Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, members are invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on the Agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.  None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Member Development Steering Group on 25 November 2009.

RESOLVED:That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2009 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered their wish to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is 5pm on Monday 11 January 2010.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Chris Farquar, former Member Training & Development Officer for Calderdale Council will give a verbal briefing to Members, reflecting on his experience of achieving the Charter during his time working at Calderdale. It is hoped that he will share with the Group any lessons learned as he embarks on the Charter Journey again, this time with Bradford MDC.

Chris Farquar, former Member Training and Development Officer for Calderdale Council gave a verbal briefing to Members, reflecting on his experience of achieving the Charter during his time working for Calderdale and on the work he was undertaking as he embarked on the Charter journey again, this time with Bradford MDC.

Details were given of some of the issues involved in achieving charter status, as well as examples of development opportunities that had been offered to Members. Future plans included: more personalised learning, the development of e-learning, offering training programmes to Members from other local authorities and arranging more regional events. 

Chris was thanked for the information that he had provided and for his attendance at the meeting.

This report puts before Members a range of individual role profiles for Members which have been drafted with a view to them being formally adopted by the Council.

Consideration was given to a report that provided examples of individual role profiles for members, with a view to similar role profiles being adopted by City of York Council. 

RESOLVED:            (i)            That, subject to further consultation, the Steering Group

                                    supported the introduction of role profiles for Members.

(ii)               That, at the next meeting, draft profiles in line with those outlined in Annex B of the report, be presented for the following roles¹:

·        Ward Councillor

·        Leader of the Council

·        Deputy Leader of the Council

·        Portfolio Holder

·        Scrutiny Chair

·        Chair of quasi-judicial committee (generic profile)

·        Leader of an opposition group

(iii)             That the I&DeA skills framework be incorporated into the profiles.

REASON:            In order to comply with the requirement of the I&DeA Charter.

This report presents to members the final draft of a protocol which has been established to deal with ad-hoc requests from Members for individual training and development events or activities outside of the Annual Core Programme and Personal Development Reviews.

Consideration was given to a report that presented the final draft of a protocol, which had been established to deal with ad-hoc requests from Members for individual training and development events or activities outside of the Annual Core Programme and Personal Development Reviews. 

The draft protocol had been circulated to directorates for comment, along with a comprehensive list of conferences.  Comments that had been received from Directors were tabled for consideration.  Members noted the concerns that had been raised regarding the financial contribution that Directorates would be required to make if the protocol were to be adopted, and the difficulties that may arise when conference themes were cross-directorate.  In light of these potential complications, it was suggested that the implementation of the protocol be monitored for the first year. 

RESOLVED:            (i)            That the Steering Group recommend to the Standards

                                    Committee that the draft protocol be adopted¹.

(ii)               That the implementation of the protocol be monitored for a year, with an initial review taking place after six months².

(iii)             That, at the next meeting, details be provided of attendances at conference³.

REASON:      In order to provide a structured approach towards dealing with ad hoc requests for attendance at conferences.

This report sets out the position to date regarding expenditure against the Member Training and Development budget and seeks Members views on increasing the available budget for 2010/11.

Members considered a report that set out the position to date regarding expenditure against the Member Training and Development budget and sought Members’ views on increasing the available budget for 2010/11.

Officers drew attention to the table showing a comparison of neighbouring local authority spend on member development. They explained that, because of the way in which authorities structured their budgets, exact comparisons were difficult.  Members were asked to consider whether they wished to suggest to the Standards Committee that the Member Training and Development budget be increased or retained at its current level.

Members noted the cost implications of using external trainers and of attendances at London based conferences. They agreed that in some circumstances these costs were unavoidable.  Nevertheless they would wish to see such expenditure incurred only after other options had been explored.

RESOLVED:            (i)            That the report be noted.

(ii)               That it be recommended that the Member Training and Development Budget remain at its current level of £10k.

(iii)That it be recommended that the use of external trainers and attendances at London based conferences and events be closely monitored in order to rationalise spending to the Member Development Budget.

REASONS:            (i)            To ensure that the Council can deliver effective Member

Development opportunities to Members within the scope of the budget.

(ii)To comply with the requirements of the Charter which state that Members are actively involved in setting the Member Development Budget and monitoring the level of spend.