Agenda item

This regular report was presented to Members to set out progress to date and proposals for the future of Member Development to enable elected Members to perform effectively in their roles and to develop to meet future challenges as well as help achieve the Council’s aims and strategic objectives.

A flexible approach to the delivery of learning and development was to be adopted wherever possible to include on-line development for both generic and bespoke topics. Statistics were to be produced to monitor participation and completion of courses. Evaluations were to be carried out to help define future development objectives. Training sessions were to be open to all elected and lay Members and levels of attendance at all training events were to be shared with group leaders.

A number of additional training needs were identified which were to be considered for a possible inclusion into the existing training program. The areas mentioned were understanding of the local government procurement process, regeneration and economic development, training on overview and scrutiny, media and social media training and presentation skills. It was proposed that some joint training could be arranged together with the LCC Members to make the training more cost effective.

In relation to the overview and scrutiny management training, a Member recommended contacting the LCC’s Scrutineer of the Year award winner. The Member also enquired whether a skills and hobby audit would be useful to carry out to uncover any hidden skills and talents for use within the Council context.

In responding, Officers advised that a similar survey had been done in the past but the take up was very limited and the amount of time could not be justified at the time but this could be re-looked at under the Political Governance section of the report.

Members felt that this could be more valuable in 2019 at the start of the term.

An annual survey of competence being in place was mentioned by Members however Officers outlined the limitations and obstacles this could result in.

In relation to section 5 - Overall Management and Monitoring of the Plan, Members enquired how this report helped Members fulfil all the obligations, in particular, in relation to items 6 and 9. The Monitoring Officer proposed to test this against the outcomes next year.

In relation to section 5 point 9, Members raised a query in relation to how it could be ensured that Members benefited from the training querying a possibility of an assessment to indicate whether the Members learnt anything from the experience.

It was clarified that the Members attendance at training was monitored and a report was produced showing numbers but not names of attendees.

The chairman stated that he would like to see the list of training attended.

Members commented that the recent training was of a higher standard than previously.

In relation to the proposed competence testing of Members, Officers felt that the quality of training could be seen and judged from the robustness of the questions Members asked and from their effective decision-making.

It was also mentioned that the online training modules were now developed and ready for testing and some quantitative data would be recorded as part of this training.

Independent members raised a point that it appeared that sometimes people who needed the training most did not attend and vice versa and commented that there appeared to be a lack of sanctions for non-attendance. The issue of how the training is ‘sold’ to Members was raised as it was felt that sometimes admitting that Members needed training was seen as a bad thing and it needed to be clearly pointed out to Members how the training would benefit them to encourage attendance.

Officers explained that Member training was a matter of group conduct and there was little Officers could do accept where training was mandatory to enable Members to sit on relevant committees.

RESOLVED that:

(a)          the previously agreed Development Plan be noted;

(b)          the development undertaken in the previous year be noted;

(c)          the development programmed for the coming year be noted;

(d)          the progress and implementation be reviewed on an annual basis;

(e)the list of suggested training areas be further considered for inclusion within the plan.