The Head of Democratic and Member Services introduced the report of the Director of Law and Governance. The report provided Members with the proposed Members Learning and Development Strategy (ML&DS) that reinforced the importance placed on the provision of quality learning and development for all Members.

Members were advised how, ahead of the planned whole Council elections scheduled for May 2023, there was an opportunity to introduce and deliver a strategy that ensured consistent and well-established plans to best develop Members through their four-year term of office.

The Strategy provided Members with the opportunity to develop skills and learning which assisted with their roles as decision makers and within the community. It also supported their wellbeing and safety.

Members were informed that the strategy had been produced with regard to the upcoming all-out elections in May 2023 and recommendations from the Independent Assurance Panel and Local Government Association (LGA) Peer review. It was also noted that whilst there was a robust new Member induction in place, there had previously not been a Learning and Development strategy which bought together a programme of committee specific and targeted learning. It would be launched in May 2023 in line with the new Member induction and started a four-year training programme for all Members. 

Members thanked officers for the work producing the strategy and noted how helpful the Member Induction programme was for newly elected Members. It was requested that the dates for the induction programme be confirmed with candidates and agents in advance of the Local Election in May 2023. They also requested that the Committee calendar be appended to the induction programme.

Resolved – that the Member Learning and Development Strategy for 2023-27 be approved.