Issue - meetings

(a)               That the provisions in the statutory guidance be noted;

(b)               That the Committee recommends to Council that the Chairman of the Democratic Services Committee be appointed as Member Development Champion pursuant to the statutory guidance;

(c)               That £5K is made available from the Member training budget for purchase of external training; and

(d)               That the existing arrangements for Members receiving special responsibility allowances having annual review meetings be extended to cover all Members.

The Democracy and Governance Manager introduced a report to inform the Committee of those parts of the statutory guidance relating to the training and development of Members and the Democratic Services Committee.  He  provided background information and gave an overview of the main considerations as detailed in the report.

Councillor R.C. Bithell expressed disappointment concerning the need to address the new provision in the guidance that local authorities be encouraged to appoint a Member Development Champion.  He proposed that the Chairman of the Democratic Services Committee be appointed as Member Development Champion and this was agreed by Members.

Members were informed that when the Council was consulted on the draft statutory guidance it made no representations about the provisions dealing with the training and development of Members.  The final version of the statutory guidance contained some changes from the draft guidance and these were detailed in appendix 2 of the report.  Members were advised that the Member training budget of £13,707 was not just for purchasing external training and it was recommended to the Committee that £5k of it be made available for that purpose.     

The Democracy and Governance Manager referred to the existing  arrangements for Members in receipt of special responsibility allowances to have an annual review meeting.  He advised that the current process could be broadened to facilitate all Members having such an annual review which would comply with the requirements of the Measure and guidance subject to the liaison with the Welsh Local Government Association recommended in the guidance.  This was agreed by Members and became the resolution of the Committee.

RESOLVED:

(a)                           That the provisions in the statutory guidance be noted;

(b)                           That the Committee recommends to Council that the Chairman of the Democratic Services Committee be appointed as Member Development Champion pursuant to the statutory guidance;

(c)                           That £5K is made available from the Member training budget for purchase of external training; and

(d)                           That the existing arrangements for Members receiving special responsibility allowances having annual review meetings be extended to cover all Members.