Issue - meetings

The Council’s constitution states:

‘(a) In the interests of business continuity, each Group and Group Leader shall ensure that any Member appointed to a place allocated to that Group on each of the Committees referred to in the following table shall have received, or shall within six months of appointment receive, training appropriate to its membership. If a member does not undertake the required training within six months of appointment then that member shall not partake in the decision making of the Committee until their training has been completed.

(b) Each Group and Group Leaders shall strive to avoid making changes to their representation on the Committees referred to in the table for as long as possible and shall accordingly seek to ensure that their members remain on the particular committee for the period indicated:

Committee                                Period

Adjudication and Review                    At least two years

Audit                                                        Full four year term

Licensing                                               At least two years

Pensions                                                Full four year term

Regulatory Services                             At least two years

(c) For the Audit, Pensions, Regulatory Services and Adjudication and Review Committees, Groups shall nominate members other than those appointed to the respective Committees to be “designated substitutes”, to attend a meeting in the event that an appointed member is unable to do so. “Designated substitutes” shall participate in the same training opportunities as appointed members. Non nominated members may not act as substitutes.

(d) This rule shall operate without prejudice to the ability of the Council and the Adjudication and Review Committee to require changes in membership where to do so is appropriate for other reasons, or to comply with statutory requirements.’

A skills analysis was completed for all members and nominated substitutes in 2014 to identify any specific training needs.  Members had the opportunity to review the training programme. Members and substitute members could request at any time a briefing on an agenda item.

The most appropriate method of delivery would be selected based on the development or learning need.  This was likely to be officer briefings (verbal or written), e learning or training with external specialists.  The Committee would also receive ad-hoc briefings from the relevant officer on new topics relevant to the Committee’s role.

Substitute Members would be invited to attend all training and in some circumstances the training might be offered to all Members, where it was considered relevant.

Training was included on the forward plan and presented at each meeting. Details of training provided and undertaken would be included in the Annual Report of the Committee.

The Committee approved the proposed training plan.