Monitoring Officer and Director support <\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nCouncillors can also expect support, training and advice where required from the Monitoring Officer (the statutory officer responsible for the legal governance of a local authority) and other members of the Senior and Extended Leadership Team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officer support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Officers in the Council are also available to provide advice and answer questions within the services areas and a councillor who has a Cabinet position<\/a>, can expect support from officers within the relevant service area to which their portfolio relates.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCouncillor (also referred to as a Member) Development Steering Group<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Council has a dedicated Member Development Steering Group<\/a>, where councillors discuss and set the future direction of support and training.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCouncillor briefings<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nRegular briefings on important areas are provided to councillors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Councillor networking events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To ensure councillors have the best opportunity to network with each other, develop skills and access up to date information we have a number of events throughout the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
IT support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Each councillor will be provided with a laptop or device running Microsoft Office 365. Councillors will be provided with basic training and IT assistance. It is expected that councillors use their device for Council business as most work is carried out electronically using Microsoft Office 365 applications, including Microsoft Teams and Outlook etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External communications support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Council\u2019s Communications Team encourages councillors to actively engage with their constituents and offers support and training in several areas: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Social media training: Providing guidance on effective social media use. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Media story updates: Keeping councillors informed about relevant media stories in their division and helping them contribute quotes. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Media enquiry assistance: Offering support with handling media enquiries. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Specialised media training: Supporting councillors with additional responsibilities, such as roles in the Cabinet, Committees, or Boards, through targeted media training. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Members\u2019 Bulletin: Keeping councillors updated on news and information through a Members\u2019 Bulletin, which also includes updates on training and development. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Council covers councillors\u2019 legal liability in respect of any claims that may be made against them as a result of carrying out their duties. We also provide a personal accident policy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Employee Assistance Programme<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nVivup’s Employee Assistance Programme is available to councillors. This programme offers confidential support for a variety of life challenges, both big and small, with a telephone helpline available 24\/7, 365 days a year. Qualified counsellors provide impartial advice for issues that may arise at work or home. The programme also includes resources such as debt and financial advice, self-help workbooks, podcasts, blogs, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Employee benefits platform (Vivup)<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nCouncillors have access to the Council\u2019s benefits platform, which includes over 1,000 national and local discounts on supermarkets, days out, cinema tickets and much more (note: electric car leasing is not currently available to councillors). Additionally, Councillors can access the Cycle to Work scheme through a salary sacrifice arrangement to save on the cost of bikes (including electric) and accessories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Council supports councillors taking or requesting maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave. Details of entitlement can be found in section 7a of the Constitution.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nExpenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Councillors are entitled to expenses, such as travel for their approved Council duties, in addition to their basic annual \/ additional responsibility allowances<\/a>. Details are set out in the Councillors\u2019 (also referred to as Members) Allowances Scheme, in Section 7 of the Constitution.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nCarers and childcare allowance<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nCouncillors who care for someone else are entitled to a carers allowance for their Council duties. Details are set out in the Councillors’ (also referred to as Members) Allowances Scheme in section 7 of the Constitution.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nSupport with intimidation and abuse<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nBeing a councillor can be incredibly rewarding, but it does come with its share of challenges. Unfortunately, councillors at times can face harassment, abuse or other unacceptable behaviour both online and in person. This can be stressful and discouraging, impacting personal safety and well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can seek support from Democratic Services and the Monitoring Officer, who can guide you through the process of reporting such behaviour. Additional assistance is also available through your political groups and parties. The Local Government Association (LGA) offers extensive advice, including a Guide to Handling Intimidation.<\/a> This guide provides steps for individuals in public positions to protect themselves and outlines how to respond if an incident occurs. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe LGA have also worked closely with other organisations to coordinate a programme of work called \u2018Civility in public life\u2019<\/a>, parts of which are aimed at supporting councillors in addressing intimidation and abuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Council has also adopted the LGA motion on the Debate not Hate campaign.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nAdditional training and support<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Local Government Association (LGA) and cross-party democracy organisations also provide development opportunities for prospective and new councillors, including support for disabled people, women, people from ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ and young councillors. Here are some links to just a few:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- LGA E-learning<\/a> for new and existing councillors. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Councillor hub.<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Improving access to local government elected office for disabled people<\/a> guide. