South East Training Seminar Agenda

Local Government Reorganisation, Localism & Levelling Up: Implications & Opportunities for the Sector
Dr Carlton Brand, Retired engineer, non-exec director, coach, trustee & governor at Wiltshire College & University Centre

Dr Carlton Brand, FRSA is a retired engineer, non-exec director, coach, trustee and governor at Wiltshire College and University Centre where he leads on safeguarding.

He was Programme Director at Somerset County Council where he authored the business case for a single unitary council for Somerset, where he lives, and steered the proposal through the democratic process locally and nationally – it being approved by the Secretary of State in 2021 for implementation April 2023 without amendment.

Carlton worked as a senior manager for Ford Motor Company designing and developing cars and trucks for 22 years, working and living throughout Europe, the United States and Japan.

Looking to work in his local community, he moved into local government, first as a Corporate Director at St Edmundsbury Borough Council before moving to Wiltshire County Council leading on unitary implementation. He was Executive Director for resources and transformation; place-based services (economy, environment, planning and transport); adult social services and public health (mental health, learning disabilities, older people, reablement and safeguarding). He held the statutory posts of Head of Paid Service, Director Adult Social Services and Electoral Registration Officer & Returning Officer for all elections.

Carlton holds a BA (Hons) Business Studies, MSc Advanced Automotive Engineering, Manufacture and Management and a Doctorate in Engineering; he is a level 7 qualified executive coach and programme & project manager and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA). His biography appears in Who’s Who.

Membership Engagement and Being the Best Clerk
Naomi Bibi, SLCC Head of Member Services

Naomi Bibi will be talking about her new role as Head of Member Services. She will update you on the work that she has been doing with branches, the mentoring service, and the advisory service.

This is an interactive session and delegates are encouraged to share their thoughts on how SLCC can evolve to meet the changing needs of our members.

Reasonable Adjustments and the Parish Council
Seema Flower, Blind Ambition

In this session we will be looking at the challenges and barriers faced by disabled people aspiring to join the parish council.  Seema will discuss her journey to become a blind parish councillor, and she will share live experience of the issues faced. During the presentation Seema will give an understanding of the disability journey experienced by disabled people, and we will further look at simple steps which can be implemented to improve access and representation of disabled constituents. 

@SeemaFlower

@BlindAmbitionSp

Government Reforms of the Planning System – Clerk Essentials
Andrew Towlerton, SLCC National Advisor 

The government has embarked on ‘radical’ and ‘far-reaching’ reforms of the planning system in England which will ‘streamline’ and ‘modernise’ it. 

This session will examine the most significant developments over the last year that will have practical and strategic implications for clerks and the sector in more general.  It will cover important reforms that have already taken place as well as those in the pipeline. 

Operation London Bridge
Philip Peacock PSLCC, SLCC President 

One of the significant events to prepare for in the future, with an unknown date, is the passing of HM the Queen. Nationally, the state mourning and funeral plans have been prepared by the Earl Marshall, for a number of years and are regularly reviewed. Is your council ready for this major historic event, for which no date can be given and you will only get one chance to get it right? This session will look at the areas your council may wish to consider in making plans for Operation London Bridge.