Agenda item

This report sets out a number of items for the Steering Group to give consideration to namely:

·               Future Core Training and Development Programmes

·               External Training and Development

·               Personal Development Reviews/360° Reviews

·               E-Learning Provision

·               Charter Status for Member Development

·               The Member Training and Development Policy

Members considered a report which presented to them a number of items for consideration in relation to the future approach to Member Development.

Members commented on the following member training issues:

·        Future Core Training and Development Programmes -

Members acknowledged the need for a continued programme of mandatory and statutory training and asked that officers delivering the training work to make the sessions more interesting. It was suggested that any member requests for specific training should be kept on record in order to focus and inform future training programmes. Members  suggested that Audit and Governance  could be included within the core programme. It was acknowledged that following the update at the last meeting, Officers were continuing to work with the University of York to develop an accredited programme for Members. Members also asked that Policy Cafes and Pre-Council Seminars remain in the programme as they are particularly well attended.

·        External Training and Development - Officers confirmed that the pots of money allocated to the individual groups for training and development would be available again this year if Steering Group Members were happy for the practice to continue. However, the pots would not be available after this municipal year due to the budget for Member training being significantly less after this year. Members agreed that the groups should receive the pots of money for the 2013/14 municipal year but be advised that it would be for the last time.

·        Personal Development Reviews (PDR’s) – Members agreed that it would be cost effective to bring the PDR’s in-house and within group,  and that a resource for the political groups to use such as a standard form, would be helpful. The Chair agreed to circulate a version she had used previously.

·        E-Learning Provision – Members advised that it was useful to have access to some provision and that free e-learning resources could be incorporated into the new Membersphere.

·        Charter Status for Member Development – Members agreed that there was no budget or staff resources to pursue charter status and no merit in renewing it at this time.

·        Member Training and Development Policy – Members agreed that it is useful to have a formal policy and asked that the current policy be brought to a future meeting for review. They did however agree that as the Core Training and Member Development Programme for the new municipal year  would be less comprehensive than in the past that the targets of attending 8 sessions for non-Cabinet Members and 12 for Cabinet Members should be removed.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That Members endorsed the proposed approach for the 2013/14 Core Programme and accredited programme.

(ii)      That the Group Pot allocation should continue for the municipal year 2013/14.

(iii)     That PDR provision should be brought in-house and in-group.

(iv)     That any free e-learning provision that could be sourced should continue to be offered in 2013/14.

(v)      That the Council should not pursue the renewal of Charter Status for Member Development once the current award expires in September 2013.

(vi)     That a formal Member Training and Development Policy  should be retained (but not include the targets for attending training and development sessions) and the current policy brought to a future meeting for review.

REASON:                     To enable the delivery of future support to Members.