Future Local Lab
Local Government Explained
Effective scrutiny depends on knowing the right questions to ask, active listening and the ability to follow the answer wherever it leads. This session will help you develop all those skills to ensure the best results from your scrutiny work.
Key outcomes
- Be able to distinguish between poor practice and good practice questions.
- Strengthen your active listening skills to get more from every question you ask.
- Know how to avoid common questioning mistakes.
In this session, we will cover:
- Preparing for a scrutiny meeting
- Types of questions and how to use them.
- How to avoid common questioning mistakes
- The importance of active listening.
Who should attend
This session is ideal for councillors who play a part in scrutinising council decisions. It is an essential programme for members who are new to scrutiny, as well as those wanting to build on existing experience.
Trainer
Miranda Smythe
LGIU Trainer
Miranda Smythe has 30 years of experience helping organisations (mainly local governments) identify learning gaps and develop tailored, creative strategies to address their goals. Miranda is also involved in local community development activities and provides mental health awareness sessions for many not-for-profit organisations. She is chair of a local homelessness charity and has been instrumental in developing and facilitating community leadership initiatives in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
