Agenda and minutes

Your Panel considered a report of the Director of People, Performance and Policy, which sought Members’ comments on the draft proposals for the Member Development Programme for 2006 to 2010.

It was noted that the proposals had been drawn up in response to feedback from Members on the 2006 induction programme and a Member survey on training needs.  The Panel felt that overall the induction programme had been good.  The need for regular training needs analyses to be carried out was emphasised.

Members proposed some minor amendments to the Member Development Strategy set out at Appendix 1 to the officer report, and made a number of comments on the proposals for the Member Development Programme.  A Member suggested that there should be more training for Executive Members, and that it should be mandatory.  The importance of training on chairing and serving on certain Committees was highlighted.  Members felt that, rather than a quarterly briefing, the event entitled “Representing the Council on Outside Bodies” should be recommended training for all Members.  It was also suggested that, later in the programme, events be held for members of the public who were interested in becoming Councillors.

Further to a query from a Member, the Director of People, Performance and Policy undertook to check whether there was a need for the further training sessions on scrutiny scheduled for November 2006, and what the objectives of those sessions were.  The Panel also emphasised the need to ensure that Member training sessions, particularly for mandatory training, did not clash with other Council meetings and events or faith events and requested that there be better communication between Departments.

The Panel having approved the Member Development Programme for 2006 to 2010, as amended to reflect the comments outlined above,

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (To the Standards Committee)

That (1) the draft Member Development Strategy for 2006 to 2010, as now amended, be approved; and

(2) the draft Member Development Programme for 2006 to 2010, as amended to reflect the comments outlined above, be noted.

(See also Minute 11).

RESOLVED:  To note the appointment, at the Standards Committee meeting held on 22 June 2006, of Councillor Jean Lammiman as Chairman of the Panel for the Municipal Year 2006/2007. 

(See also Note under Minute 6).

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)              if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Member:-

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee, Sub Committee, Panel or Forum;

(b)               all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interests made by Members in relation to the business transacted at this meeting.

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds that it is thought likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence or of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED:  That all items be considered with the press and public present.

RESOLVED:  That the Terms of Reference of the Panel be noted. 

(See also Note under Minute 6).

RESOLVED:  To appoint Councillor B E Gate as Vice-Chairman of the Panel for the Municipal Year 2006/2007.

[Note: Minutes 1, 5 and 6 arose from standard business to be undertaken at this first meeting of the Municipal Year which had been omitted inadvertently from the agenda].

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 April 2006, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 4 April 2006, and of the Special meeting held on 28 April 2006, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as correct records.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 19 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were put at the meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 18.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions were received at the meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 15.

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 17 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no deputations were received at the meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 16.

Report of the Director, People, Performance and Policy

Further to Recommendation 1 above, it was

RESOLVED:  That the draft Member Development Programme for 2006 to 2010, as now amended, be approved.

RESOLVED:  To note that the next meeting of the Panel was scheduled for 16 November 2006.