Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor O’Toole.

There were no substitutions.

If a Member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, h/she is advised to contact the Borough Solicitor in advance of the meeting.  (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of this agenda sheet.)

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2016.

RESOLVED:             That the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2016 be noted.

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor.

Members considered the report of the Borough Solicitor as contained on pages 7 to 14 of the Book of Reports which informed the Commission of a new Corporate E-Learning package, which will be made available to all Members to support current arrangements in relation to Member Development.

Members discussed the modules available and the accessibility of the E-Learning package.  It was agreed that a presentation on the launch of the package to assist in their usage of the system would be helpful to Members.  It was also noted that Health and Safety topics will be available to all Members.

AGREED:        A.      That the introduction of the new Corporate E-Learning package and it’s availability to Members in the near future be noted.

B.      That Human Resources shall be requested to arrange a presentation to Members on the launch of the new Corporate E-Learning package, in order to promote the contents of the package and for Members assistance.

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor.

Members considered the report of the Borough Solicitor as contained on pages 15 to 24 of the Book of Reports which provided feedback on the induction process offered to newly elected Members in May 2016.

The Principal Overview and Scrutiny Officer explained that the process had gone well and that there had been good feedback from newly elected Members in respect of the ‘Hitting the Ground Running’ event.

Members discussed the Induction process, particularly in relation to a clearer understanding of the Council’s functions.  It was further commented that as Borough Elections would now not take place until 2017, it could provide an opportunity for revisions/additions to the process to be undertaken.

AGREED:                  That the comments and report be noted and passed to the Borough Solicitor.

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor.

Members considered the report of the Borough Solicitor as contained on pages 25 to 30 of the Book of Reports which provided an update on Member training undertaken since March 2016.

It was noted that there had been a large number of ‘free’ events attended by Members.  The Commission commented on how it may also be cost effective to arrange future training sessions by ‘joining up’ with other Authorities and noted that with the introduction of the E-Learning System, this would provide an additional benefit.

AGREED:                  That the update be noted.

To receive an oral update.

In discussion it was expressed that a skills audit would be helpful to identify and signpost the correct training for Members, especially in IT skills.

Members also wished to receive more information in respect of BT Lancashire Services IT ‘drop in’ sessions and a contact point for specific IT queries.

It was felt that it would be useful to circulate the Councillor Identification Training Needs Questionnaire to all Members to assist identification and analysis of Members training needs.

AGREED:     A.         That the Councillor Identification of Training Needs Questionnaire be circulated to all Members, in order to process an audit of Councillor training needs by Member Services.  The results of the analysis will be brought to the next meeting of the Commission.

B.        That information relating to BT Lancashire Services ‘drop in’ sessions be circulated to all Members for their information / retention and future use.

To receive an oral update.

The Principal Overview and Scrutiny Officer informed Members of organised future training events that included:

·         Procurement, including Value for Money, Social Value, E-Tendering and Small and Medium Enterprises – 27 September 2016 (prior to Audit and Governance Committee) – Open to all Members.

·         Scrutiny Training By John Cade, INLOGOV, University of Birmingham – 4 October 2016 – Open to all Members.

·         CSE/Safeguarding Briefing – Tony Baxter – 11 October 2016 – Primarily aimed at Members appointed to Licensing Committees but open to all Members.

·         Risk Management Training, Zurich Insurance – 16 November 2016 - Open to all Members.

AGREED:  That future training be noted.

To consider the Work Programme for the Commission and note the date of the next meeting.

Members considered the Work Programme for 2016/17, the dates of future meetings of the Commission and noted that the analysis from the Identification of Training Needs Questionnaire would be considered at the next meeting.

AGREED:                A.          That the Work Programme be updated to include on 16 March 2017 the analysis from the Identification of Training Needs Questionnaire exercise

B.        That the dates of future meetings of 16 March 2017 and 21 September 2017 be confirmed.