Agenda item

In accordance with the instructions of the Council at its meeting on 25^th April 2006 a record of elected Members’ attendance at Council, committees, sub-committees, panels and outside bodies meetings and Member training sessions during the municipal year 2006/2007 were submitted for consideration.

The Committee discussed this matter at length during which the following points were made:-

(1)  The data presented did not take into account the level and standard of Members’ attention and/or their contribution at the meetings they attended.

(2)  Attendance at meetings only represented a part of the duties undertaken by Members e.g. representing their constituents and ward case work.

(3)  The call-on Members’ time in terms of the number of meetings and training sessions they were required to attend was considerable and despite the best efforts of Officers “double bookings” did sometimes occur.

(4)  Members had a responsibility to the electorate they represented to fulfil all their duties/responsibilities to the best of their abilities and their Council duties should take precedent over other social and business commitments. 

(5)  When standing for election Members should be aware of the commitment they were taking on.

(6)  In the majority of cases Members put themselves forward to sit on Committees/Panels/Outside Bodies and they should fulfil the commitment they have made by so doing.

(7)  Sometimes circumstances did occur outside the control of the Member which prevented them from fulfilling their obligations and for this reason it was recognised that to expect 100% attendance was unrealistic.  However, concern was expressed that only 9 out of the 41 Members only achieved 90% and above attendance in respect of Council, Committee meetings etc.  It was suggested that a more reasonable “yardstick” against which members performance could be measured was 80% attendance but during 2006/07 only 19 members achieved 80% or above attendance levels.

(8)  Of even greater concern was Members’ record of attendance at compulsory training sessions.  The Committee was informed that in respect of training sessions which Members had to attend as a condition of membership of a particular Committee/Sub-Committee such sessions sometimes had to be repeated twice.  In view of the fact that for the majority of training sessions Members received notice well in advance, there was strong support for the proposal that training sessions should be  repeated only once. 

(9)  In respect of training it was suggested that e-learning and on-line assessment might be a possible long term alternative development  method which might reduce the amount of time Members would have to spend at the Town Hall.

With a view to improving Members’ attendance the issue of possible sanctions which could be imposed on Members with particularly poor attendance records was raised.  It was suggested that the help and co-operation of the Group Leaders should be sought in this matter particularly in respect of Members’ attendance at compulsory training sessions. 

Resolved –  That a meeting between the Chair of the Committee, Chief Executive, Monitoring Officer and Group Leaders be held as soon as practicable to discuss the issue of Members’ attendance at meetings and identify ways in which Members performance particularly in respect of attendance at compulsory training sessions can be improved.