DEMOCRACY AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE |
21 June 2023 |
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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 |
Angela Woodhouse, Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance |
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Lead Officer and Report Author |
Angela Woodhouse, Director of Strategy, Insight 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 2022/23 and the proposed training activities for 2023/24 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 2023/24 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 |
21 June 2023 |
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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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Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance
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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. |
Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance
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Risk Management |
Already covered in the risk section
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Director of Strategy, Insight 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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Russell Fitzpatrick (MKLS) |
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 |
Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance
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Procurement |
Any training requiring procured will follow
procurement and financial procedure rules. |
Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance
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Biodiversity and Climate Change |
Training for Members on biodiversity and climate change has been included as part of the programme.
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Biodiversity and Climate Change Manager |
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 2022/23
2.3 20 training and briefing sessions were held for Members in 2022/23, two sessions were held for Members on Overview and Scrutiny to support Councillors taking on the scrutiny role following the change to the Council’s governance arrangements. Briefings on the new model were also held prior to its introduction. Training and briefing sessions were held face to face and/or online depending on the topic.
2.4 Planning and Licensing Committees set their own training programme that members must complete to participate on the committees. Eight sessions were held to deliver planning training as agreed and identified by the Planning Committee. Two Licensing Committee training sessions were held for members of the Committee.
2.5 A number of briefing sessions were held covering topics including:
· The Local Government Boundary Review
· Audit Governance and Standards briefing on the statement of accounts
· The Cost of Living Crisis
· Waste Collection
· Prevent Radicalism
· Councillors as Trustees
· Chairing Training
· Town Centre Strategy walk for Ward Members
3. AVAILABLE OPTIONS
3.1 For 2023/24 training has already been organised as follows:
· Induction for new Councillors
· Briefing on the new Overview and Scrutiny function and work programme
· Support for the Executive Lead Members based on their portfolios through external training, conferences and internal briefings
· The Nolan Principles
· Questioning Skills
· Preparing for a four yearly term of office and all out elections
· Carbon literacy training
Planning and Licensing Training will be organised by those committees respectively.
3.2 Several 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.
4.2 In previous years training has been held on:
· Constitution and procedure rules for meetings
· Code of conduct and interests
· Chairing skills
· 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 3 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