Agenda item

To submit a report by the Training Manager - Human Resources.

Submitted – an update report by the HR Training Manager on training delivery for the financial year 2019/20.

The HR Training Manager reported that due to the pandemic, very few training sessions had been offered to Elected Members during the last quarter of 2019/20.  The intention is to compile a revised Member Training and Development Plan, which would incorporate any relevant training opportunities that have not been achieved during 2019/20, up to the 2022 elections. 

The HR Training Manager reported that subject matters highlighted by WLGA and officers from within the Council had been incorporate within the draft Development Plan, in addition to feedback from individual Members’ Personal Development Reviews. 

It was noted that E-Learning modules accessed by the Authority’s Learning Pool platform continue to be available.  It was highlighted that the modules provide flexibility for online training, and are available virtually.

Reference was made to the development and publication of a bilingual Elected Members’ Bulletin, which aims to provide current information on training events and development opportunities for Members.  Dependent on the deemed value and feedback received, it was proposed that potentially a Bulletin could be produced and distributed on a quarterly basis.

Discussion focused on the training needs of individual Members, as follows:-

•  A request was made for training sessions to be convened face to face as group sessions on MS Teams or Zoom rather than accessing E-Learning online courses individually. The HR Training Manager to discuss with the Head of Democratic Services. 

•  Members highlighted Mental Health issues for Adults and Safeguarding as potential topics for inclusion within the Development Plan.  The HR Training Manager explained that a specific section for Elected Members is to be developed on the Learning Pool platform which will allow access to training  information/modules, and which will also include information on health and wellbeing, replicating what’s currently available for staff. 

•  It was suggested that face to face online training sessions be recorded in future to provide flexibility and playback options.  Members generally felt that information presented personally is easier to absorb, and questions could be raised and answered during discussions.  The HR Training Manager stated that this would be subject to training providers agreeing to allow recording of their sessions.

•  A request was made for a progress report to be presented to this Committee’s next meeting, detailing anonymised statistical data on the uptake of mandatory training sessions.

Members were urged to submit their individual training needs by the end of March, so that any requirements could be included in the Development Plan to be submitted to the County Council in May 2021.

RESOLVED that:-

•  Members provide input on their training needs in addition to mandatory training by the end of March 2021.

•  The Head of Democratic Service to discuss arrangements for convening face to face training sessions with the HR Training Manager.

•  The HR Training Manager to prepare and forward a questionnaire/monkey survey to Members, together with a checklist of available training courses.

•  The Head of Democratic Services and HR Training Manager to prepare a report on the level of training undertaken for mandatory courses.

•  To submit the Draft Member Training and Development Plan for 2021/22 to Full Council for approval in May 2021.