The Group Manager Legal and Democratic Services presented a report, the purpose of which was to:

• review the Elected Member Learning and Development Strategy;

• consider the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) draft Induction and Development Frameworks.

She explained that the Strategy was approved in November 2017 by Council and since that date, it had provided the framework for provision and delivery of Member Development for Elected Members from induction and subsequently throughout their term of office.

The Group Manager Legal and Democratic Services, explained that as the Strategy was coming to the end of its current life and in preparations for the 2022 Local Government Elections and the subsequent induction of newly elected members, a desktop review of the Strategy had been undertaken to ensure that it was fit for purpose and updated to reflect a number of factors which had changed since the approval of the original Strategy. The proposed strategy was divided into 5 phases indicated at paragraph 4.2 of the report.

The Group Manager Legal and Democratic Services asked that the Committee considered the Strategy attached at appendix A and also consider if it met the expectations and outcomes as indicated in paragraph 4.6 of the report.

She further explained, that the WLGA draft Induction Framework attached at Appendix 2 to the report, outlined the curriculum for the induction of Members in Wales, leading up to and following the local elections in 2022. The framework was not designed to be prescriptive but rather provided a guide for what should be considered when developing local programmes. The Framework was developed by local authorities in Wales working with the WLGA. She added that attached at Appendix 3 of the report, was the WLGA draft Development Framework and this outlined what was expected of Members in terms of knowledge and their conduct. Further information on the frameworks were contained at paragraphs 4.9 and 4.10 of the report.

A Member asked that on the day of the election when the results were published, it was a learning experience. He asked if it would be possible for a short information document to be created so that elected Members would know what documentation they required, ie essential contact details and a Member Induction pack together with other key and useful information, etc.

The Group Manager Legal and Democratic Services, stated that an induction pack was provided to newly elected Members either on the night of the elections at the Count, or as soon as was possible thereafter. She would however look to see what information was provided, to see if this could be improved or supplemented upon.

The Member explained that a brief paper that had generic information in it for all Members could also be provided, in order that Councillors had an idea of what to expect when they became a BCBC Member, would be helpful prior to receiving the induction pack, as this sometimes took a number of days to be collected from Democratic Services by some  Members, depending on the time the Count had finished or when they could visit Civic Offices to pick up their Induction pack, following the election date.

RESOLVED:                 That the Democratic Services Committee:

• reviewed the Strategy attached as Appendix 1 and endorsed its submission to Council for approval;

• considered the WLGA draft Induction and Development Frameworks attached as Appendix 2 and 3 to the report.