’ in connection with your duties as an
elected member and that you have no ulterior or improper
motive. The provision of information comes at a cost and you
should ensure, where possible, that you are not used by
members of the public as a conduit for access to information that
is properly available through normal freedom of information
procedures. The ‘need to know’ rule will be applied if you
request information for a constituent outwith your ward.
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Q30. Am I subject to the Data Protection Act 1998?
The Data Protection Act applies to elected members in the same
way that it does to council employees, and covers paper records
and computerised systems using equipment owned by elected
members or provided by the council. Elected members are
regarded as data controllers if they process personal data, for
example, for taking forward complaints made by local residents,
for political activity or campaigning. In such cases, elected
members are required to notify as a Data Controller with the UK
Office of the Information Commissioner. Your Members’ Services
will be able to advise you on the notification process. If you are
using personal data, you must keep it secure as misuse of data is
a punishable offence.
See Notebook 6
1.6 Support
Q31. What support will I receive from my council
to help me fulfil my duties?
See Notebook 1
You will receive support from Members’ Services, who will know
the answers to most of your initial questions or, if they do not,
they will know who to contact to find the information you
require. Support may include office accommodation and
equipment, administrative support, advice, IT equipment,
information and research, press office/public relations support,
learning and development opportunities and committee support.
Members’ support is only provided to you for carrying out your
duties as an elected member and it must not be used for party
political, campaigning or personal activities.
Q32. What training and development support will I
get from the council?
Most councils offer induction programmes to introduce newly
elected members to the workings and responsibilities of the
council and to familiarise them with systems, facilities and the
decision making process. Some councils have adopted the
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Framework for
Elected Members, which has been designed to provide members
with professional and personal development opportunities. Your
council may also have its own elected member training
programme in place. Members’ Services should be able to
provide you with information.
16
See Notebook 8
Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
Q33. As an elected member, what forms of
financial support will I receive?
See Notebook 1
Different forms of financial support are available for elected
members. This includes direct remuneration as well as the
reimbursement of expenses. Members’ Services will provide you
with information on how you claim allowances and expenses and
the dates for the submission of claims.
Q34. If I am in employment, can I get time off for
my councillor duties?
See Notebook 1
Employers are required under the Employment Rights Act 1996
to provide reasonable time off work for public duties. These
duties include attendance at committee meetings and approved
duties. Most employers are happy to do this for formal meetings
of the council. However, there is no legal requirement for an
employer to pay an elected member for the time they take off to
carry out their elected member role.
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2. Glossary of terms
The following are commonly used terms that you may come across
in your role as an elected member.
A
Accounts Commission
A body appointed by the Scottish Parliament with responsibility for
examining how Scotland’s 32 councils manage their finances as well
as helping them to improve their efficiency and effectiveness as
organisations. It was established to secure the audit of Scottish
local government and to consider reports arising from that audit.
www.audit-scotland.gov.uk
Agenda
The agenda is usually headed with the date, time and location of
the meeting, followed by a series of items outlining the order of the
meeting.
Annual Budget
The total financial resources available to the council on an annual
basis.
Area committee
Committee based around local sub areas of the council, normally
comprised of ward councillors from within the area. Not all councils
have these in place.
Arms Length and External Organisation (ALEO)
Some councils have created separate organisations to deliver a
wide range of services such as leisure services, economic
development and property maintenance. These are typically known
as ALEOs and take the form of companies or trusts.
Asset Management Plan/Strategy
Asset Management is about ensuring that the council’s land and
property assets are used effectively and efficiently.
Audit Scotland
The public audit body that makes sure public organisations spend
public money in Scotland properly, efficiently and effectively. They
do this by carrying out audits - that is, detailed and systematic
investigations - of various aspects of how public bodies work.
www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/about/ac
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Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
B
Best Value
The statutory process of continuous improvement set out in the
Local Government (Scotland) Act 2003.
www.improvementservice.org.uk/library/downloaddocument/3415-elected-members-briefing-note-no.-11-best-value/
C
Capital expenditure
Money spent on buildings and equipment to increase the
effectiveness of an organisation (compare with revenue
expenditure below).
Capital investment programme
A council’s investment plan for improving and maintaining its asset
base. A council’s assets include property and buildings, sports
facilities, vehicles, plant and machinery, office equipment, artwork
etc.
Care Inspectorate, The
This organisation regulates and inspects care, social work and child
protection services.
http://www.scswis.com/
Caseload management system
An electronic system designed to support an elected member in
managing their casework.
Casework
The work undertaken by an elected member in representing an
issue on behalf of a constituent, community group etc.
Chief Executive
Typically the head of paid service within the council and the most
senior officer employed by the council.
Chief Social Worker
This statutory officer provides elected members and senior officers
with effective, professional advice about the delivery of social work
services.
