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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED – That a task and finish group be established comprising the following Members to meet prior to the end of November 2022 to review the Member Development Programme, barriers to attendance at Member Training, issues arising from the electronic diary management system and to finalise the Member Training in respect of ICT: Chair of Democratic Services Committee Member Development Champion Representatives from each Political Group
AGREED – That a training event be held focussing on the role of Councillor as community leader in supporting and signposting people affected by the cost of living crisis.
RESOLVED – (i) That members of the Democratic Services Committee provide feedback direct to the Head of Democratic Services in respect of the proposals in the draft Annual Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales and provide any representations or comments to incorporate in the Council’s consultation response including, if appropriate, the Questions set out within the Consultation at Appendix 1 to report COGC/104/22. (ii) That the Head of Democratic Services, in consultation with the Chair of the Democratic Services Committee, be authorised to make a response on behalf of the Council to the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.
RESOLVED – That the survey be re-circulated to Group Leaders and Non-aligned Members seeking a response to the Head of Democratic Services within a fortnight.
An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor Carrie Harper.
RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 7 July 2022 be signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – That a task and finish group be established comprising the following Members to meet prior to the end of November 2022 to review the Member Development Programme, barriers to attendance at Member Training, issues arising from the electronic diary management system and to finalise the Member Training in respect of ICT: Chair of Democratic Services Committee Member Development Champion Representatives from each Political Group
The Head of Democratic Services (HDS) submitted a report (CE/63/22) to enable the Democratic Services Committee to evaluate and monitor annual Member Development Programme and the Member Development Strategy. Presenting the report the HDS drew Members’ attention to the quarter 2 report at Appendix A which reported on the rolling programme of the delivery of ‘core training’, Member take up of mandatory eLearning modules and the delivery of other knowledge and awareness topics. Members were advised that a new Member Development Strategy would be drafted for consideration. Furthermore a review of the Member Development Programme could be considered. The HDS further reported that the Task & Finish Group previously established in respect of Member Training on maximising the use of the iPad had met twice and the list of iPad functionality had been circulated to Members as a result. A series of workshops and individual training sessions would be delivered by ICT for all Councillors should they require it. Members’ attention was also drawn to the importance of completing the Cyber Security training. Members considered the report and in debate the following points were noted – · The WLGA Councillors Guide Microsite which provided useful guidance and information was now live. · Disappointment was expressed at the level of engagement in some Member training sessions. · Suggested that repeat training sessions be held to maximise attendance and that these sessions should be on a different weekday/time. · The need for accountability particularly in respect of attendance at compulsory training modules. · Complications arising from the current electronic diary management system. · Concern regarding instances where the procedure in respect of workshops was not being followed. Requested that departments be reminded of the importance of following the procedure. · Requested that in respect of Planning Committee training WLGA Planning Training Planning Policy Wales – Edition 11 be introduced for Planning Committee members. · Suggested that the Committee establish a task and finish group to explore the barriers to Member attendance at training. A representative from each political group to be invited to attend to feed into the review. RESOLVED – That a task and finish group be established comprising the following Members to meet prior to the end of November 2022 to review the Member Development Programme, barriers to attendance at Member Training, issues arising from the electronic diary management system and to finalise the Member Training in respect of ICT: Chair of Democratic Services Committee Member Development Champion Representatives from each Political Group
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That a training event be held focussing on the role of Councillor as community leader in supporting and signposting people affected by the cost of living crisis.
The Chair invited the Committee to consider Member Training in respect of the cost of living crisis. He referred to the work of the Council’s cross party Task & Finish Group and the role of local Councillors in being a useful source of information or assistance to those members of the public in need. Reference was made to the recent Cost of Living Summit supported by TCC (Together Creating Communities) and it was suggested that external agencies be contacted to attend to provide information on provision. Members fully supported the proposal commenting that it would be beneficial to have an understanding of the provision offered both by the Council and other organisations across the area to enable so as to signpost direct into the fastest provision available. It was proposed that the Chair, Vice-Chair and Head of Democratic Services meet to discuss arrangements for this to be added to the Member Development Programme as a matter of urgency. AGREED – That a training event be held focussing on the role of Councillor as community leader in supporting and signposting people affected by the cost of living crisis.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – (i) That members of the Democratic Services Committee provide feedback direct to the Head of Democratic Services in respect of the proposals in the draft Annual Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales and provide any representations or comments to incorporate in the Council’s consultation response including, if appropriate, the Questions set out within the Consultation at Appendix 1 to report COGC/104/22. (ii) That the Head of Democratic Services, in consultation with the Chair of the Democratic Services Committee, be authorised to make a response on behalf of the Council to the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.
The Chief Officer Governance & Customer submitted a report (COGC/104/22) to consider the changes to the Members’ Remuneration Scheme proposed within the draft Annual Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales in order to inform a response to the consultation by no later than 1 December 2022. Presenting the report the HDS drew Members’ attention to the draft report which set out the proposed changes to salary. Members were reminded that the IRPW were an independent body whose role was to prescribe the maximum levels of allowances payable to Members of County and County Borough Councils. Members considered the report and referred to the following matters in debate: · The proposed increase in salary was not considered appropriate given the current financial climate. · The need to also acknowledge the importance of ensuring that the salary for Councillors would not discourage people from standing to be elected. · To recognise the hard work of local authority staff whose salary increase was not set by an independent panel. It was important to support staff who deliver services for the Council. RESOLVED – (i) That members of the Democratic Services Committee provide feedback direct to the Head of Democratic Services in respect of the proposals in the draft Annual Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales and provide any representations or comments to incorporate in the Council’s consultation response including, if appropriate, the Questions set out within the Consultation at Appendix 1 to report COGC/104/22. (ii) That the Head of Democratic Services, in consultation with the Chair of the Democratic Services Committee, be authorised to make a response on behalf of the Council to the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – That the survey be re-circulated to Group Leaders and Non-aligned Members seeking a response to the Head of Democratic Services within a fortnight.
The Head of Democratic Services reminded Committee that a Task & Finish Group had been established by this Committee to consider the dates and times of Committee meetings. That group had agreed to send out a survey to all Councillors in order to inform the work of the T&F. Unfortunately due to the low return rate it had not been possible to prepare a report for Committee today. It was suggested that the survey be re-circulated to Group Leaders for discussion in Groups and to non-aligned Members with responses back to the HDS in a fortnight. It was noted that to change the date of Meetings at this point in the year would be problematic however consideration could be given to the start time of meetings. RESOLVED – That the survey be re-circulated to Group Leaders and Non-aligned Members seeking a response to the Head of Democratic Services within a fortnight.
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