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Disability Policy Centre<\/a> \u2013 breaking down barriers for disabled people in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Elect Her<\/a> – supporting women to stand for political office. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 50:50 Parliament<\/a> \u2013 help women progress in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Operation Black Vote<\/a> \u2013 encouraging Black communities to engage in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Councillor development events<\/a> for people from ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ and young councillors. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- My Life My Say<\/a> \u2013 encouraging young people in democracy. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shout Out UK<\/a> \u2013 impartial political and media training. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Next steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Still have questions? Join one of our free information sessions online or in person, download our printable information guide or, if you\u2019re ready to take the next step, learn more about the nomination process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"information](\"https:\/\/beta.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2024\/09\/image-56-1.svg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nJoin an information<\/a>
session<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"information](\"https:\/\/beta.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2024\/09\/image-59-2.svg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nPrint an information
guide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"information](\"https:\/\/beta.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2024\/09\/image-58-1.svg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThe nomination<\/a>
process<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Continuous councillor development is essential in ensuring that all councillors have the support and skills they need to perform their duties to the people of Devon, and that they can develop new skills in line with the ongoing changes and challenges in local government. Devon County Council is committed to being a learning organisation, providing…<\/p>\n ><\/span>","protected":false},"author":748,"featured_media":0,"parent":10164,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-10207","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-16 20:18:45","action":"Draft","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/748"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10207"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11390,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207\/revisions\/11390"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Councillor (also referred to as a Member) Development Steering Group<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Council has a dedicated Member Development Steering Group<\/a>, where councillors discuss and set the future direction of support and training.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCouncillor briefings<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nRegular briefings on important areas are provided to councillors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Councillor networking events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To ensure councillors have the best opportunity to network with each other, develop skills and access up to date information we have a number of events throughout the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
IT support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Each councillor will be provided with a laptop or device running Microsoft Office 365. Councillors will be provided with basic training and IT assistance. It is expected that councillors use their device for Council business as most work is carried out electronically using Microsoft Office 365 applications, including Microsoft Teams and Outlook etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External communications support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Council\u2019s Communications Team encourages councillors to actively engage with their constituents and offers support and training in several areas: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Social media training: Providing guidance on effective social media use. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Media story updates: Keeping councillors informed about relevant media stories in their division and helping them contribute quotes. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Media enquiry assistance: Offering support with handling media enquiries. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Specialised media training: Supporting councillors with additional responsibilities, such as roles in the Cabinet, Committees, or Boards, through targeted media training. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Members\u2019 Bulletin: Keeping councillors updated on news and information through a Members\u2019 Bulletin, which also includes updates on training and development. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Council covers councillors\u2019 legal liability in respect of any claims that may be made against them as a result of carrying out their duties. We also provide a personal accident policy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Employee Assistance Programme<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nVivup’s Employee Assistance Programme is available to councillors. This programme offers confidential support for a variety of life challenges, both big and small, with a telephone helpline available 24\/7, 365 days a year. Qualified counsellors provide impartial advice for issues that may arise at work or home. The programme also includes resources such as debt and financial advice, self-help workbooks, podcasts, blogs, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Employee benefits platform (Vivup)<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nCouncillors have access to the Council\u2019s benefits platform, which includes over 1,000 national and local discounts on supermarkets, days out, cinema tickets and much more (note: electric car leasing is not currently available to councillors). Additionally, Councillors can access the Cycle to Work scheme through a salary sacrifice arrangement to save on the cost of bikes (including electric) and accessories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Council supports councillors taking or requesting maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave. Details of entitlement can be found in section 7a of the Constitution.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nExpenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Councillors are entitled to expenses, such as travel for their approved Council duties, in addition to their basic annual \/ additional responsibility allowances<\/a>. Details are set out in the Councillors\u2019 (also referred to as Members) Allowances Scheme, in Section 7 of the Constitution.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nCarers and childcare allowance<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nCouncillors who care for someone else are entitled to a carers allowance for their Council duties. Details are set out in the Councillors’ (also referred to as Members) Allowances Scheme in section 7 of the Constitution.