Christie Commission
The Commission on the Future of Public Service Delivery, otherwise
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known as the Christie Commission, was established to look at
reform within public services. It reported in June 2011. It
recommended the following:
• public service providers should work much more closely in
partnership, to integrate service provision at a local level and
thus improve the outcomes they achieve;
• individuals and communities receiving public services should be
involved in the design and delivery of the services they use;
• the whole system of public services should become more
efficient and transparent by reducing duplication and sharing
services wherever possible.
CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants)
This is the professional body for people in public finance.
www.cipfa.org.uk
Civil Contingencies Act 2004
This legislation provides a consistent and resilient approach to
emergency planning, response and recovery. It defines an
emergency as an event or situation which threatens serious
damage to human welfare, an event or situation which threatens
serious damage to the environment and war, or terrorism, which
threatens serious damage to the security of the UK. Councils are
category one responders under the Act.
Community Councils
The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 requires councils to
establish a community council scheme in their areas. The general
purpose of a community council is to ascertain, co-ordinate and
express to the local authorities for its area, and to public
authorities, the views of the community which it represents, in
relation to matters for which those authorities are responsible, and
to take such action in the interests of that community as appears to
it to be expedient and practicable. Community councils have the
right to be consulted on any planning applications in their areas
and are also kept informed about licensing applications.
Community engagement
This is the process by which councils engage with and involve their
local communities.
www.improvementservice.org.uk/library/downloaddocument/3323-elected-member-briefing-note-no.-7-communityengagement/
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Community leadership
The elected members as the voice of the community, representing
the community equally. Community leadership has three key
aspects: local democratic leadership; leadership through
partnership; and communities leading themselves.
Community Planning
This is a statutory duty placed upon councils by the Local
Government in Scotland Act 2003. The aims of community planning
in Scotland are making sure people and communities are genuinely
engaged in the decisions made on public services which affect them
and for organisations to work together, not apart, in providing
better public services.
Community Planning Partnerships
These bring together key participants, and so can act as a ‘bridge’
to link national and local outcomes better. Community planning
partnerships are responsible for prioritising and achieving local
outcomes.
Constituency MSP
A member of the Scottish Parliament who represents a
geographical ward and is elected on a first past the post basis.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Framework for
Elected Members
Developed by the Improvement Service in consultation with local
government, the CPD Framework has been designed to give elected
members feedback about their performance and to provide them
with professional and personal development opportunities. It is
based on 14 political skills underpinned by 73 behaviours.
Members’ Services will be able to advise if your council has
adopted the Framework.
Convener
The Leader of the Council or the chair of a committee.
Co-options
Process whereby additional non-voting members are invited to sit
on a council committee or sub-committee. Some, such as religious
representatives on education committees, operate on a statutory
basis.
Corporate governance
The framework of accountability to users, stakeholders and the
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wider community, within which organisations take decisions, and
lead and control their functions, to achieve their objectives.
www.improvementservice.org.uk/library/downloaddocument/3412-elected-member-briefing-note-no.-10-corporategovernance/
Corporate parenting
This is the responsibility that councils have for children and young
people who are looked after under the Children (Scotland) Act
1995. Corporate parenting is defined as the formal and local
partnerships needed between all local authority departments and
services, and associated agencies, who are responsible for working
together to meet the needs of looked after children, young people
and care leavers.
www.improvementservice.org.uk/library/downloaddocument/2902-elected-member-briefing-note-no.-2-corporateparenting/
Corporate Plan
The major plan for a council setting out the council’s key aims and
priorities covering all service areas.
COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities)
The representative organisation for Scottish local government.
www.cosla.gov.uk
COSLA Convention
COSLA’s ruling body, membership consists of 133 councillors
nominated by their authorities.
Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)
CEMR is the largest organisation of local and regional government
in Europe. Its members are national associations of local
government such as COSLA and the Local Government Association
in England, representing some 100,000 local and regional
authorities. Founded in the early 1950s, the CEMR works to
promote a united Europe that is based on local and regional self
government and democracy. It is actively engaged in influencing
European law and policy and exchanging experience at local and
regional level.
Council Tax
This is local property tax levied by a council on all residential
properties within its area.
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Councillors’ Code of Conduct
The Councillors’ Code of Conduct plays a vital role in setting out,
openly and clearly, the standards elected members must apply
when undertaking their council duties. The Code is vital to give
assurance to the public that their elected members are acting in
accordance with high ethical standards. The Code applies to every
member of a local authority in Scotland, and it is your responsibility
to make sure that you are familiar with, and that your actions
comply with, its provisions.
www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/12/10145144/12
D
Data Controller Notification
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, elected members need to
register to be a Data Controller – this involves notifying the
Information Commissioner that they hold information and records
on their constituents as part of their casework.
Data Protection Act 1998
This sets out provisions as to how councils and others can gather,
process and handle information including names, addresses,
contact details and in some cases more specific, sensitive personal
information. It also provides a right of access for individuals to their
own personal data.
Declaration of acceptance of office
The declaration which must be signed by each elected member
when they take up their position after being elected.
Delegated powers
The decision making scope of a committee, or sub-committee of
the council.
