Issue - meetings
Member Learnining & Development
Meeting: 12/10/2017 - General Purposes Committee (Item 4)
4 Member Learning & Development PDF 94 KB
This report updates Members on the range of learning & development opportunities available to Members.
Additional documents:
- Appendix 3 - Human Resources Members Training Offer, item 4 PDF 58 KB
- Appendix 4 - DRAFT Framework-Members Induction 2018, item 4 PDF 165 KB
Minutes:
Beverley McKenzie, Head of Members Support introduced the report.
Members of the Committee made the following observations on the current learning and development offer to Members:
1. It would be helpful if the list of upcoming Member Development Sessions could clearly distinguish those sessions which are ‘Members’ skills development’ from those which are ‘policy engagement’.
2. Members would welcome greater clarity on whether the Council would fund their participation in external training courses.
3. Mandatory training session organisation is not sufficiently sensitive to Members’ availability as often only a single date/session is offered. It would be preferable if Members were first consulted on their preferred dates and sessions arranged accordingly.
4. The Chair felt the Council’s ambition should be undertake a skills audit of its Members, which could then inform development of a targeted learning and development programme. The programme would be complemented by a comprehensive brochure of learning opportunities accessible to all Members.
5. Members would especially welcome opportunities which resulted in recognised qualifications, certificates etc.
Asmat Hussain, Corporate Director, Governance, welcomed Members’ comments on the report. Ms Hussain asked that the matter of learning and development is raised at respective political group meetings to encourage Member attendance, which has been disappointing of late.
RESOLVED:
That the General Purposes Committee:
1. Noted the current Member learning and development conducted in 2017/18;
2. Noted the upcoming sessions to be provided for Members;
3. Noted the offer of sessions that can be made available to the Members, if sufficient demand exists; and
4. Noted that induction plans for new and returning Members are being developed and agrees to receive an update on this at their meeting in January 2018.