Issue - meetings

Members gave consideration to the Member Development Annual Report 2021/22 which reviewed Member Development activity for the past 12 months and set out relevant actions for the remainder of the year and into the Civic Year 2023/24, with the primary focus being the all Member Induction. 

Key points highlighted to the Committee included, the continued trend of increased attendance at development sessions, with attendance being consistently over 30%, with some sessions as high as 55% attendance, attributed to the prevalence of virtual sessions, with Members content to travel to in-person sessions when necessary.  Members also noted the wide variety of sessions offered over the 12 month period, with a combination of external training providers and Officer-led sessions.

The use of external providers would be a focus for the arrangements for the Full Induction Programme following the success of those sessions both at the 2019 Induction and in the intervening years.

The Learning Pool roll-out continued to be an ongoing action, with Officers having recognised areas of improvement for how to manage this following the 2023 elections.   It was still intended to launch the system during the current election cycle with communications anticipated in coming weeks and offers of individual support, if required.

Finally, Members were advised preparation for the Member Induction Programme, following all-out elections in May 2023 had begun. The programme in 2019 was a success, with positive feedback from Councillors and Officers alike. Where there had been suggested improvements, or requests over intervening years for additional sessions, these had been incorporated into the proposals for 2023. A table detailing the suggested improvements was detailed at section 3.2 of the report.

In the ensuing debate numerous suggestions were made regarding the need to balance virtual learning, with face to face learning, to accommodate different learning styles and to consider alternative venues, whilst also acknowledging the need to reduce emissions and travelling.

In responding, assurance was offered that the organisation had recognised that relationship building and setting the right environment for learning was really important, over the course of the next   four years  there would be virtual sessions, but those first induction sessions, those first times Members met Officers that would primarily be held in person due to the importance of relationship building at the outset.   Different formats were considered for each session, and a one size fits all approach was not being adopted, if appropriate alternative venues could be considered, but this did have additional cost and available equipment implications.

The Committee felt it important that seasoned Councillors attended the induction sessions noting the invaluable information they held.  The notion of buddying was championed and had been in place for the 2019 in-take and Members suggested it should be again. 

A process by which to assess the quality of on-line training, going forward was suggested as a future topic for the Member Development Group.

In response to comments regarding attendance levels and Councillors’ commitment to training, Members were reminded that there was no statutory power to mandate Councillors  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28