E
Education Scotland
The Scottish Government’s national development and improvement
agency for education. A key role is providing independent external
evaluations of the quality of educational provision at individual
provider, local authority and partners, and national levels.
www.educationscotland.gov.uk
Emergency Planning
Under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, councils need to consider
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2012 Councillor Induction Pack
and plan for the roles of both officers and elected members in
emergency response and recovery, and ensure that there are plans
and procedures in place to:
• inform elected members of risks and emergencies;
• ensure that the public and media receive accurate, relevant and
timely information;
• prevent duplication of effort and unnecessary workload for
officers responding to the incident;
• fulfil its health and safety responsibilities towards elected
members and staff.
Employment Rights Act (1996)
Legislation that covers the rights of citizens to time off work to
undertake public duties.
Equal opportunities
This is defined in the Scotland Act 1998 and encompasses not only
sex or marital status, race, disability and sexual orientation, but also
individuals and groups facing discrimination on the grounds of age,
language or social origin or other personal attributes including
beliefs or opinions such as religious beliefs or political opinions.
Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, The
This Act introduced a new ethical framework to Scottish public life
and organisations to ensure that high ethical standards are
maintained.
European Commission
Represents and upholds the interests of Europe as a whole. It is
independent of national governments. It drafts proposals for new
European laws, which it presents to the European Parliament and
the Council. It manages the day-to-day business of implementing
EU policies and spending EU funds. The Commission also monitors
that everyone abides by the European treaties and laws. It can act
against rule breakers, taking them to the Court of Justice if
necessary.
http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm
European Union
A family of democratic European countries, committed to working
together for peace and prosperity. It is not a State intended to
replace existing States, nor is it just an organisation for
international cooperation. The EU is, in fact, unique. Its member
states have set up common institutions to which they delegate
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Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
some of their sovereignty so that decisions on specific matters of
joint interest can be made democratically at European level.
http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
Executive/Cabinet
A decision making body established to make decisions on behalf of
the whole council on a delegated basis. It may operate in a similar
way to the Cabinet within central government.
Executive councillors
Members of a cabinet or executive within a council.
Expenses
Reasonable costs incurred by elected members in carrying out their
duties on behalf of the council, can be reclaimed on a receipted
basis.
F
Financial Regulations
The regulations that describe the arrangements the council has
made for the proper administration of its financial affairs. They deal
with accounting arrangements, financial reporting, budgets, audit,
income, insurance and other related matters.
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, The (FOISA)
This Act provides a right of access to information in order to make
public authorities more open and accountable to the people they
serve. It provides certain rights of access to all types of “recorded”
information of any age held by Scottish public authorities. It also
puts a duty on public bodies (including councils) to provide advice
and assistance to people seeking information and to produce a
publication scheme of information that they routinely publish.
Full council
The sovereign body of the council, where all elected members
meet to debate and take the key decisions of the authority.
G
General fund
The main revenue fund of a council which excludes revenue from
sources such as housing rents.
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2012 Councillor Induction Pack
Grant aided expenditure (GAE)
GAE represents a provision to spend. It is the figure that the
Scottish Government uses as an estimate for the cost of providing a
particular service and it is used as the basis for calculating the
amount of Revenue Support Grant that the Scottish Government
provides to local authorities. GAE lines are agreed by the Scottish
Government in consultation with COSLA and are set using a number
of indicators.
Group Whip
An official in a political group whose primary purpose is to ensure
party discipline.
H
Head of Paid Service (Chief Executive)
This statutory officer is the principal policy adviser and primary
manager of the council. The council is under a statutory duty to
consider reports prepared by the Head of Paid Service on the
management and deployment of staff.
Human Rights Act 1998
This is legislation that incorporates the European Convention on
Human Rights into UK domestic law. This means that a legal remedy
for an alleged breach of human rights can be sought within the
Scottish courts. Only if the courts fail to provide such a remedy
would it be necessary to consider taking the case to the European
Court of Human Rights.
I
Improvement Service, The
This organisation helps councils and their partners to improve the
health, quality of life and opportunities for all people in Scotland
through community leadership, strong local governance and the
delivery of high quality, efficient local services.
www.improvementservice.org.uk
J
Joint Boards
Joint boards are set up to run specific services across a large
geographical area covering several councils.
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L
Local Government in Scotland Act (2003)
The most recent and significant piece of legislation impacting on
local government. The Act set the framework for the
responsibilities of councils in relation to best value, leading
community planning and partnership working. It also confers
upon them the power to advance the well-being of their citizens.
Local Review Body (LRB)
Introduced in 2009, the purpose of a LRB is to review a decision
taken by officers under delegated powers on a planning
application for certain types of development. A LRB is made up of
a minimum of three elected (or appointed) members of the
planning authority. All meetings must be held in public and
documented as any other committee.
M
Members’ Services
The section or department within each council that directly
supports elected members as they carry out their responsibilities
on behalf of the council and their constituents.
Minute
This is a written record of a meeting.
