Issue - meetings

Report of the Monitoring Officer

The Monitoring Officer presented a Mandatory Training Completion Rates report which refers to the Councillors’ Learning and Development Policy which was last reviewed and adopted in September 2025. The Policy aims to provide Councillors with the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to significantly improve the Council’s decision making, the quality of its services and the work Councillors do to benefit their communities.

The committee were asked to note that as part of the policy, Councillors are expected to undertake mandatory training and the report provided information on Councillor completion rates for the training that had been provided, these include both face to face sessions and e-learning modules.

The Monitoring Officer explained the revised policy requires that Standards Committee receive an annual report on the progress of Councillor training, including training participation rates in relation to mandatory training.

A Standards Committee training session was delivered in March to ensure all members of the committee were equipped for their role and the Monitoring Officer thanked Councillors for their commitment in response to this.

Ms White commented on the much-improved completion rates and asked if Councillors were provided with a mentor. The Monitoring Officer explained that each political group will have a group whip and the Democratic Services Team are also available to provide support.

Councillor Matthews, Chair of the Member Development Group offered to write to members in his capacity as Chair to encourage and make them aware of the measures and accountability that has been put in place.

Councillor Plant expressed the measures put in place were important and that Councillors need to complete the training provided. In addition, Councillor Plant suggested that there be more than one session for each topic or a mop up session be provided for any Councillor not able to attend a training session. It was also suggested a further session on Councillor/Officer relationships be looked at again.

Ms White commented on specific training for specific committees and that it was pleasing to see that the new cohort of Standard Committee members had been fully trained for their committee role.

It was RESOLVED that the Standards Committee consider the contents of the report and any actions or recommendations.