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nSupport with intimidation and abuse<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nBeing a councillor can be incredibly rewarding, but it does come with its share of challenges. Unfortunately, councillors at times can face harassment, abuse or other unacceptable behaviour both online and in person. This can be stressful and discouraging, impacting personal safety and well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can seek support from Democratic Services and the Monitoring Officer, who can guide you through the process of reporting such behaviour. Additional assistance is also available through your political groups and parties. The Local Government Association (LGA) offers extensive advice, including a Guide to Handling Intimidation.<\/a> This guide provides steps for individuals in public positions to protect themselves and outlines how to respond if an incident occurs. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe LGA have also worked closely with other organisations to coordinate a programme of work called \u2018Civility in public life\u2019<\/a>, parts of which are aimed at supporting councillors in addressing intimidation and abuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Council has also adopted the LGA motion on the Debate not Hate campaign.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nAdditional training and support<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Local Government Association (LGA) and cross-party democracy organisations also provide development opportunities for prospective and new councillors, including support for disabled people, women, people from ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ and young councillors. Here are some links to just a few:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- LGA E-learning<\/a> for new and existing councillors. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Councillor hub.<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Improving access to local government elected office for disabled people<\/a> guide. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Disability Policy Centre<\/a> \u2013 breaking down barriers for disabled people in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Elect Her<\/a> – supporting women to stand for political office. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 50:50 Parliament<\/a> \u2013 help women progress in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Operation Black Vote<\/a> \u2013 encouraging Black communities to engage in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Councillor development events<\/a> for people from ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ and young councillors. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- My Life My Say<\/a> \u2013 encouraging young people in democracy. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shout Out UK<\/a> \u2013 impartial political and media training. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Next steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Still have questions? Join one of our free information sessions online or in person, download our printable information guide or, if you\u2019re ready to take the next step, learn more about the nomination process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nJoin an information<\/a>
session<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nPrint an information
guide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThe nomination<\/a>
process<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Continuous councillor development is essential in ensuring that all councillors have the support and skills they need to perform their duties to the people of Devon, and that they can develop new skills in line with the ongoing changes and challenges in local government. Devon County Council is committed to being a learning organisation, providing…<\/p>\n ><\/span>","protected":false},"author":748,"featured_media":0,"parent":10164,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-10207","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-16 20:18:45","action":"Draft","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/748"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10207"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11390,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207\/revisions\/11390"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Councillor briefings<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nRegular briefings on important areas are provided to councillors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Councillor networking events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To ensure councillors have the best opportunity to network with each other, develop skills and access up to date information we have a number of events throughout the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
IT support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Each councillor will be provided with a laptop or device running Microsoft Office 365. Councillors will be provided with basic training and IT assistance. It is expected that councillors use their device for Council business as most work is carried out electronically using Microsoft Office 365 applications, including Microsoft Teams and Outlook etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External communications support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Council\u2019s Communications Team encourages councillors to actively engage with their constituents and offers support and training in several areas: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Social media training: Providing guidance on effective social media use. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Media story updates: Keeping councillors informed about relevant media stories in their division and helping them contribute quotes. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Media enquiry assistance: Offering support with handling media enquiries. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Specialised media training: Supporting councillors with additional responsibilities, such as roles in the Cabinet, Committees, or Boards, through targeted media training. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Members\u2019 Bulletin: Keeping councillors updated on news and information through a Members\u2019 Bulletin, which also includes updates on training and development. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Council covers councillors\u2019 legal liability in respect of any claims that may be made against them as a result of carrying out their duties. We also provide a personal accident policy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Employee Assistance Programme<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nVivup’s Employee Assistance Programme is available to councillors. This programme offers confidential support for a variety of life challenges, both big and small, with a telephone helpline available 24\/7, 365 days a year. Qualified counsellors provide impartial advice for issues that may arise at work or home. The programme also includes resources such as debt and financial advice, self-help workbooks, podcasts, blogs, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Employee benefits platform (Vivup)<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nCouncillors have access to the Council\u2019s benefits platform, which includes over 1,000 national and local discounts on supermarkets, days out, cinema tickets and much more (note: electric car leasing is not currently available to councillors). Additionally, Councillors can access the Cycle to Work scheme through a salary sacrifice arrangement to save on the cost of bikes (including electric) and accessories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Council supports councillors taking or requesting maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave. Details of entitlement can be found in section 7a of the Constitution.