Monitoring Officer
This statutory officer works with elected members to provide
guidance and support to help them fulfil their role. They advise
elected members about the legal position of proposed actions
and prepare a report for council if, at any stage, it appears that
any proposal, decision or omission by the council has given or is
likely to result in the council contravening legislation or any code
of practice.
Multi member wards
The three or four member electoral wards that are the
geographical basis of Scottish councils.
N
National Standards for Community Engagement
Launched in 2005, these Standards set out a framework of good
practice principles for community engagement.
www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/94257/0084550.pdf
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2012 Councillor Induction Pack
Non Departmental Public Bodies/Quangos (Quasi Autonomous
Non Governmental Organisations)
Bodies which have a role in the processes of the Scottish or UK
Government, but are not a Government department or part of one,
and which accordingly operate to a greater or lesser extent at arms’
length from Ministers.
Non-domestic rates
Business rates set nationally by the Scottish Government but
collected locally by councils. The money is then pooled nationally
and redistributed to councils largely on a population basis.
Non executive councillors
Those elected members not part of a cabinet or executive decision
making body within a council.
O
Organisational chart
This is a diagram representing the management structure of an
organisation, showing the responsibilities of each department, the
relationships of the departments to each other, and the hierarchy
of management.
Outcomes
Outcomes are about making changes in the quality of life and life
opportunities for citizens and communities - and about making
improvements in the supporting social, economic and
environmental conditions in which individuals and families live.
Outcomes are the result of what we do, or what we enable
communities to do for themselves, rather than descriptions of the
activities or services which are provided by public service
organisations.
www.improvementservice.org.uk/library/downloaddocument/3327-elected-member-briefing-note-no.-8-theoutcomes-challenge/
P
Performance management
Involves setting clear outcomes and priorities, developing action
plans for the delivery of outcomes, deciding how to measure
progress on outcomes, setting targets, monitoring progress against
the outcomes, acting on performance evaluations, and assessing
the impact of outcomes on both the organisation and upon its
users and citizens.
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Performance measurement
The process of quantifying the efficiency and effectiveness of
action. This involves setting performance measures and
systematically measuring progress against the measures, outcome,
targets, previous performance and other organisations.
Portfolio holder
An Elected Member who covers a particular service or topic on
behalf of a cabinet or executive body within the council, similar to a
minister within central government.
Power to advance well being
Power granted to councils under the Local Government in Scotland
Act 2003, which allows them to do anything that they think
appropriate to promote or improve the well-being of their area
and/or persons in it. Such action is likely to be concerned with
economic, social, health or environmental matters.
Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme Check
The purpose of the PVG scheme, established by the Scottish
Government, is to help ensure that those who have regular contact
with children and protected adults through paid and unpaid work
do not have a known history of harmful behaviour.
Public Standards Commissioner for Scotland (PSC)
An independent officeholder who is dedicated to the provision of
high ethical standards in public life in Scotland. The PSC can
investigate written complaints about elected members, members
of devolved public bodies and MSPs who are alleged to have
contravened their Code of Conduct.
www.publicstandardscommissioner.org.uk
R
Regional list MSP
A member of the Scottish Parliament who is elected from a regional
list on the additional member system and who covers a region of
Scotland.
Regional Transport Partnerships
The seven Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) are effectively
Joint Boards of local authorities for transport planning and
transport integration purposes with two-thirds of their members
drawn from local authority elected members and the remaining
one-third appointed regional transport representatives.
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Registered Social Landlords (RSLs)
These are independent housing organisations registered with the
Scottish Housing Regulator under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.
Regulatory committees
These committees are tasked with carrying out various legal
procedures to regulate activities in the council’s area. The Licensing
Committee will, for example, decide on issues such as the licensing
of taxis, street trading and late hours catering. The Licensing Board
deals with applications for pub and hotel licences and applications
for regular and timed extensions, as well as music venue licences.
Resources
Money, human resources, property and assets used to deliver
services.
Revenue expenditure
Money spent on the day-to-day running costs of an organisation
e.g. salaries. (Compare with capital expenditure above).
Risk management
This is the ongoing process of identifying risks, evaluating their
probability and potential consequences and determining the most
effective methods of controlling them or responding to them. The
key roles of elected members are to oversee the effective
management of risks by council officers and to get involved in the
identification of high level strategic risks facing the council. The
council should have a corporate risk register in place, as well as
service risk registers.
S
Scheme of Delegation/Scheme of Administration
In some councils these are separate documents and in others the
Scheme of Delegation and Administration are combined. The
Scheme of Delegation itemises the functions which the council has
asked the Chief Executive, Directors, Heads of Service and other
statutory officers to undertake on its behalf, and the conditions with
which they must comply when doing so. The Scheme of
Administration provides the framework and guidance for, and the
powers given to, Committees and Sub-Committees.
Scottish Government
The devolved government for Scotland is responsible for most of
the issues of day-to-day concern to the people of Scotland,
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Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
including health, education, justice, rural affairs, and transport.
