Agenda item

Member Training Plan

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance, (copy enclosed).

Minutes:

The Council considered the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance seeking confirmation of an annual training plan for Members.

 

It was noted that the recent Corporate Governance Audit had recommended that a formal Member training and development plan be identified.  The report outlined work that had been undertaken to progress this, including a proposed training plan which was attached at Appendix A to the report.  The training plan identified a number of items of training which Members were asked to consider as mandatory training.

 

The Chairman moved the recommendations as set out in the report and this was duly seconded.

 

A debate ensued, during which a number of Members commented and supported a Member training plan and the benefit of using external providers for some training was highlighted.

 

Councillor R H Siddall proposed that:

 

·                 Immediate training was provided for Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen to enable the new administration period to commence.  That before the training commenced, training objectives will be specified to attendees.

 

·                 For all other modules, a detailed training plan be presented to the Strategy and Resources Committee.  For each module, a course description is provided to Members with training objectives and outcomes clearly specified.

 

·                 That for Planning training and Overview and Scrutiny, where appropriate external providers are sought to provide independent expertise.

 

The proposal was discussed and in response to comments made Councillor Siddall amended his proposal requesting that the detailed training plan be presented to the Council and not the Strategy and Resources Committee.  During the discussion the use of outside trainers was supported by some Members and other subject areas were highlighted, these included Standards and the Code of Conduct.  It was noted that the Local Government Association also offered some beneficial training for Members.

 

The Leader of the Council then proposed that the amended motion put forward by Councillor Siddall be agreed.  This proposal was duly seconded.

 

Following discussion regarding Standards training, it was agreed that where appropriate this should be delivered by external providers and the proposal was amended accordingly.

 

The Chairman then put the recommendations as set out in the report with the addition of those proposed by the Leader of the Council.  These were duly agreed, by assent.

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)              That the Member Training plan (attached as Appendix A to the report) be adopted;

 

(ii)            that those courses specifically highlighted as mandatory be approved, and where these requirements are not met / training is not attended, note that the Member will not be able to sit on Committees and Working Groups;

 

(iii)          That immediate training is provided for Chairman and Vice Chairman to enable the new administrative period to commence and before the training commences, training objectives will be specified to attendees;

 

(iv)           That for all other modules, a detailed training plan is presented to the Council and for each module, a course description is provided to Members with training objectives and outcomes clearly specified;

 

(v)             That for Standards and the mandatory Planning and Overview and Scrutiny training, where appropriate external providers are sought to provide independent expertise.

Supporting documents: