Agenda item

Member Learning and Development

Minutes:

Mr Sam Bailey, the Democratic and Administration Services Manager, introduced his report setting out details of the learning and development activities undertaken by Members in 2017/18 and the proposed training plan for 2018/19.  The report also proposed the adoption of the Local Government Association’s Member Development Charter as the Council’s approach to Member learning and development and the involvement of the Political Group Leaders in Member learning and development to ensure strategic ownership.

 

It was noted that a wide variety of learning and development activities was carried out in 2017/18.  These ranged from formal training sessions, attendance at conferences and Member briefings.  The activities were delivered by internal and external facilitators.  Attendance at these events had been varied.  The Local Government Association had produced a Member Development Charter that set out best practice for Member development.  Authorities were able to self-assess against the framework and choose to adopt the measures set out in the framework that they deemed appropriate.  A small budget of £10,600 was available to spend on Member learning and development activities in 2018/19.

 

During the ensuing discussion reference was made to the need to take into account different styles of learning; schedule training and briefing sessions to maximise attendance; and avoid overwhelming Members with too much information without sufficient opportunity to ask questions.  It was suggested that it was a matter for Group Leaders to consider the development of their Members, but there was a role for the Democracy Committee to look through the Member Development Charter and discuss which elements of the Charter the Council should work towards.

 

The Committee accepted recommendations 1 and 2 set out in the report relating to learning and development activities undertaken in 2017/18 and planned for 2018/19.  However, recommendation 3 relating to the adoption of the Local Government Association’s Member Development Charter was not accepted as it was felt that the Charter should be used as the basis for the Council’s approach to Member learning and development.  It was suggested that a Workshop be held for Members of the Democracy Committee before the next meeting of the Committee to discuss which elements of the Member Development Charter the Council should work towards and that Members of the Committee should ensure that their respective Political Groups are briefed on the content of the Member Development Charter to enable feedback before the Workshop on the Charter.  Councillor Mrs Gooch, as the representative of the Independent Group, was asked to liaise with all of the smaller groups on this issue.  In light of the foregoing, recommendation 4 relating to the involvement of Group Leaders was deleted. 

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That the Learning and Development activities undertaken in 2017/18, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report of the Democratic and Administration Services Manager, be noted.

 

2.  That the Member Training Plan for 2018/19, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report of the Democratic and Administration Services Manager, be agreed. 

 

  Voting:  8 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

 

3.  That the Local Government Association’s Member Development Charter be used as the basis for the Council’s approach to Member Learning and Development.

 

  Voting:  8 – For  0 – Against  0 - Abstentions

 

4.  That a Workshop be held for Members of the Democracy Committee before the next meeting of the Committee to discuss which elements of the Member Development Charter the Council should work towards.

 

  Voting:  8 – For  0 – Against  0 - Abstentions

 

5.  That Members of the Committee should ensure that their respective Political Groups are briefed on the content of the Member Development Charter to enable feedback before the Workshop on the Charter, and that Councillor Mrs Gooch as the representative of the Independent Group be requested to liaise with all of the smaller groups on this issue.

 

  Voting:  8 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

 

Supporting documents: