Issue - meetings

To inform the Committee of the ethical training sessions to be delivered as part of the induction programme for Councillors after the elections.

That the Committee is invited to comment on the ethical component of the Member Induction Programme held after the elections, included in Appendices 1 and 2.

            In presenting the report the Monitoring Officer outlined the key themes for the training sessions which had been appropriate behaviours and understanding of the Code.   The first part of the Induction Programme was delivered within the first two weeks and focused on behaviours.  The current sessions included declaration of interests, dispensations, gifts and hospitality with detailed training on this provided to the political groups.   Referring to Town and Community Councillors the Monitoring Officer confirmed that three sessions had taken place with 43% of the Town and Community Councillors attending so far.  Extra sessions were being held in the Autumn to capture those councillors who were co-opted during the summer.  This was mandatory training and recordings were being made available for those unable to attend the planned sessions.

            David Davies asked what the repercussions were for Town & Community Councillors who did not attend any of the Code of Conduct Sessions.   In response the Monitoring Officer confirmed their risk of breaching the Code increased together with the risk of a complaint against them, which could lead to disqualification.  He was unsure what the Ombudsman’s opinion on this would be but confirmed that he would be asked to confirm if the councillor had attended a training session on the Code.

            Referring to County Councillors that Chair commented that there was a requirement for Group Leaders to ensure their members undertook this training.  The Monitoring Officer confirmed that was correct and that all Group Leaders had agreed for himself and the Deputy Monitoring Officer to attend their meetings to provide this training.

            Councillor Antony Wren commented that he found the training very useful even if an information overload.  When asked where the sessions were stored, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that links to the training sessions would be available on the Members’ Page which was being developed on the Infonet.  He agreed to find out when that would be made available for Members.  The Chair asked if this could be fed back to the next meeting.

            The Chair referred to the Constitution Code with 58 out of 67 Members having already attended the training and asked how the remaining 9 would be approached as the training was mandatory.  The Monitoring Officer confirmed that all but one of the new Members had attended the training on interests and that in addition to himself and the Deputy Monitoring Officer attending group meetings the recordings would also be made available for Members.  In response to a question regarding newly elected councillors, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that following a by election any newly elected councillors would have a face-to-face meeting with him, and training would be given then.

The recommendation in the report was moved by David Davies and seconded by Councillor Andrew Parkhurst.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee is invited to comment on the ethical component of the Member Induction Programme held after the elections, included in Appendices 1 and 2.