The Scottish Government is accountable to the Scottish
Parliament.
www.scotland.gov.uk
Scottish Housing Regulator
SHR regulates registered social landlords and the landlord and
homelessness services of local authorities.
www.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk
Scottish Information Commissioner
The person responsible for enforcing and promoting Scotland’s
freedom of information laws, namely the Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002, The Environmental Information
(Scotland) Regulations 2004, the INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations
2009.
www.itspublicknowledge.info/home/
ScottishInformationCommissioner.asp
Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee (SLARC)
An advisory Non-Departmental Public Body set up in 2005. Its
purpose is to advise Scottish Ministers on the payment by local
authorities of remuneration (including pensions), allowances and
the reimbursement of expenses incurred by local authority
councillors in accordance with criteria specified by Scottish
Ministers from time to time.
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/
governance/SLARC
Scottish Members’ Services Development Network (SMSDN)
A membership network made up of elected members’ support
services staff in Scottish councils.
Scottish Parliament
The devolved body that sits as the Parliament of Scotland and is
governed by the terms of the Scotland Act (1998).
www.scottish.parliament.uk
Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO)
SPSO is appointed by the Queen on the nomination of the
Scottish Parliament, and has an office and staff to help in the
discharge of the relevant duties. SPSO is an impartial,
independent and free service that investigates complaints about
most organisations providing public services in Scotland,
including councils, registered social landlords, the National
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2012 Councillor Induction Pack
Health Service, the Scottish Executive and its agencies and
departments, colleges and universities and most Scottish public
authorities.
www.improvementservice.org.uk/library/downloaddocument/3257-elected-member-briefing-note-no.-4-scottishpublic-services-ombudsman/
Scottish Water
A publicly owned utility, answerable through the Scottish
Parliament to the people of Scotland. It provides water and waste
water services to the majority of households in Scotland. Scottish
Water also provides significant services to the majority of Scottish
businesses and commercial interests. Scottish local authorities liaise
with Scottish Water principally with regard to development
planning and environmental health issues.
www.scottishwater.co.uk
Scrutiny
The role of scrutiny is to:
• hold local decision-makers to account for the decisions they
make;
• consider, comment on and challenge the performance and
delivery of services;
• identify and investigate areas of service delivery which appear
to be problematic;
• identify options for improving services;
• help the council and partners respond to the changes in policy;
• listening to local people’s views.
Scrutiny panel/committee
A formal committee established within a council which has opted to
operate through a cabinet or executive form of decision making
that oversees both proactively and retrospectively the decisions of
the cabinet or executive.
Secretary of State for Scotland
Member of the UK Government who sits in the UK Cabinet with
responsibility for the Scotland Office and the non devolved aspects
of the constitution.
Section 95 officer
Also known as the Chief Financial Officer, this officer’s task is to
monitor all the financial affairs of the council. They have the power
to stop the council from spending money if they think it is unlawful.
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Self-evaluation
This is the process whereby an organisation, service or partnership
considers its performance against its outcomes within a structured
framework. Undergoing a self-evaluation process will allow people
within the organisation, service or partnership to identify its
strengths and areas for improvement.
Single Outcome Agreement (SOA)
SOAs were introduced in the Concordat between COSLA and the
Scottish Government in November 2007 which resulted in the
removal of almost all ring fencing of local government expenditure.
The SOA is the means by which Community Planning Partnerships
agree their strategic priorities for their local area and express those
priorities as outcomes to be delivered by the partners, either
individually or jointly, while showing how those outcomes should
contribute to the Scottish Government’s relevant National
Outcomes.
Single Transferable Vote (STV)
The electoral system used to elect councillors in Scotland. A system
of proportional representation that allows voters to vote for
individual candidates (as opposed to party lists) in order of
preference. Voters rank the candidates in order of preference. First
preference votes are the first to be counted and candidates
exceeding a threshold are returned. As the count proceeds, second
and later preferences are considered with votes being transferred
from candidates who have been elected or who have been
eliminated from the process.
SOLACE
Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, the professional
association representing Chief Executives and Senior Officers within
local government.
www.solacescotland.org.uk
Standards Commission for Scotland
The organisation that oversees the Code of Conduct and issues
guidance on how to follow the Code’s rules. The Commission deals
with complaints of misconduct against individual elected members.
www.standardscommissionscotland.org.uk
Standing Orders/Rules of Business
The rules governing the running of the council and its decision
making processes. Some councils refer to these as Standing Orders
whilst others call them Rules of Business.
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2012 Councillor Induction Pack
Statutory officers
Statutory officers are members of council staff who have specific
responsibilities set out in legislation. Councils are required by law
to designate a senior manager as Head of Paid Service, Monitoring
Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Social Work Officer.
www.improvementservice.org.uk/library/downloaddocument/3473-elected-member-briefing-note-no.-12-the-roles-ofstatutory-officers/
Strategic Planning
The setting and agreement of the longer term direction of the
council. It is an area in which elected members must be influential.
