Training and Development Policy – Councillors

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.

 

This policy applies to all councillors, including those elected, co-opted or appointed to serve on the Council and its committees, where relevant.

 

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 polices can be found on the website – https://ststepheninbrannel-pc.gov.uk/council/policies/

 

After each four-yearly local election, all 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 data protection responsibilities
• An overview of how formal Council/committee meetings operate including the use of Standing Orders

 

New councillors are expected to complete induction training and familiarise themselves with the Council’s key policies and procedures within a reasonable timescale after taking office.

 

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).

 

Training in Code of Conduct, data protection, safeguarding and chairmanship responsibilities will normally be treated as priority training.

 

Training in employment matters will be expected for members of the Human Resources Committee.

 

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.

 

Training will be arranged having regard to the approved budget, financial regulations and the needs of the Council.

 

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.

 

The Clerk will coordinate training requests and maintain a record of councillor training attended, where appropriate.

 

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.

 

Where reasonably practicable, training will be delivered in a format that is accessible to all councillors and takes account of timing, location and any support needs.

[1] Adopted by Full Council at the meeting held on Wednesday 12^th August 2026 under minute FPC142/26. Due for review in August 2029.