1. Aim
The sounding board, known as The Link, is a group of Argyll and Bute Council employees who volunteer their time above and beyond their job role to meet up to 5 times per year. The purpose of the group is to help colleagues from across the council plan, create and develop ideas, whether that be in developing proposals or plans, related to any aspect of council life. It is also to provide insights and opinions on key topics that help shape how we deliver what’s needed.
The name The Link is in recognition of the fact that a breadth of individuals are brought together from all areas of the council to share their experiences and opinions on diverse topics for the overall improvement of how we work.
The aim of The Link is to further improve how we work by creating a new opportunity for employees to receive objective feedback on their projects and also give employees the opportunity to be part of a pan-council group through membership of the sounding board. It is aligned to our core values and commitment to making sure Argyll and Bute Council is the place to have a great career.
The aim of the sounding board will be achieved by providing a neutral, objective and breadth of voices that can help support idea generation, projects and plans from across all services.
2. Membership
The Link’s membership aims to achieve broad representation from across the council in terms of location and roles. The full group should include people from each service, different levels of management, roles and experience of working for Argyll and Bute Council. This is to ensure that a wide range of views and experience is available to discuss agreed topics.
Membership of the group will not exceed 15 and will include representation from all services, including non-network employees.
3. Remit
The sounding board does not have any official role within the council’s internal review or approval process. Instead, it sits external to the traditional structure as a neutral place in which to receive objective, non-binding and non-expert opinions and insights from a diverse group of employees.
4. General principles for Operation
- The group is the responsibility of the communications team, within Corporate Support Services, and is chaired by a member of the communications team.
- Overall ownership of the sounding board initiative sits with the Connect for Success management group, chaired by CEX Pippa Milnes.
- The agenda is agreed by the Connect for Success group, based on recommendations made by the Connect for Success project officer.
- Any relevant papers, or information related to the sounding board topic for discussion will be shared by the chair with the sounding board group 2 weeks prior to the agreed meeting date.
- If a member can’t attend a meeting they are welcome to give their views on the topic for discussion to the chair by phone or email in advance or after the meeting.
- Any member who misses two or more meetings could forfeit their membership, this is to encourage active participation and give someone else the opportunity to join if necessary.
- The Link Terms of Reference will be reviewed after 1 year of operation.