Issue - meetings

That the Committee helps to identify the individual and collective training and development needs of its members.

That the Committee then helps to design a programme for the delivery of training and development to meet the identified needs.

(a)       That training be provided across future meetings to cover elements of the Members’ Code of Conduct: Flintshire standard and differences locally from the national model, together with an overview of the principles of national justice;

(b)       That information on the Code of Conduct training and guidance given to church and parent governor representatives by Education & Youth be shared to give the Committee assurance; and

(c)       That the Monitoring Officer write to town and community councils to seek views on (i) a consistent approach for the visits and (ii) reasons for the lack of attendance at training sessions.  The responses to be reported back to a future meeting.

The Monitoring Officer presented a report to consider the training and development needs of members of the Committee, some of whom had joined during the current municipal year.

Mrs. Julia Hughes requested training on the Members’ Code of Conduct.  She referred to the remit of the Committee and asked how members could be assured of the training given to church and parent governor representatives on upholding the standards.  The Monitoring Officer would seek confirmation on this support which was provided by the Education & Youth portfolio.  Mrs. Hughes suggested that the Committee consider details of training programmes and attendance levels, particularly given the concerns about training attendance statistics of town and community council representatives.  She made reference to the practice in Denbighshire Council for independent members of the Standards Committee to attend town and community council meetings on a rotational basis.  This was promoted as a support mechanism to observe and report back the findings to the Committee, and to highlight the work of both parties.

Mr. Rob Dewey spoke in support of adopting similar arrangements in Flintshire, as did Councillor Paul Johnson who said that training would be required to enable Committee members to undertake this role.

Councillor Arnold Woolley suggested that town and community councils be consulted first.  He said that the reasons for lack of attendance at training sessions should be established to identify a way forward.

Following discussion, the Monitoring Officer agreed to write to town and community councils to seek views on (i) a consistent approach for the visits and (ii) possible reasons for the lack of attendance at training sessions.  The responses would be reported back to a future meeting.

In respect of the Members’ Code of Conduct, the Monitoring Officer explained that training on various aspects could be split across different meetings, including the Flintshire standard and differences locally from the national model.

It was agreed that training on the Council’s Indemnity Scheme would be best provided at a time when it was most needed, due to the low number of hearings.  The Monitoring Officer suggested a training session to provide an overview of the principles of national justice.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That training be provided across future meetings to cover elements of the Members’ Code of Conduct: Flintshire standard and differences locally from the national model, together with an overview of the principles of national justice;

(b)       That information on the Code of Conduct training and guidance given to church and parent governor representatives by Education & Youth be shared to give the Committee assurance; and

(c)       That the Monitoring Officer write to town and community councils to seek views on (i) a consistent approach for the visits and (ii) reasons for the lack of attendance at training sessions.  The responses to be reported back to a future meeting.