Issue - meetings

By way of a report by the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Planning & Finance) to consider the findings of a review into Member development.

were of the opinion that responsibility for monitoring schemes and training champions should be referred to the individual political groups, agreed to a programme of briefing sessions for all Members on a bi-monthly basis, requested Chief Officer Management Team to instruct Officers of the need to fully inform Members on matters affecting their wards, agreed to investigate alternative training mediums for Members and requested a further report on the provision of broadband for Members.

With the assistance of a report by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Planning and Finance) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet were acquainted with the findings of the Panel’s review of Member Development.

In considering the information contained in the report, it was

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the suggestion with regard to the organisation of a programme of briefing sessions for Members to be as far as possible by service area every second month, be approved;

  (b)  that the Chief Officer's Management Team be requested to remind Officers of the need to notify Members on matters of significance affecting their Wards as provided for in paragraph 10.2 of the approved Protocol on Member/Employee Relations;

  (c)  that the Panel's suggestions with regard to the possible introduction of a mentoring scheme for newly-elected Councillors and the appointment of "Training Champions" be referred to the leaders of political groups represented on the District Council;

  (d)  that the possible use of alternative training mediums as described in paragraph 7.2.5 of the report be investigated; and

  (e)  that a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet on the possible provision of broadband for Members for consideration in conjunction with the forthcoming review of the Medium Term Plan.