The report of the City Solicitor is enclosed.

Consideration was given to the report of the City Solicitor that provided details on all training delivered since the last report and noted some minor changes to the Member Development Strategy. The committee was advised that the Strategy is proposed to be updated in 2023 to reflect that responsibility for Member Development has moved from the Statutory Deputy Leader’s portfolio to the Deputy Leader’s portfolio. An amendment was made to the reference in Appendix B of the report ‘Inclusive Leadership Training’ with the category changed from ‘Mandatory’ to ‘General’.

The Chair invited member’s questions and comments.

A member referred to elected member training, where similar or the same training had been undertaken through the elected member’s employer or organisation and asked officers if external training is accredited. Reference was also made to paragraph 5.5 of the report, concerning the number of elected members that had not completed Cyber Security training and the reasons for this.

It was reported that the Council has some specifically designed training packages and there is an expectation that all members complete the training. Members are offered help and support to access and undertake Cyber Security training and other training packages.

The City Solicitor reported that all members have been contacted to request them to undertake the training and welcomed suggestions to achieve 100% take up. Training on cyber security is a high priority and very important to the council, in view of the potential dangers to the organisation from cyber-attack.

The City Solicitor undertook to write to the elected members that have not completed Cyber Security training, to make them aware of the concern expressed by the Standards Committee and to request the member to complete the training as a matter of urgency. If the training is not completed following a period specified , the matter would then be raised by the City Solicitor through the member’s political group.

The Chair referred to Casework system and how the system can be used. Reference was also made members induction training and advice and guidance provided on member advice surgeries.

It was reported that the Casework system provides elected members with a tool to monitor casework and is a stand-alone application. Elected member ward surgeries are covered in induction sessions under health and safety advice to advise on location and times of surgeries and for help on risk assessment of premises used. The content of advice surgeries is not covered within the induction sessions.

Decisions

1.    To note the report on training received since February 2022.

2.    To approve the proposed changes to the Member Development Strategy.

3.    To approve the action proposed by the City Solicitor to write to elected members that have not completed Cyber Security training, to make them aware of the concern expressed by the Standards Committee and to request the member to complete the training as a matter of urgency. If the training has not been completed following the period specified, the matter will then be raised by the City Solicitor through the member’s political group.