It will typically be a process that culminates in the production and
publication of a strategic/corporate plan that includes detailed
outcomes and accountabilities, which link to the council area’s
Single Outcome Agreement and also provide a framework for the
development of more detailed service plans, for example, at
departmental level.
Subsidiarity
A principle written into the Treaties of the European Union that
states that decisions within the European Union should be taken at
the closest practical level to the citizen. As a primary example, the
European Union, therefore, should not take on tasks, which are
better suited to national, regional or local administrations.
However, the principle can be and is applied to national and
regional government too.
Surgeries
Opportunities for private meetings without prior appointment
between an elected member and individual constituents, to discuss
their problems or concerns with the council and other issues.
Generally an elected member will designate times and places for
surgeries and these will be publicised locally.
Sustainable development
Commonly defined as being development which secures a balance
of social, economic and environmental well-being in the impact of
activities and decisions; and which seeks to meet the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.
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T
Third sector
The third sector comprises social enterprises, voluntary
organisations, community organisations and volunteering. At a local
level, the relationship between local government and the third
sector is extremely important given the role of the third sector in
Community Planning Partnerships and developing Single Outcome
Agreements.
Third Sector Interfaces
Each local authority area in Scotland has a Third Sector Interface to
support, promote, develop and represent the third sector. The
Interface is a vital connection between the Community Planning
Partnerships and the third sector. The interfaces bring together four
key local infrastructure functions:
• support to voluntary organisations operating in the area, both
local and those national organisations that deliver services at
the local level;
• support to and promotion of volunteering;
• support and development of social enterprise;
• connection between the Community Planning Partnership and
the third sector.
U
UK Information Commissioner’s Office (UK ICO)
This is the UK’s independent public authority set up to uphold
information rights. In Scotland, the UK ICO is responsible for
enforcing and promoting the Data Protection Act 1998. There is a
regional office in Edinburgh.
www.ico.gov.uk/about_us/our_organisation/introduction.aspx
UK Parliament
The sovereign Parliament for the United Kingdom, sometimes
referred to as the Westminster Parliament.
www.parliament.uk
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3. Acronyms
In your role as an elected member, you may come across some of
the following acronyms in reports, briefing notes, guidance
materials or meetings. This list is by no means exhaustive. Your
council may also have a list of local acronyms and what they
mean. If you come across an acronym that is not in this list,
please speak to Members’ Services who will be able to assist.
Term
Summary
ALEO
Arms Length and External Organisation
AMP
Asset Management Plan
AOCB/AOB
Any Other Council Business/Any Other Business
ASCC
Association of Scottish Community Councils
BC
Building Control
BCOMM
Boundary Commission for Scotland
BLF
Big Lottery Fund
BMW
Biodegradable Municipal Waste
BPEO
Best Practical Environmental Option
BPR
Business Process Reengineering
BTS
Below Tolerable Standard
BV
Best Value
CA
Citizen Account
CAB
Citizens Advice Bureau
CAMHS
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
CARIS
Childcare and Recreation Information Service
CDS
Community Dental Services
CE
Chief Executive
CHI
Community Health Index
Choose Life
A national strategy and action plan to prevent
suicide in Scotland
CHP
Community Health Partnership
CHR
Common Housing Register
CIPFA
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and
Accountancy
CMT
Corporate Management Team
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Term
Summary
COSLA
Confederation of Scottish Local Authorities
CPD
Continuous Professional Development
CPI
Consumer Price Index
CPP
Community Planning Partnership
CRM
Customer Relationship Management
CRO
Community Reparation Orders
CSE
Customer Service Excellence Standard
CT
Council Tax
CTB
Council Tax Benefit
DART
Development of Active Regions and Sustainable
Tourism
DC
Development Control
DD
Direct Debit
DDA
Disability Discrimination Act
DMS
Dynamic Message Signs
DMT
Departmental Management Team
DofE
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
DPA
Data Protection Act
DRT
Demand Responsive Transport
DSA
Driving Standards Agency
DSE
Display Screen Equipment
DSM
Devolved School Management
DTTO
Drug Treatment and Testing Orders
DVLA
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
DWP
Department of Work and Pensions
eCare
eCare is the name given to the Scottish
Government’s multi-agency information sharing
framework, the aim of which is to deliver better
and more joined up care, advice and assistance
to the people of Scotland through the use of
computers and communication technology.
