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 that there were no Reserve Members in attendance at this meeting.

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:  That no declarations of interest were made.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2010 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2010 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were put or petitions or deputations received at this meeting.

A report of the Divisional Director Human Resources and Development.

The Divisional Director Human Resources and Development, introduced a report which provided an update on Member Development activities that had taken place since 11 February 2010.

A discussion took place regarding the attendance of the Safeguarding Children & Adults event held on 17 February 2010.  The Divisional Director advised that a joint briefing for the Political Groups would be arranged to accommodate Members who had not attended the initial session.

The Divisional Director provided the Panel with feedback from the Member Development Evaluation Focus Group, held on 22 March 2010.  He advised that feedback was positive, and requested the Panel to consider the Action Points arising from the Focus Group.

In response to questions by Members of the Panel, the Divisional Director and the Democratic and Electoral Services Manager advised that:

·                    Chief Whips of the Political Groups would be informed of Members’ who had not attended training events;

·                    throughout the 2010/11 Municipal Year, new Members would have the opportunity to enrol on the e-learning, which would include self-assessment and potentially 360 degree appraisal tool kits;

·                    a list outlining mandatory Member activities was currently being drafted and would be circulated.  There was an intention that it would be implemented after the local election following consultation with the Chairman of the Member Development Panel and the approval of the Standards Committee.

The Divisional Director provided the Panel with a final draft of the Members’ Induction Welcome Evening Programme, and welcomed feedback from the Panel.

In response to questions, the Divisional Director and the Democratic and Electoral Services Manager advised that:

·                    ‘Modern Councillor’ branding would be included in the Members’ Induction Programme;

·                    ‘Dates For Your Diary’ would specify if events were targeted towards all or new Members;

·                    the Members’ Induction Welcome Evening timetable, and Dates For Your Diary for the first three weeks following the election, would be sent to all nominated candidates;

·                    Members who were unable to attend training events would receive an electronic version of the workshop.  Sessions that were not well attended would be revisited later in the year;

·                    any reference to ‘GroupWise Email System’ within the Induction Programme would be removed, and replaced with ‘Email’;

·                    the Democratic and Electoral Services Manager would be available on the Members’ Induction evening to answer any questions.

RESOLVED:  That the update be noted.

Members’ thanked officers for the Induction Programme and for their contributions towards the Member Development Panel.

The Portfolio Holder for Community and Cultural Services, and former Chairman of the Panel, expressed her sincere appreciation to the Divisional Director Human Resources and Development for his work towards the success of the Members Development Programme.

RESOLVED:  That the item be noted.