Issue - meetings

(a)               That the observations of Members in response to feedback on Member development events be noted;

(b)               That political Group Leaders be asked to encourage all Members to attend training events;

(c)               That political Group Leaders be informed of the attendances from their group;

(d)               That feedback on Member Development Events be reported to future meetings of the Committee.

The Democracy and Governance Manager introduced a report to provide the Committee with feedback on Member development events held since the County Council elections. 

The Democracy and Governance Manager provided background information and advised that the phase 1 Member induction programme was attached to his report and detailed the events that were cancelled due to insufficient Members booking and the number of Members that attended the other events.  All Members had been invited to the phase 1 programme and Member feedback from the events was also attached to the report.  Overall feedback was good and the Committee was asked to make observations on their experience or suggestions for improvement for future events.

Councillor R.C. Bithell expressed disappointment on Members’ poor attendance at the induction events citing Corporate Parenting as a specific example.  He emphasised the importance of refresher training for existing Members and the benefit that was gained by new Members sharing the experiences of returning Members during such sessions.  Councillor V. Gay suggested that it may be helpful if political Group Leaders were provided with a record of Members’ attendance at training events.   

It was agreed that political Group Leaders be asked to encourage all Members to attend training events and be informed of the attendances from their group.   Members also agreed that feedback on Member Development Events be reported to future meetings of the Committee.

RESOLVED: 

(a)                           That the observations of Members in response to feedback on Member development events be noted;

(b)                           That political Group Leaders be asked to encourage all Members to attend training events;

(c)                           That political Group Leaders be informed of the attendances from their group;

(d)                           That feedback on Member Development Events be reported to future meetings of the Committee.