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nExpenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Councillors are entitled to expenses, such as travel for their approved Council duties, in addition to their basic annual \/ additional responsibility allowances<\/a>. Details are set out in the Councillors\u2019 (also referred to as Members) Allowances Scheme, in Section 7 of the Constitution.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nCarers and childcare allowance<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nCouncillors who care for someone else are entitled to a carers allowance for their Council duties. Details are set out in the Councillors’ (also referred to as Members) Allowances Scheme in section 7 of the Constitution.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nSupport with intimidation and abuse<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nBeing a councillor can be incredibly rewarding, but it does come with its share of challenges. Unfortunately, councillors at times can face harassment, abuse or other unacceptable behaviour both online and in person. This can be stressful and discouraging, impacting personal safety and well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can seek support from Democratic Services and the Monitoring Officer, who can guide you through the process of reporting such behaviour. Additional assistance is also available through your political groups and parties. The Local Government Association (LGA) offers extensive advice, including a Guide to Handling Intimidation.<\/a> This guide provides steps for individuals in public positions to protect themselves and outlines how to respond if an incident occurs. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe LGA have also worked closely with other organisations to coordinate a programme of work called \u2018Civility in public life\u2019<\/a>, parts of which are aimed at supporting councillors in addressing intimidation and abuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Council has also adopted the LGA motion on the Debate not Hate campaign.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nAdditional training and support<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Local Government Association (LGA) and cross-party democracy organisations also provide development opportunities for prospective and new councillors, including support for disabled people, women, people from ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ and young councillors. Here are some links to just a few:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- LGA E-learning<\/a> for new and existing councillors. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Councillor hub.<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Improving access to local government elected office for disabled people<\/a> guide. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Disability Policy Centre<\/a> \u2013 breaking down barriers for disabled people in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Elect Her<\/a> – supporting women to stand for political office. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 50:50 Parliament<\/a> \u2013 help women progress in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Operation Black Vote<\/a> \u2013 encouraging Black communities to engage in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Councillor development events<\/a> for people from ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ and young councillors. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- My Life My Say<\/a> \u2013 encouraging young people in democracy. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shout Out UK<\/a> \u2013 impartial political and media training. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Next steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Still have questions? Join one of our free information sessions online or in person, download our printable information guide or, if you\u2019re ready to take the next step, learn more about the nomination process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nJoin an information<\/a>
session<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nPrint an information
guide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThe nomination<\/a>
process<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Continuous councillor development is essential in ensuring that all councillors have the support and skills they need to perform their duties to the people of Devon, and that they can develop new skills in line with the ongoing changes and challenges in local government. Devon County Council is committed to being a learning organisation, providing…<\/p>\n ><\/span>","protected":false},"author":748,"featured_media":0,"parent":10164,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-10207","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-16 20:18:45","action":"Draft","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/748"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10207"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11390,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207\/revisions\/11390"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Council covers councillors\u2019 legal liability in respect of any claims that may be made against them as a result of carrying out their duties. We also provide a personal accident policy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Employee Assistance Programme<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nVivup’s Employee Assistance Programme is available to councillors. This programme offers confidential support for a variety of life challenges, both big and small, with a telephone helpline available 24\/7, 365 days a year. Qualified counsellors provide impartial advice for issues that may arise at work or home. The programme also includes resources such as debt and financial advice, self-help workbooks, podcasts, blogs, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Employee benefits platform (Vivup)<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nCouncillors have access to the Council\u2019s benefits platform, which includes over 1,000 national and local discounts on supermarkets, days out, cinema tickets and much more (note: electric car leasing is not currently available to councillors). Additionally, Councillors can access the Cycle to Work scheme through a salary sacrifice arrangement to save on the cost of bikes (including electric) and accessories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Council supports councillors taking or requesting maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave. Details of entitlement can be found in section 7a of the Constitution.