To receive any declaration of interest from any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

None received.

To submit a report by the Human Resources Development Manager.

Submitted – a report by the Human Resources Development Manager in respect of the Elected Members Development Plan for April 2019 – March 2020.

It was noted that the Democratic Services Committee at its meeting held on 25 March, 2019 approved a report as regards to the Member Development Strategy for the period 2019/2022.  This report detailed the Development Plan for Elected Member for 2019/20 which takes into account input received from Group Leaders following Personal Development Reviews in addition to input from Senior Officers. 

The Human Resources Development Manager reported that the programme provides an outline framework for the delivery of the training with some elements being carried forward from the previous financial year.  The development programme applies to Elected Members in addition to Co-opted and Lay Members where appropriate.  The Authority already provides E-Learning support in order to encourage self-development but some issues have occurred with the E-Learning Portol.  She noted that it is intended to commission the facilities of Learning Pool training platform to afford on-line training facilities which is already used be most North Wales Authorities.  The Head of Democratic Services said that once the Learning Pool training programme is available, it was suggested that 3 Members of this Committee be appointed to trail the Learning Pool facility.

Members considered the report and raised the following main issues:-

·      Reference was made that all the Elected Members need to receive training as regards to Planning policies as they attend the Planning and Orders Committee in their role as local members when a particular planning application is discussed within the electoral area. It was expressed that the planning process training in the past has been basic and refresher training needs to be afforded the Members.  The Head of Democratic Services responded that discussions will be undertaken with the Planning Services as regards to enhanced training in respect of planning policies to all Members;

·      Reference was made that mandatory training needs to be highlighted to ensure that Elected Members are aware of the importance of such training.  It was also expressed that training courses needs to be scheduled before or after other meetings within the Council;

·      Members referred that Officers within the Council needs to be encouraged to enable them to afford training to Elected Members.  The Human Resources Development Manager agreed that Officers need to be encouraged and developed to afford training.  She further said that the Training Section have been liaising with neighbouring authorities to enable bilingual training session to be afforded to Elected Members.

It was RESOLVED :-

·      To recommend to the full Council that it adopt the Member Development Plan 2019/20 as a framework for Member Development;

·      To authorise the Head of Democratic Services to make any further modifications as deemed appropriate;

·      That Councillors Eric W Jones, J Arwel Roberts and Nicola Roberts be appointed to trail the Learning Pool training facility once available.