Issue - meetings

To agree how we will use the “spare dates” for Full Council in the Schedule of Meetings to brief and train Councillors.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the proposed content for inclusion on the Councillor Development Plan which was appended to the report be approved; and

(b)       That the Democratic Services Manager circulates a draft Development Plan 2023 which includes the additional topics suggested during the meeting.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the report to agree how to use the “reserved dates” for full Council (as listed in section 1.03 of the report), if not required by the Council for a meeting, to deliver targeted developmental sessions for Members.  He provided background information and referred to the main points as detailed in the report.

The Chair asked that training on Planning be provided for non-Committee members as soon as possible.  Councillor Andrew Parkhurst asked that training on  Section 106 Agreements also be included. The Democratic Services Manager agreed to contact the Chief Officer (Planning, Environment and Economy) to progress the request.

Councillor Alasdair Ibbotson asked what were the resource implications for current training to be provided by external bodies.  The Democratic Services Manager explained that at present there were no external courses which required funding. 

Councillor Carolyn Preece commented on the suggestion of training on rights and responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and more broadly the Social Model of Disability, and proposed that training on the Equality and Diversity Act 2020 also be included.  She also suggested that training on Data Protection and Safeguarding be added to the training programme. 

In response to further questions and comments the Democratic Services Manager provided an update on the training provided on Safeguarding and Corporate Parenting.

Councillor Paul Johnson spoke in support of the courses provided by the WLGA which gave an overview of how other local authorities operated.  He also suggested that training on maintaining a Healthy Work/Life Balance be included on the training programme.

Councillor Gina Maddison asked that advice/training be provided on the ethical use of Social Media.  The Democratic Services Manager advised that this would be included in the training on Communications which was currently being developed for Members. 

It was agreed that the Democratic Services Manager would circulate a draft Development Plan 2023 which included the suggested additional topics put forward during the meeting.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the proposed content for inclusion on the Councillor Development Plan which was appended to the report be approved; and

(b)       That the Democratic Services Manager circulates a draft Development Plan 2023 which includes the additional topics suggested during the meeting.