Agenda item

7.1

Gillian Duckworth, the Council’s Monitoring Officer, presented a report to provide members with the updated Members' Code of Conduct following agreement that the council would adopt the Model Code of Conduct incorporating elements of the current code of conduct.

7.2

The report also outlined the code of conduct training for members.  The Monitoring Officer informed members that she had agreed a programme of development for all members with the LGA for the new municipal year.

7.3

The proposal was for the Council’s induction programme to be run in a similar format to last year and in addition dates would be agreed with each political group for specific training around the code of conduct.  There would also be training for all members on local decision making, with the introduction of Local Area committees.

7.4

The programme would run for a period of 12 months and would be flexible enough for members to help shape it. the programme will also address member/officer relationships and would be coupled with a complimentary training schedule for officers.

7.5

The rollout and timings of the proposal would be discussed and agreed with the Whips.

7.6

Councillor Angela Argenzio commented that the Council needed to develop the training provided around Equality and the programme should also include training on personal safety.  Councillor Argenzio asked whether we were positive and encouraged that all members would be involved in the training programme.

7.7

The Monitoring Officer advised that the training was intended for all Councillors and there would be a reliance on the individual groups to encourage its members to attend and be involved in the training.  The Council would be looking for group champions to engage with fellow members.

7.8

There was a need to re-energise the training and it was felt that equality, information management training should be mandatory for all members.  It would also be mandatory for members to complete Planning and Licensing training before sitting on these committees as is the current position

7.9

Councillor Mohammed Mahroof felt that it was important that the training programme needed to be backed up by a robust officer training programme.

7.10

RESOLVED: - That (1) the committee agrees the updated Members’ Code of Conduct and (2) agrees the proposals for the Member Development Training Programme.