Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor Nick J Davies be elected as Vice Chair of the Democratic Services Committee for the 2015-2016 Municipal Year.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J P Curtice and A S Lewis.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Democratic Services Committee held on 11 March 2015.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Democratic Services Committee held on 11 March 2015 be approved and signed as a correct record.

The Chair of the Democratic Services Committee welcomed the members of the Standards Committee to the meeting.

The Head of Democratic Services stated that members of the Standards Committee had been invited to the meeting as their Workplan included assisting in seeking to increase attendance at Councillors training sessions.  A discussion ensued between the members of the Democratic Services Committee and the Standards Committee.

RESOLVED that:

1) The identified training sessions be classed as Mandatory and regular non-attendance reports be passed to the relevant Political Group Leaders / Whips by the Head of Democratic Services;

2) All sessions be time-tabled for both a daytime and evening session in order to encourage better attendance;

3) The information gathered via the evaluation forms be analysed to improve future training delivery and to ensure a full training audit is completed;

4) Successful training sessions be adapted into e-learning programmes wherever possible to compliment the Councillors Training Programme.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report which sought to approve a new Training Needs Analysis (TNA) for 2015-2016.  The results of the TNA (together with any training needs identified in Councillors Personal Development Reviews) would assist in creating a Councillor Training Programme based on those needs identified by Councillors.

The Committee discussed the issue and made the following suggestions:

i)          The following courses should be mandatory:

Ø  Corporate Parenting;

Ø  Data Protection;

Ø  Good Decision Making, Bias, Pre-determination and Rules of Natural Justice;

Ø  Interests, Gifts & Hospitality including Public Services Ombudsman for Wales guidance ;

Ø  Introduction to Code of Conduct & Standards;

Ø  Rules of Debate;

Ø  Safeguarding Adults;

Ø  Safeguarding and Protection of Children;

Ø  Scrutiny questioning skills (for members on a Scrutiny Committee / Panel).

ii)         Training in the areas of Audit, Licensing and Recruitment and Selection   be added to the Committee Specific Courses section;

iii)        Tablet / Smart Phone training (including the application of) be added to     the Councillors Induction programme;

iv)        The Head of Democratic Services, where possible, identify the courses      that would be relevant for Councillors on a specific Committee;

v)         Frequency of how often training should be undertaken in a specific           topic area be included on the Training Needs Analysis form.

RESOLVED that:

1)         The Training Needs Analysis be amended to include the suggestions        above;

2)         The results of the Training Needs Analysis and suggested Councillor        Training Programme together with a recommendation relating to        labelling a number of training sessions as mandatory be submitted to a           future meeting of Council.

RESOLVED that the Workplan for 2015-2016 be noted.

RESOLVED that the next meeting of the Democratic Services Committee be re-arranged as a joint meeting between the Democratic Services Committee and Scrutiny Programme Committee on a date to be agreed.