Councils to Bid to Host National Challenge

Date: Friday 14/08/09

Local Government Challenge Invites Councils to Bid to Host One of Five Challenges!

Councils in England and Wales have been invited to design and host one of the five national challenges that will make up the first stage of the Local Government Challenge.
 
The competition, aimed at finding top council executives of the future, is designed to give staff with the drive and determination to reach the top the opportunity to demonstrate their individual and team-working skills. 10 contestants will each undertake five challenges, which must be exciting, innovative and tough and be based on local or national priorities. The five challenges will run from January to May 2010 and will reflect the range of skills expected of top executives in local government, including creative, communication and leadership skills.

They will include

- a front-line service challenge
- a policy development challenge
- a media/communications challenge
- a community engagement challenge
- an innovative challenge

Each challenge will be a one-day commitment for the council involved with the selection process being overseen by a judging panel of councillors and officers.

Cllr Margaret Eaton, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said “Hosting a challenge is a great opportunity for any council.   It can provide an opportunity to showcase innovation and talent within the workforce and promote working in local government.

“There is enormous ambition and potential in councils and this competition is a great way of identifying those individuals with the drive to make it into the top positions.”

The deadline for authorities to submit a proposal is 11 September 2009.

The final will take place at the LGA Group Annual Conference 2010 in Bournemouth with the winner receiving the first prestigious Bruce-Lockhart Scholarship.