Hello Governance Team.

Again, congratulations on taking the election programme close to the finishing line.

The EACC Members Board met yesterday evening to discuss the election results. I understand you have planned for Saturday 26 April an in-person 'induction' event, offered to two persons per community council, with two online sessions (offered to all) then scheduled for 28 and 29 April. While 39 community councils have taken shape, the election outturn is not an especially strong one, albeit better than feared on 26 February, one day before the nomination closing date. Recognising that, we would respectfully offer the following observations:

1] It is absolutely important that the new community councils get off to a well-supported and inspiring start. A live, collegiate, 'get to know one another', introductory event is the way to go. But you need more than one event to overcome the 'two representatives per community council' bar. The Members Board asks you to make provision for two additional live meetings so that as many community councillors as possible can hear and feel a positive, uplifting story to the undertakings they are about to assume.

2] EACC has a part to play in that story. It is an integral part of the build-out of the community empowerment and engagement initiative, led by CEC Andrew Field and his team. Accordingly, the Members Board requests a participatory role for EACC in the scheduled induction events alongside Governance, to be in the position to add further perspective to community council work at this time and to point to EACC as an important networking facility for all community councillors.

3] With that in mind, I would ask you to offer at your earliest convenience an advance notice of the intended shape of the induction events - what is being covered by whom and which Ward councillors will be in attendance. EACC would wish some 'air time' over the course of the proceedings.

4] A community councillor's role is a formal one, within a legislative framework. You are aware, nevertheless, that the bureaucratic 'formalities' to be observed in community council procedures are a source of exasperation to many participants. While these have to be recognised, they must not dominate the tone or mood of the induction events. Be very careful not to suck the energy from the new community councils at the very outset. Quite a number are thinly-staffed, at or close to quorate level. Let's not have community councillors come away from the induction meetings with the dominant feeling being that they have bought in to an administrative quagmire on reporting and on engaging co-opted assistance. It wouldn't take many people to walk away to put their community councils under real pressure right at the start of term.

After a number of difficult years, there is the opportunity to set community councils off on a stronger footing. EACC earnestly wishes to work with all CEC divisions to that end. EACC asks to play a part at these induction events to further that intention. We look forward to hearing from you.

On behalf of the Members Board

Ken Robertson, EACC Secretary.

(cc Douglas Tharby, EACC Deputy Chair)

(PS: Of the 39 CCs which have formed, 11 are at 'minumum' quorate level, or 'minimum plus one'. Can you send me the breakdown from the 2019 elections for the purpose of comparison?)