Agenda and minutes

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 Members:-

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 present in relation to the business to be transacted at this meeting.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2009 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2009, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

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 or petitions or deputations received at this meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 19, 16 and 17 respectively.

Report of the Divisional Director of Human Resources and Development.

Officers presented a report of the Divisional Director of Human Resources and Development, which provided an update since the last Member Development Panel meeting.  The report reviewed the end of the 2008/09 Member Development Programme and outlined events to be conducted in line with the Council Improvement Programme for the remainder of the 2009/10 financial year.

Coaching

An officer advised the Panel that the Roffey Park Coaching Programme had been completed by three Councillors and that five other Councillors had been invited to complete the programme.  The officer confirmed that three more Councillors would need to complete the programme to provide a firm basis for 360 degree assessments and to obtain Councillor accreditation for professional development.

IDeA/ London Councils Member Development Charter Update

An officer provided an update on the Member Development Charter.  He confirmed that all three Group Leaders and the Chief Executive had signed a commitment to gain the Charter.   This had been forwarded to London Councils and a proposed assessment date of 24 June 2009 had been established.  He added that three representatives from London Councils would meet with the Group Leaders and a focus group on the day of assessment.  The Chairman suggested that officers contact the political group offices to obtain a list of Councillors who could participate in the Focus group.

Training Needs Analysis Questionnaire

With the agreement of the Panel, an officer tabled a revised Training Needs Analysis Questionnaire document which was referred to in the report.  He explained that in addition to requests from officers and Councillors the results of the questionnaire would help officers to refine the 2009/10 Member Development Programme.  Members of the Panel suggested that the programme should also provide training on governance and the decision?making process.  The Chairman commented that the type of training offered should depend on the level of demand received from councillors.  She added that external training and cross-borough training was a possibility that should be considered in the future.  In response, officers agreed that responses to the questionnaire circulated to Councillors, would be collated in May 2009.

Member Development Policy and Strategy

With the agreement of the Panel, an officer tabled a draft of the new Member Development Policy and Strategy.  He advised that the policy had been circulated officers for comments.  He reported that the draft policy built upon the policy outlined by Kris Hibbert of London Councils at the last Member Development meeting on 3 February 2009.  In response to comments from the Chairman, the officer confirmed that he would:

·                     incorporate Harrow Council’s CREATE values and the aims and objectives of the IDeA framework into the final document;

·                     include the role and responsibilities of Councillors and officers;

·                     invite feedback on the draft from voluntary organisations in the third sector;

·                     ensure that the policy was communicated to all Members before the proposed assessment date.

A Member advised the Panel that he would investigate the possibility of ensuring that the final version of the policy was ratified by all Members at a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 97.

A Member of the Panel noted that as this was the last meeting of the last Municipal Year he wished to express his appreciation towards the Chairman and officers for their work over that period.

RESOLVED:  That the date of the next meeting of the Panel on Wednesday 2 September 2009 be noted.