Meeting documents

Standards Committee
Monday, 3rd July, 2006 7.30 pm

Date:
Monday, 3rd July, 2006
Time:
7.30 p.m.
Place:
Front Committee Room at the Town Hall, Reigate
 

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillors S.A. Kulka and R.S. Mantle.

Mrs. J.A. Cook - Salfords and Sidlow Parish Council
Dr. A.P. Kent - Horley Town Council

Mr. J. Broadbent - Independent Member

(NOTE: It was reported that the Mayor was unable to attend the meeting for the purposes of item 1 - Election of Chairman).

Also Present:
Councillor Mrs. R.S. Turner.

Min NoDescriptionResolution
Part I
1 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
 RESOLVED that Mr. J. Broadbent be elected Chairman of the Committee for the Municipal Year 2006/07.

(Mr. J. Broadbent in the Chair)
2 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
 RESOLVED that Mrs. J. Paul be elected Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the Municipal Year 2006/07.
3 MINUTES
 RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 13th March, 2006 be approved as a correct record and signed.
4 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
 Councillors Mrs. J. Bray and Mrs. F.D.M. Dixon and Mrs. J. Paul (Independent Member).
5 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
 None.
6 NEW MEMBER INDUCTION AND MEMBER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Minute for Minute Number 6
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
7 TRAINING: CONDUCT OF LOCAL HEARINGS
 RESOLVED that a DVD entitled "Going Local : Investigations and Hearing" produced by the Standards Board for England be shown at the conclusion of the meeting.
8 FUTURE MEETINGS
 RESOLVED to note that meetings of the Committee were scheduled for:

25th September 2006
6th November 2006
29th January 2007
12th March 2007
9 ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS
 None
The meeting closed at 7.47 p.m.

Minute

Min NoMinute
6The Committee received a report on the arrangements for new Member induction and the Member Development Programme for 2006/07.

The report indicated that the Committee's Terms of Reference included the promotion and maintenance of high standards of conduct within the Council. The Terms of Reference also required the Committee to ensure that all Members of the Council received training in all aspects of the Member Code of Conduct.

The provision of a Member Development Programme was an integral part of the promotion and maintenance of high standards of conduct etc. and the report accordingly sets out details of the Council's Member Development Programme for 2006/07.

There were two main elements to the Programme. Firstly, the Induction Programme for new Councillors elected at the May 2006 elections (which ran from May to July) and secondly the main development programme for all Members over the whole year.

The New Member Induction Programme was set out at Annex 1 to the report. Its primary function was to ensure that all new Members had a basic, but thorough, briefing on all aspects of the Council, including the Code of Conduct.

To run alongside the induction programme each new Member was allocated a "mentor" from within the Democratic Services Team. The purpose of the mentor was to assist new Members on a personal basis with their early months on the Council. As part of this, a comprehensive New Member Handbook was provided and details of the content were reported.

The intention was to review the Induction Programme with the Executive Member for Organisational Development and also seek Feedback from the new Councillors.

The main Member Development Programme was set out at Annex 2 to the report. This Programme had been devised in consultation with the Executive Member for Organisational Development and Political Group Leaders. In terms of content, it reflected the needs and requirements of all Members; the programme recognised the commitment of Members to all of their Council duties. The programme was now being rolled-out.

In addition to the programme, it was possible for individual Members to attend one-off external events provided a tangible benefit to the Member concerned and Council could be demonstrated. The Council had established a budget of £13,200 in respect of Member Development during 2006/07.

The report concluded that it was essential that all Members received training that would ensure their personal development, the efficient and effective conduct of Council business and the maintenance of high standards of conduct. It was considered that the arrangements and programmes in place fulfilled these aims. However, Members would be consulted on the Member Development Programme on an ongoing basis to ensure needs and requirements were being met.

The report was discussed and a number of specific points were answered by the officers. Arising from the discussion it was noted that details of recommendations emanating from a Planning scrutiny review would be reported to the Committee together with a related Audit Inspection report. One recommendation might be the introduction of compulsory training for Members of the Planning Committee. A number of Members asked to be supplied with details of attendance at the New Member Induction Programme.