Governance Lawyer – Braintree District Council
Location: Braintree, Essex
Salary: £48,945 to £53,082 per annum pro rata
Job Type: Full time, permanent
Closing date: Midnight on Thursday 9 October
Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Braintree Council to recruit this Governance Lawyer. To apply for this role please visit the Braintree Council careers page. The closing date is as above.
The Opportunity: We have an exciting opportunity for a Governance Lawyer to join our team. The main purpose of the role is to support the Monitoring Officer and wider team in maintaining good governance so that the Council’s responsibilities are effectively managed and decisions are made lawfully, clearly and transparently. You will provide expert and legal advice to Members and Officers at all levels, lead on the preparation of decision reports to Cabinet/Council and key committees, and support the development of governance processes and training to ensure compliance with legal practice and the Council’s Constitution. You will also act as a Deputy Monitoring Officer and assist the Monitoring Officer in the discharge of their duties.
About you:
* You are a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX member.
* You have significant experience advising Members and Officers on governance arrangements, with a detailed understanding of public law, local government law, governance and constitutional issues.
* You have excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to analyse complex information and present advice, reports and accounts clearly to diverse audiences.
* You are resilient, tenacious, and can think strategically to meet changing priorities and tight deadlines.
Accountabilities:
* Manage and maintain systems of good governance to ensure lawful, clear and transparent decision-making in accordance with the Council’s constitution.
* Provide expert advice on behalf of the Monitoring Officer to Members and Officers in discharge of statutory functions.
* Lead on providing legal advice in response to queries from officers or councillors, and draft legal comments on reports to Cabinet, Cabinet Members, Council Committees and Chief Officers.
* Develop and deliver training and processes to support compliance and governance.
* Devise and implement new or updated methods, forms and processes in response to legislation, policy changes or guidance.
* Lead in producing reporting packs for key meetings (Full Council and Cabinet) and ensure quality output and engagement from report authors.
* Support the Monitoring Officer in managing Code of Conduct complaints and liaise with the Council’s Independent Person when appropriate.
* Provide guidance to team members to manage the scrutiny process.
* Maintain a decision and actions log from Council and Cabinet meetings and track progress to timely completion.
* Attend Council meetings as required to provide legal and governance advice.
* Participate in the strategic management of the Governance and Legal department.
* This role is eligible for appointment as a Deputy Monitoring Officer.
Why choose Braintree District Council?
Braintree District Council is an ambitious authority with a vision to create a great place for residents and businesses. The Council aims to ensure residents live in healthy, resilient communities with high-quality homes and infrastructure. The area is growing, with good transport links and a strong reputation within the business community. We offer an engaged workforce and a range of benefits, including:
* Flexible working
* Free parking
* Local government pension scheme
* Learning and development for all staff
* Staff recognition schemes
* Extensive health and wellbeing programme including discounted gym membership
What next?
If this role sounds like the right fit, please apply online via the Governance Lawyer page on the Braintree Council site. Closing date for receipt of applications: Midnight on Thursday 9 October.
Please Note: Essex County Council is advertising this role on behalf of Braintree District Council and successful applicants will be employed by Braintree District Council.
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