Please provide me with the following:
1.Your most recent published or otherwise councillor training or induction programme or schedule including seminars, workshops eLearning etc.
The Member Training and Development Log is published at every Member Development Steering Group meeting. This covers the completed training and development opportunities Members have been able to attend, and those upcoming.
The most recent one from February 2024: Member Training and Development Log February 2024.
2. Your councillor training, development strategy or plan or policy.
Please find this at the following link The Member Development Strategy 2021-2025.
3. Any report of wholistic or groups needs analysis of councillor training developed i.e. where you have scoped and analysed councillor training needs either as individuals or as a whole. Where there is none in the last five years,( April 2019 to April 2024) please state this.
From 2020-2023, the Member Development Steering Group ran an annual survey of Members and Member Development, covering a range of different elements:
- 2020 Member Wellbeing Survey
- 2021 Member Wellbeing Survey
- 2022 Member Wellbeing Survey
- 2023 Member Wellbeing Survey
The Steering Group decided not to run a survey in 2024, and instead feedback was picked up by the Director of Legal and Democratic Services at an All Member Development Day and reported back to the Steering Group in February 2024.
The Steering Group also reviewed the 2021 Induction Programme within their meeting in September 2021 – See Minute 6: Minutes Template.
Please note, surveys were not conducted prior to 2020 so we do not hold date for 2019.
4. A of your new councillor induction or welcome pack if any.
The front page of the induction pack can be found at this link Info pack front sheet.
The welcome letter can be found at this link Letter – New member.
Please note, areas that have been greyed out are exempt from disclosure under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Personal Data).
The Council cannot disclose personal information if releasing it would contravene any of the provisions in the UK General Data Protection Regulation. In this instance release of this information would contravene the first data protection principle and therefore the information is withheld.
5.The budget over the last two financial years for Councillor training.
£2000 is allocated annually for the Member Development Budget therefore, the total for 2023/24 and 2022/23 is £4000.
6.The Job description of any officer responsible for council development or training.
Head of Democratic Services
* Contribute to the development of corporate policies for the training and development of elected members.
Deputy Head of Democratic Services and Head of Scrutiny
* To co-ordinate and deliver effective training and induction programmes for elected members in conjunction with Strategic Directors and Heads of Service, ensure effective communication with Members and Officers and contribute to the wider programme of Member Learning and Development.
Scrutiny Officer
* To provide professional, non-political support to Scrutiny Committees, observing appropriate confidentiality and assisting with member training and development initiatives.
Democratic Services Officer
* Training and induction of Members in the Council and organising external organisations to deliver the specified training.
Member Services, Committee and Civic Support Officer
* To also be a conduit of information and advice to elected Members and support with Members’ ICT needs, including the provision of relevant training.
HR Strategy and Performance Advisor
* Supporting the HR Lead Business Partner/HR Strategy Managers to provide a high quality, effective and efficient HR service to the Head of HR, Corporate Leadership Team, managers, employees and Members of the Authority.
Learning and Development Team Leader
* They will also be required to provide specialist, professional L&D advice to Heads of Service, Senior Managers, elected members and external partners in accordance with national and local policy, current legislation and best practice.
7.The most recent list of publications, guidance notes for councillors available.
We do not have a ‘list’ of publications or guidance notes. We keep a number of guides and information available to Members on our Member’s Sharepoint site for ease of access. These include guidance notes, briefing notes and best practice which are created by external organisations e.g. Corporate Parenting guide by the Local Government Association or Finance Scrutiny guide by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny.
Any additional information circulated to Members relating to a specific Committee is shown at the bottom of the meeting agenda under the ‘Information Previously Circulated’ item.
We produce and circulate a facilities document for members on election which can be found here Info Pack – Facilities for Members.
Please note, areas that have been greyed out are exempt from disclosure under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Personal Data).
The Council cannot disclose personal information if releasing it would contravene any of the provisions in the UK General Data Protection Regulation. In this instance release of this information would contravene the first data protection principle and therefore the information is withheld.
8. A copy of the proforma which may be used to develop or identify councillors’ own development needs i.e. by completing a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) or undertaking a Personal Development Review (PDR) or Personal Training Programme ( PTP ) Or Similarly named document used to identify individual training needs.
The following proformas are used to develop or identify Councillor’s own development needs:
Learning and Development Activity Planner
Please note, areas that have been greyed out are exempt from disclosure under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Personal Data).
The Council cannot disclose personal information if releasing it would contravene any of the provisions in the UK General Data Protection Regulation. In this instance release of this information would contravene the first data protection principle and therefore the information is withheld.
9. The most recent quality assurance or feedback report of the quality of the programmes being develop or delivered i.e. what do councillors think of the quality and relevance of the training provided. Where there is none in the last five years,( April 2019 to April 2024) please state this.
Please see question 3.
10. Any other document which identifies positively, through awards or accolades or positive articles or press releases the type and scope of training and induction you provide to councillors ( Please use your discretion, I am looking for best practice).
SW Charter for Member Development Charter plus accreditation was achieved in October 2012 and April 2016 and these standards continue to be applied to the work in this field. This followed on from being awarded the SW Charter for Member Development in December 2008. SW Charter for Member Development is a nationally recognised standard developed by Local Government Improvement and Development and regionally administered by South West Councils.