Issue - meetings

To give consideration to and agree the proposed Member Development Programme for 2022/2023.

The Council considered a report (Agenda Item 14) setting out the proposed Member Development Programme for 2022/23 which had been considered and endorsed by the Member Development Group on 7 April 2022.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Howard Woollaston and seconded by Councillor Clive Hooker:

“That the Council considers the proposed draft Member Development Programme and ensuing resource implications and approves the Programme for the 2022/2023 Municipal Year.”

Councillor Woollaston introduced the annual report recommending the Member Development Programme. He confirmed it had been developed by officers in conjunction with representatives from all three political parties. Councillor Woollaston believed it was incumbent on Members to ensure they were kept abreast of developments and of the Council’s business. The report proposed a total budget of £5k for member training and he invited Council to approve the Programme.

Councillor Hooker noted that the cross party Member Development Group met twice a year and held rigorous discussions to formulate a balanced training programme for all Members. He believed the draft Programme was broad and educational and invited Council to approve it.

Councillor Lee Dillon highlighted that members could receive training in their employment which replicated the training on offer to them as Councillors. He suggested this could be logged with those Councillors being released from the requirement to attend Council-provided sessions.