The Democratic Services Manager presented a report which its purpose was to provide an update on the delivery of the Councils Member Development Training and Development Programme and related activities. He added that the purpose was to also request any topics for inclusion on the programme.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the Member Training and Development Sessions, Pre Council Briefing Sessions and Development Control Committee Training Sessions that had been held since the last Democratic Services Committee on 17^th October 2019. These were listed in the table at 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 of the report. 

The Democratic Services Manager explained the future scheduled pre council briefings which were as follows:

• 9 March 2020: Universal Credit
• 11 March 2020: Community Asset Transfer
• 8 April 2020: Changes to New Curriculum
• 17 June 2020: Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations
• 16 September 2020: Post 16 and Learner Travel

The Democratic Services Manager explained the future scheduled Development Control Committee Training Sessions which had been scheduled as follows:

• 9 April 2020: Wellbeing & Future Generations Act 2016 and Planning Policy Wales 10 – A Direction of Travel

The Democratic Services Manager explained the future Proposed Member Training and Development sessions which were scheduled as follows:

• 22 April 2020: Scrutiny Questioning Skills
• 22 April 2020: Scrutiny Chairing Skills
• Using Bridgemaps - TBC
•  

The Democratic Services Manager explained that the Corporate Director of Social Services had requested a training session be scheduled on Safeguarding, the date was still to be confirmed.

The Democratic Services Manager explained that the committee was advised at a previous meeting of the development of National E Learning modules. Work was continuing on this and the expected delivery time for this was September 2020.

He explained that since the start of the current term, a number of E-learning courses had been provided. The following E-learning had been completed by members:

• Corporate Induction (11 Members)
• General Data Protection Regulations (4)
• Display Screen Equipment (3)
• Fire Safety Awareness (4)
• ICT Code of Conduct (9)
• Safeguarding Children and Adults (14)
• Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (3)

He added that in order to encourage Members to make greater use of the available E Learning Modules, two drop in sessions were arranged to be facilitated by the Learning and Development Team to support Members. These sessions were scheduled between the 17 March and 1 April 2020 in the IT Suite, Ravens Court, and were able to be attended any time between 9:30am and 3:00pm.

A Member asked if these were available to access elsewhere other than the Council offices. The Democratic Services Manager confirmed that these could be accessed from their own home if they wished.

A Member welcomed the training sessions as she was not clear which modules were needing to be completed. She also requested that a follow up phone call be made to members to confirm that they could access the E Learning Modules and assist them if they needed.

A Member stated that there are often a number of junk emails appearing in the mailbox which overwhelms the genuine emails. He asked if there was a way of getting rid of such emails.

The Democratic Services Manager explained that any emails that come in to their mailboxes, they could forward to the IT department and mark them as ‘spam’. This would allow over time to receive less of them.

A Member asked if all Members could be asked if they had any Member Development Sessions to add so that valuable training sessions were not being missed.

RESOLVED: That the Democratic Services Committee noted the contents of the report.