Ten aspiring chief executives from councils across England will be visiting B&NES Council later this month to take part in the Local Government Challenge.
The challenge to identify local government’s top talent, promote best practice and highlight the breadth and variety of the challenges for top executives in local government.
Bath & North East Somerset Council was chosen to be one of five host councils and will be setting challenges to the contestants over a two-day period, on 26th – 27th January.
They will be asked to propose ideas and strategies, prepare business cases and marketing plans and develop campaigns, and then present their proposals to a panel of judges including Council Leader Cllr Paul Crossley and Chief Executive Jo Farrar.
Few details are being released in advance so contestants can be thrown into the deep end upon their arrival.
Cllr Crossley said: “We’re delighted to be the first of five councils chosen to support the LG Challenge and put the contestants through their paces.
“We look forward to welcoming the LG Challenge to Bath and North East Somerset Council as we work together to help shape the future of local government.”
“We’re sure that the tasks they face will bring out the best in them and inspire us all. As well as being a great opportunity for the contestants, it will be a chance for us to get ideas and insight from some of the best people working in local government in England.
“Last year the challenges ranged from maximising the legacy of the Tour de France Grand Depart in Leeds, to revitalising Worcester City Centre in a time of economic downturn.”
Contestants will be judged on their business acumen, creativity, problem solving and their ability to be forward thinking and inspire others.
Past host authorities have been so impressed with contestants’ ideas they continue to seek their input months after the challenge has finished.
Claire Holloway, Head of Corporate Governance at the LGA, said: “The LG Challenge is an important part of the work we do to support tomorrow’s top executives and the future of local government.
“Every year we are tremendously impressed with the calibre of the contestants, the drive and determination with which they approach the tasks thrown at them and their understanding of the challenges facing communities.”
Finalists attend the LGA’s Annual Conference, where they pitch a project plan they have developed to benefit local communities. The prize is the £10,000 Bruce-Lockhart Scholarship, to assist implementation of their project.
Lloyds Banking Group are sponsoring the challenges. Just like a television talent show, cameras will follow the contestants and there will be live-tweeting while the challenges take place.
Films of every challenge will be available on the LGA and MJ websites.
