Minutes:
The Director of Law and Corporate Governance drew attention to the Section in the Members’ Handbook entitled “Members’ Induction Development Programme” which set out a whole range of training and development designed to assist all Councillors in carrying out their roles and responsibilities. Not all the courses were compulsory but it was considered essential that prior to Members making decisions which might affect the rights of individuals they were fully briefed on how to conduct such hearings and inquiries and/or make decisions of a quasi-legal nature. Quasi legal bodies of the Council included the Standards Committee and its Local Determination Sub-Committee, the Planning and Licensing Committees, the Licensing Sub-Committee, Employment Appeals Committee and its Sub-Committees.
Paragraph 6 of Part III of the Constitution had been amended to reflect this requirement but the terminology used was felt to be over restrictive as it prevented Members from serving on the bodies if they did not receive training regardless of the matter under consideration. It was pointed out that there were matters where training and development was not required e.g. the appointment of a Chair. In order to ensure that this distinction was made it was proposed that paragraph 6 of Part III of the Constitution should be amended.
During consideration of this matter the question of whether a Member should be required to attend training each year regardless of whether or not they had attended training in previous years was raised. It was pointed out that nothing ever remained completely unchanged and that new material was often introduced at training sessions which also served as useful refresher courses. It was pointed out that decisions could be challenged on the grounds that adequate training had not been provided or received.
Recommended -
That Council amend paragraph 6 of Part III of the Constitution entitled “Responsibility for Functions and Scheme of Delegation” to read as follows:-
“Members appointed to any of the quasi-legal bodies listed below must attend the compulsory training sessions provided before they can participate in any hearing, inquiry or decision which will affect the rights of any individual.
The quasi legal bodies are:-
The Standards Committee
The Standards (Local Determination) Sub-Committee
Planning Committee
Licensing Committee
Licensing Sub-Committees
Employment and Appeals Committee
Employment Appeals Sub-Committee
Appeals Sub-Committee