DEMOCRACY AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE |
22 June 2022 |
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Member Training 2022/23 Discussion Paper |
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Final Decision-Maker |
Democracy and General Purposes Committee |
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Lead Director |
Chief Executive |
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Lead Officer and Report Author |
Angela Woodhouse, Head of Policy, Communications and Governance |
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Classification |
Public
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Wards affected |
N/A |
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Executive Summary |
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This report provides a summary of Member training and briefings for 2021/22 and the proposed training activities for 2022/23 for discussion and input from this Committee. |
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Purpose of Report
Decision
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This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee: |
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1. To note the approach to Member training for 2022/23 and agree any additional training to be included in the programme.
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Timetable |
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Meeting |
Date |
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Democracy and General Purposes Committee |
22 June 2022 |
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Member Training 2022/23 Discussion Paper |
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1. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS
Issue |
Implications |
Sign-off |
Impact on Corporate Priorities |
The four Strategic Plan objectives are:
· Embracing Growth and Enabling Infrastructure · Safe, Clean and Green · Homes and Communities · A Thriving Place
We do not expect the recommendations will by themselves materially affect achievement of corporate priorities. However, they will support the Council’s overall achievement of its aims as set out in the body of the report.
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Head of Policy, Communications and Governance |
Cross Cutting Objectives |
The four cross-cutting objectives are:
· Heritage is Respected · Health Inequalities are Addressed and Reduced · Deprivation and Social Mobility is Improved · Biodiversity and Environmental Sustainability is respected
The training and briefing sessions will support the achievement of the cross- cutting objectives. |
Head of Policy, Communications and Governance |
Risk Management |
Already covered in the risk section
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Head of Policy, Communications and Governance
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Financial |
The proposals set out in the recommendation are all within already approved £9k Member Training budget and so need no new funding for implementation.
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Section 151 Officer & Finance Team |
Staffing |
We will deliver the recommendations with our current staffing.
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Legal |
There are no legal implications. However, under Section 3 of the Local Government Act 1999 (as amended) the Council as a best value authority has a statutory duty to secure continuous improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. The Learning and Development Charter and this report assist in demonstrating best value and compliance with the statutory duty.
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Senior Legal Adviser – Corporate Governance. |
Privacy and Data Protection |
There are no privacy and data protection implications. |
Policy and Information Team |
Equalities |
No implications |
Policy & Information Manager |
Public Health
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No implications |
Public Health Officer |
Crime and Disorder |
No implications |
Head of Policy, Communications and Governance
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Procurement |
Any training requiring procured will follow
procurement and financial procedure rules. |
Head of Policy, Communications and Governance
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Biodiversity and Climate Change |
Training for Members on biodiversity and climate change should be considered as part of the programme.
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Biodiversity and Climate Change Officer |
2. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
2.1 The Council has in place a Member Development Charter agreed by the Democracy Committee in September 2018.
2.2 The Charter sets out the following criteria for Member Development:
· There is a clear commitment to councillor development and support
· The council has a strategic approach to councillor learning and development
· Learning and development is effective in building capacity
Training and Briefings for Members in 2021/22
2.3 42 training and briefing sessions were held for councillors in 2020-21, the majority of these sessions consisted of topic-based briefings for example briefings on the new governance arrangements, various strategies covid19 recovery and briefings from external partners including Golding Homes and Leeds Castle. The majority of Member training sessions delivered were in respect of Planning and Licensing roles, functions and responsibilities. Briefings were largely held virtually with some held face to face on a topic by topic basis.
3. AVAILABLE OPTIONS
3.1 For 2022/23 training has already been organised as follows:
· Induction for new Councillors
· Training on the new Overview and Scrutiny function with two sessions held in June on the role of Overview and Scrutiny and Scrutiny Questioning Skills.
· Media training for the Executive
· Support for the Executive Lead Members based on their portfolios through external training, conferences and internal briefings
· The role and responsibilities of a Trustee
· Chairing Training
Planning and Licensing Training will be organised by those committees respectively.
3.2 A number of briefings will be scheduled by topic throughout the year as we have previously with input from the Executive and Corporate Leadership Team to ensure Members remained informed of Council activity and Strategic Issues.
4. PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 In line with the Member Development Charter, Members are asked to put forward suggestions for training. Additional training is planned for Chairs and Vice Chairs on Chairing Skills as we have a new Governance Model in place. Training is also planned for Councillors who act as trustees as the Council has a number of charities it is involved in and/or supports, this has been identified as an area for development in the Annual Governance Statement.
4.2 In previous years training has been held on:
· Constitution and procedure rules for meetings
· Code of conduct and interests
· social media and media training
· Member rights
4.3 The Committee is asked to identify any additional training they would like to be included in this year’s programme.
5. RISK
5.1 Training and development of Members will strengthen the council’s governance arrangements and mitigate risk through ensuring effective decision making.
6. CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK
6.1 Licensing and Planning Committees will be approving their own training programmes as regulatory Committees. The purpose of this report is for Democracy and General Purposes Committee to identify any training they believe would be beneficial for Members.
7. NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION
7.1 Training as set out in section 4 has already taken place or will commence following this meeting. New suggestions put forward and agreed by this Committee will be included in the programme. If the suggestions prove to require expenditure beyond the Member Training Budget a report will be brought back to this Committee to prioritise training. In previous years the budget has been underspent.
8. REPORT APPENDICES
None
9. BACKGROUND PAPERS
None