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nExpenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Councillors are entitled to expenses, such as travel for their approved Council duties, in addition to their basic annual \/ additional responsibility allowances<\/a>. Details are set out in the Councillors\u2019 (also referred to as Members) Allowances Scheme, in Section 7 of the Constitution.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nCarers and childcare allowance<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nCouncillors who care for someone else are entitled to a carers allowance for their Council duties. Details are set out in the Councillors’ (also referred to as Members) Allowances Scheme in section 7 of the Constitution.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nSupport with intimidation and abuse<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nBeing a councillor can be incredibly rewarding, but it does come with its share of challenges. Unfortunately, councillors at times can face harassment, abuse or other unacceptable behaviour both online and in person. This can be stressful and discouraging, impacting personal safety and well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can seek support from Democratic Services and the Monitoring Officer, who can guide you through the process of reporting such behaviour. Additional assistance is also available through your political groups and parties. The Local Government Association (LGA) offers extensive advice, including a Guide to Handling Intimidation.<\/a> This guide provides steps for individuals in public positions to protect themselves and outlines how to respond if an incident occurs. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe LGA have also worked closely with other organisations to coordinate a programme of work called \u2018Civility in public life\u2019<\/a>, parts of which are aimed at supporting councillors in addressing intimidation and abuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Council has also adopted the LGA motion on the Debate not Hate campaign.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nAdditional training and support<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Local Government Association (LGA) and cross-party democracy organisations also provide development opportunities for prospective and new councillors, including support for disabled people, women, people from ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ and young councillors. Here are some links to just a few:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- LGA E-learning<\/a> for new and existing councillors. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Councillor hub.<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Improving access to local government elected office for disabled people<\/a> guide. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Disability Policy Centre<\/a> \u2013 breaking down barriers for disabled people in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Elect Her<\/a> – supporting women to stand for political office. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 50:50 Parliament<\/a> \u2013 help women progress in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Operation Black Vote<\/a> \u2013 encouraging Black communities to engage in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Councillor development events<\/a> for people from ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ and young councillors. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- My Life My Say<\/a> \u2013 encouraging young people in democracy. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shout Out UK<\/a> \u2013 impartial political and media training. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Next steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Still have questions? Join one of our free information sessions online or in person, download our printable information guide or, if you\u2019re ready to take the next step, learn more about the nomination process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nJoin an information<\/a>
session<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nPrint an information
guide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThe nomination<\/a>
process<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Continuous councillor development is essential in ensuring that all councillors have the support and skills they need to perform their duties to the people of Devon, and that they can develop new skills in line with the ongoing changes and challenges in local government. Devon County Council is committed to being a learning organisation, providing…<\/p>\n ><\/span>","protected":false},"author":748,"featured_media":0,"parent":10164,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-10207","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-16 20:18:45","action":"Draft","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/748"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10207"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11390,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207\/revisions\/11390"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Councillors have access to the Council\u2019s benefits platform, which includes over 1,000 national and local discounts on supermarkets, days out, cinema tickets and much more (note: electric car leasing is not currently available to councillors). Additionally, Councillors can access the Cycle to Work scheme through a salary sacrifice arrangement to save on the cost of bikes (including electric) and accessories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Council supports councillors taking or requesting maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave. Details of entitlement can be found in section 7a of the Constitution.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nExpenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Councillors are entitled to expenses, such as travel for their approved Council duties, in addition to their basic annual \/ additional responsibility allowances<\/a>. Details are set out in the Councillors\u2019 (also referred to as Members) Allowances Scheme, in Section 7 of the Constitution.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nCarers and childcare allowance<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nCouncillors who care for someone else are entitled to a carers allowance for their Council duties. Details are set out in the Councillors’ (also referred to as Members) Allowances Scheme in section 7 of the Constitution.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nSupport with intimidation and abuse<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nBeing a councillor can be incredibly rewarding, but it does come with its share of challenges. Unfortunately, councillors at times can face harassment, abuse or other unacceptable behaviour both online and in person. This can be stressful and discouraging, impacting personal safety and well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can seek support from Democratic Services and the Monitoring Officer, who can guide you through the process of reporting such behaviour. Additional assistance is also available through your political groups and parties. The Local Government Association (LGA) offers extensive advice, including a Guide to Handling Intimidation.<\/a> This guide provides steps for individuals in public positions to protect themselves and outlines how to respond if an incident occurs. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe LGA have also worked closely with other organisations to coordinate a programme of work called \u2018Civility in public life\u2019<\/a>, parts of which are aimed at supporting councillors in addressing intimidation and abuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Council has also adopted the LGA motion on the Debate not Hate campaign.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nAdditional training and support<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Local Government Association (LGA) and cross-party democracy organisations also provide development opportunities for prospective and new councillors, including support for disabled people, women, people from ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ and young councillors. Here are some links to just a few:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- LGA E-learning<\/a> for new and existing councillors. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Councillor hub.<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Improving access to local government elected office for disabled people<\/a> guide. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Disability Policy Centre<\/a> \u2013 breaking down barriers for disabled people in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Elect Her<\/a> – supporting women to stand for political office. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 50:50 Parliament<\/a> \u2013 help women progress in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Operation Black Vote<\/a> \u2013 encouraging Black communities to engage in politics. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- LGA Councillor development events<\/a> for people from ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ and young councillors. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- My Life My Say<\/a> \u2013 encouraging young people in democracy. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shout Out UK<\/a> \u2013 impartial political and media training. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Next steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Still have questions? Join one of our free information sessions online or in person, download our printable information guide or, if you\u2019re ready to take the next step, learn more about the nomination process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nJoin an information<\/a>
session<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nPrint an information
guide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThe nomination<\/a>
process<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Continuous councillor development is essential in ensuring that all councillors have the support and skills they need to perform their duties to the people of Devon, and that they can develop new skills in line with the ongoing changes and challenges in local government. Devon County Council is committed to being a learning organisation, providing…<\/p>\n ><\/span>","protected":false},"author":748,"featured_media":0,"parent":10164,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-10207","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-16 20:18:45","action":"Draft","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/748"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10207"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11390,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207\/revisions\/11390"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Expenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Councillors are entitled to expenses, such as travel for their approved Council duties, in addition to their basic annual \/ additional responsibility allowances<\/a>. Details are set out in the Councillors\u2019 (also referred to as Members) Allowances Scheme, in Section 7 of the Constitution.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Councillors who care for someone else are entitled to a carers allowance for their Council duties. Details are set out in the Councillors’ (also referred to as Members) Allowances Scheme in section 7 of the Constitution.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Being a councillor can be incredibly rewarding, but it does come with its share of challenges. Unfortunately, councillors at times can face harassment, abuse or other unacceptable behaviour both online and in person. This can be stressful and discouraging, impacting personal safety and well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can seek support from Democratic Services and the Monitoring Officer, who can guide you through the process of reporting such behaviour. Additional assistance is also available through your political groups and parties. The Local Government Association (LGA) offers extensive advice, including a Guide to Handling Intimidation.<\/a> This guide provides steps for individuals in public positions to protect themselves and outlines how to respond if an incident occurs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The LGA have also worked closely with other organisations to coordinate a programme of work called \u2018Civility in public life\u2019<\/a>, parts of which are aimed at supporting councillors in addressing intimidation and abuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Council has also adopted the LGA motion on the Debate not Hate campaign.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Local Government Association (LGA) and cross-party democracy organisations also provide development opportunities for prospective and new councillors, including support for disabled people, women, people from ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ and young councillors. Here are some links to just a few:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still have questions? Join one of our free information sessions online or in person, download our printable information guide or, if you\u2019re ready to take the next step, learn more about the nomination process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Join an information<\/a> Print an information The nomination<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Continuous councillor development is essential in ensuring that all councillors have the support and skills they need to perform their duties to the people of Devon, and that they can develop new skills in line with the ongoing changes and challenges in local government. Devon County Council is committed to being a learning organisation, providing…<\/p>\n ><\/span>","protected":false},"author":748,"featured_media":0,"parent":10164,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-10207","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-16 20:18:45","action":"Draft","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/748"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10207"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11390,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10207\/revisions\/11390"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/democracy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Carers and childcare allowance<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Support with intimidation and abuse<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Additional training and support<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Next steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
session<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
guide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
process<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n