ECJ
European Court of Justice
E-GIF
UK Government Information Framework
EH
Environmental Health
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2012 Councillor Induction Pack
Term
Summary
EHRC
Equalities and Human Rights Commission
EIA
Equality Impact Assessment
EIF
European Interoperability Framework
EIS
The Educational Institute of Scotland
ENABLE
Scotland
Organisation in Scotland for people with
learning disabilities
EO
Equal Opportunity
ERP
Enterprise Resource Planning
ESD
Electronic Service Delivery
ESF
European Social Fund
EU
European Union
Eurobin
Trade waste container
FAQ
Frequently Asked Question
FOI
Freedom of Information
FRI terms
Full Repairing and Insuring
FTE
Full Time Equivalent
GDP
Gross Domestic Product
GIRFEC
Getting It Right for Every Child and Young
Person
GIS
Geographic Information Systems
GMB
Trade Union
GPS
Global Positioning Satellite
GRO
General Register Office for Scotland
GTCS
General Teaching Council for Scotland
H&S
Health and Safety
HB
Housing Benefit
HMOs
Houses in Multiple Occupation
HO Guide
Housing Options Guide
HR
Human Resources
HSE
Health and Safety Executive
IA
Intellectual Assets: brands, know-how, trade
secrets and technical information
ICT
Information and Communications Technology
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Term
Summary
IEG
Implementing Electronic Government
IiP
Investors in People
INTERREG
Comprises a series of programmes which
promote trans-national solutions to problems
of regional development. Projects must involve
working with partners in other EC countries.
INTERREGDART
Development of Active Regions and Sustainable
Tourism
IP
Intellectual Property: patents and trademarks
protected by statute law
IS
Improvement Service
ISMS
Intensive Support and Monitoring Services
IT
Information Technology
ITM
Invitation to Negotiate
JP
Justice of the Peace
JPAC
Justices of the Peace Advisory Committee
KPI
Key Performance Indicator
KSI
Killed or Seriously Injured casualties
LA
Local Authority
LEC
Local Enterprise Company
LHS
Local Housing Strategy
LRB
Local Review Body
MP
Member of Parliament
MSRP
The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
MSP
Member of Scottish Parliament
MSW
Municipal Solid Waste
NDPB
Non-Departmental Public Body
Neighbour
Notification
Any person who submits a Planning Application
may be required to notify neighbouring owners
and occupiers whose properties bound the
proposed site
NFUS
National Farmers Union Scotland
NLPG
National Land and Property Gazetteer
NOPES
New Opportunities for PE and Sport
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2012 Councillor Induction Pack
Term
Summary
OD
Organisational Development
OFT
Office of Fair Trading
OJEU
Office Journal of the European Union
ORR
Office of Rail Regulation
OSIAF
Openscotland Information Age Framework
PAN
Planning Advice Note
PASS
Proof of Age Standards Scheme
PFI
Private Finance Initiative
PIDS
Passenger Information Display System
PM
Performance Management
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
PPP
Public Private Partnership
PRINCE2
Projects in Controlled Environments
PRN
Primary Route Network
PRS
Private Rented Sector
PSIF
Public Service Improvement Framework
PSV
Passenger Service Vehicle
PSYBT
Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust
Puffin
Crossing
Similar to a Pelican Crossing but is capable of
detecting when a pedestrian is crossing and can
extend the crossing time.
QA
Quality Assurance
RA
Risk Assessment
RCAHMS
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical
Monuments of Scotland
REHIS
Royal Environmental Health Institute of
Scotland
RIPSA
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Scotland Act
ROI
Return on Investment
ROS
Registers of Scotland
RoSPA
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
RRP
The Recommended Retail Price
RSG
Revenue Support Grant
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Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
Term
Summary
RSL
Registered Social Landlord
SAAS
Student Awards Agency for Scotland
SABSM
Scottish Association of Building Standards
Managers
SAO
Supervised Attendance Orders
SCoD
Scottish Council on Deafness
SCOOT
Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique
SCRIM
Sideways Coefficient Routine Investigation
Machine
SCVO
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
SEN
Special Educational Needs as defined within
1980 Education Act (Scotland)
SEPA
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
SFHA
Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
SG
Scottish Government
SME
Small and Medium Enterprises
SST
Scottish Secure Tenancy
Short SST
Short Scottish Secure Tenancy
SIMD
Scottish Index of Multiple Occupation
SLA
Service Level Agreement
SLAED
Scottish Local Authority Economic Development
Group
SNH
Scottish Natural Heritage
SNS
Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics
SOA
Single Outcome Agreement
SOCITM
Society of IT Managers
SOLACE
Society of Local Authority Chief Executives
SPI
Statutory Performance Indicator
SPIN
Society of Public Information Networks
SPSO
Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
SQA
Scottish Qualifications Authority
SRSC
Scottish Road Safety Campaign
SSA
Single Shared Assessment
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2012 Councillor Induction Pack
Term
Summary
SSPCA
Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals
SSSC
Scottish Social Services Council
SSSI
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
STUC
Scottish Trades Union Congress
STV
Single Transferable Vote
SVG
Scalable Vector Graphics
SVQ
Scottish Vocational Qualification
SYP
Scottish Youth Parliament
TBC
To be confirmed
TOR
Terms of Reference
TPO
Tree Preservation Order
TRO
Traffic Regulation Order
TS
Trading Standards
TUPE
Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of
Employment
UCRN
Unique Customer/Citizen Reference Number
UNISON
Trade Union
UNITE
Trade Union
VDU
Visual Display Unit
VfM
Value for Money
VMS
Variable Message Signs
WASCOT
Waste Aware Scotland
WEEE
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Directive
WG
Working Group
WRAP
Waste and Resources Recycling Action
Programme
WTR
Working Time Regulations
Young Scot
Scottish youth information for 12-26 year olds
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Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
4. Key web links
A. Useful organisations
Accounts Commission
www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/about/ac/
Audit Scotland
www.audit-scotland.gov.uk
Care Inspectorate, The
www.scswis.com
Centre for Public Scrutiny (England and Wales)
www.cfps.org.uk/home/index.php
Whilst targeted at England and Wales, some of the information
may be useful to Scottish elected members.
