Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the annual report from the Councillor Development Steering Group, which set out details of the training and development opportunities for councillors, including training events held since September 2021. The report had highlighted, amongst other things, the importance of developing a more collaborative approach with Waverley in respect of member training in order to provide greater opportunities for councillors of both authorities to attend, on a reciprocal basis, training of a more generic nature particularly in respect of the new member induction programme to be held following next year's elections.

The report included a copy of the First draft induction programme to be held from May-July 2023 for new and re-elected councillors, which had been discussed with the Steering Group at its meeting on 3 October 2022. It was noted that the Corporate Management Board had asked that enforcement be included in the induction programme.

As part of the induction programme, it was also proposed to offer a more formal Executive Member Training Programme via the Leadership Academy scheme run by the Local Government Association, detailed details of which were included in the report.

The induction programme also included some sessions for parish councillors on ethical standards and data protection, and it was also proposed to enhance that training offer for parish councils with the inclusion of training for them on the planning process.

The Committee noted that the Councillors’ Training and Development budget was currently £14,000 per annum. In view of the number of external trainers that were likely to be used for the proposed induction training programme for new councillors in 2023, as well as to account for the potential spend in providing training to Executive members, it was proposed to make provision in the 2023-24 draft budget for an increase in the Councillors’ Training and Development budget, for that year only, to £22,000.  This would represent a growth of £8,000 for the 2023-24 budget unless other budgets can be reduced to accommodate the increase.  The budget for Councillor Training and Development would revert to £14,000 per annum in subsequent years.

The Committee

RESOLVED:

(1)    That the Committee notes the valuable work being undertaken by the Councillor Development Steering Group in developing a clear structured plan for councillor development that responds both to the Council’s corporate priorities and councillors’ individual training needs.

(2)    That the Executive be asked to agree to make provision in the draft budget for 2023-24 of £22,000 to cover the cost of new councillor induction including executive member training, with the budget reverting to £14,000 p.a. thereafter.

Reason:

To recognise the important and ongoing work of the Councillor Development Steering Group