Training & Development Policy – Councillors
(A pdf version of this policy is available for download here)
Introduction
St Stephen in Brannel Parish Council is an organisation in which learning is valued. Members and staff will be supported to undertake the training and development which they need to help them achieve and maintain a high standard of performance and all will be given encouragement and support to achieve their full potential. This will allow the organisation as a whole to provide a proper level of service to the residents of the parish.
Councillor Induction
The Council will offer induction information and training to all new councillors after their election or co-option onto the council.
A new councillor information pack which is available on the Shared Drive contains essential documentation such as:
- Contact details for staff
- Organisation structure
- Committee structure
- Calendar of meetings
- Code of Conduct and Dispensations procedure
- Standing Orders
- Financial Regulations
- Committee Terms of Reference
- Budget for current financial year
All adopted Council policies can be found on this page of our website.
After each four-yearly local election, the new Council members will be offered induction training which is likely to include:
- An introduction to the legal framework governing parish councils
- An introduction to Council operations, activities and services
- An introduction to Council finances
- An overview of employment matters
- An overview of how formal Council/committee meetings operate – Standing Orders
Councillors who join at another time, for example after a by-election or co-option, will be offered one-to-one induction training and support as they commence their role. All new councillors will receive training on the use of any appropriate Council software, for example, email accounts. Councillors are expected to use Council owned devices therefore will receive training on the use and care of devices.
Specialist training
Where possible and practicable, specialist training will be provided to build councillor knowledge in specific areas. This could include for example:
- Code of conduct
- Planning
- Data protection
- Employment
Specialist training may be provided in several ways such as:
- In-house training by officers
- Training by third parties, in person or online
- Access to online training modules
- Access to online webinars
- Sector specific training, led by the Cornwall Association of Local Councils
Specialist training will include the provision of specific Chairmanship knowledge and skills training, available to all elected Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the Council and its committees. Chairmanship training is optional but highly recommended as it requires a degree of familiarity with Standing Orders as well as other relevant policies and procedures. Chairmanship training will ordinarily be offered at the start of each municipal year (May/June).
Availability, format and provider of training may depend upon available budget. There is a specific budget line for councillor training but there may be scope to meet reasonable costs from other budget lines.
Ongoing councillor support
Individuals or groups of councillors may request repeated or additional training throughout their term of office, to meet individual or collective learning needs.
Should any changes to elected Chairmanships take place mid-year, training can be made available to any newly elected Chairman or Vice-Chairman upon request.
At any time, councillors may seek guidance from officers in respect of access to Council documents or other sources of advice/information to assist them in the performance of their role. Information will be provided subject to any caveats as set out in the Council’s information management, data protection or other applicable policies.
Councillors may expect that when asked to make decisions at meetings of Council/committees, they will be provided with relevant background information, legal or policy context and budgetary considerations in order to fulfil their role fully.
Meeting supporting papers will, whenever possible, be published/circulated with meeting agendas a week in advance of a scheduled meeting, allowing sufficient time for careful consideration and to raise any questions or requests for additional information in advance of the meeting.
Officers will endeavour to provide councillors with regular updates on all operational activity by way of the Clerk’s report included on all agendas. This will include any appropriate updates from sector bodies or the local authority.