COSLA
www.cosla.gov.uk
Education Scotland
www.educationscotland.gov.uk
Improvement Service
www.improvementservice.org.uk
Information Commissioner (UK)
www.ico.gov.uk
Local Government Association (England and Wales)
www.local.gov.uk
Whilst targeted at England and Wales, some of the information
may be useful to Scottish elected members.
Local Government Improvement and Development (England
and Wales)
www.idea.gov.uk
Whilst targeted at England and Wales, some of the information
may be useful to Scottish elected members.
New Local Government Network (England and Wales)
www.nlgn.org.uk/public/
Whilst targeted at England and Wales, some of the information
may be useful to Scottish elected members.
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2012 Councillor Induction Pack
Public Standards Commissioner for Scotland
www.publicstandardscommissioner.org.uk
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
www.scvo.org.uk
Scottish Government
www.scotland.gov.uk
Scottish Housing Regulator
www.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk
Scottish Information Commissioner
www.itspublicknowledge.info
Scottish Parliament
www.scottish.parliament.uk/home.htm
Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
www.spso.org.uk
SOLACE Scotland
www.solacescotland.org.uk
Standards Commission for Scotland
www.standardscommissionscotland.org.uk
UK Government
www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm
UK Information Commissioner’s Office
www.ico.gov.uk
UK Parliament
www.parliament.uk
B. Useful Information
Briefing Notes on topical issues
www.improvementservice.org.uk/library/589-elected-membersdevelopment/625-briefings-and-guidance/view-category/
The IS has a range of Elected Member Briefing Notes and
guidance materials that can be accessed free.
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Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
Councillors’ Code of Conduct
www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/12/10145144/0
This sets out, openly and clearly, the standards elected members
must apply when undertaking their council duties.
Freedom of Information
www.itspublicknowledge.info/home/SICResources/
ElectedRepresentatives.asp
The Scottish Information Commissioner has published a series of
fact sheets to provide tailored support for elected members,
setting out how rights and obligations under FOISA apply to
elected members, and providing advice on best practice.
Legislation
www.legislation.gov.uk
You can access UK legislation from this website.
www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/610.
aspx
This provides details of current Bills going through the Scottish
Parliament.
www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/29732.
aspx
This provides details of all Bills introduced in the Scottish
Parliament.
Local authorities
www.improvementservice.org.uk/list-of-scottish-councils
This provides you with a link to all 32 Scottish local authority
websites.
Ward information
www.sns.gov.uk
This provides you with a range of information at ward level such
as data on health, educational achievement, poverty,
unemployment, housing, crime and population.
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2012 Councillor Induction Pack
5. References
1. ‘Elected Member Briefing Note No. 12: The Roles of Statutory Officers’, 2011, Improvement
Service and Audit Scotland. www.improvementservice.org.uk/library/downloaddocument/3473-elected-member-briefing-note-no.-12-the-roles-of-statutory-officers/
2. ‘Elected Member Briefing Note No. 10: Corporate Governance’, 2011, Improvement
Service and CIPFA. www.improvementservice.org.uk/library/download-document/3412elected-member-briefing-note-no.-10-corporate-governance/
3. Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics. www.sns.gov.uk
4. ‘Elected Member Briefing Note No. 4: Scottish Public Services Ombudsman’, 2010,
Improvement Service. www.improvementservice.org.uk/library/downloaddocument/3257-elected-member-briefing-note-no.-4-scottish-public-servicesombudsman/
5. ‘Elected Member Briefing Note No. 11: Best Value’, 2011, Improvement Service and Audit
Scotland. www.improvementservice.org.uk/library/download-document/3415-electedmembers-briefing-note-no.-11-best-value/
6. ‘The Councillor’s Code of Conduct, 3rd edition’, 2010, Scottish Government. www.scotland.
gov.uk/Publications/2010/12/10145144/0
7. ‘The Councillors’ Code of Conduct, 3rd edition: Section 4 - Registration of Interests’, 2010,
Scottish Government. www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/12/10145144/5
8. ‘The Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 3rd edition: Section 3 - General Conduct’, 2010, Scottish
Government. www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/12/10145144/4
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Notebook 9: Useful information and FAQs
47
Westerton House, Westerton Road
East Mains industrial Estate
Broxburn
EH52 5AU
Tel: 01506 775558
Fax: 01506 775566
Email: [email protected]
www.improvementservice.org.uk
The Improvement Service is devoted to improving the efficiency, quality and accountability
of public services in Scotland through learning and sharing information and experiences.
Feb 2012