Issue - meetings
Councillor Learning and Development Annual Report
Meeting: 08/09/2026 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 26)
26 COUNCILLOR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT 
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REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – GOVERNANCE
To provide details to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the completion of mandatory and required learning and development to be completed by Councillors.
Decision:
RESOLVED:
(1) That the Committee noted the Annual Report on Councillor Learning and Development.
(2) That the Committee discussed and provided suggestions on Councillor Learning and Development provision and increasing Member completion.
REASON FOR DECISIONS: To comply with the Councillor Learning and Development Protocol as considered and endorsed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on Tuesday 24 March 2026.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 01 hours 0 minutes 49 seconds
Councillor Daniel Allen, as Executive Member for Governance, presented the report entitled ‘Councillor Learning and Development Annual Report’ and advised that:
· This was the first annual report to be presented to the Committee following the adoption of the Learning and Development Protocol in March 2026.
· A high-level overview of learning and development was provided in the report, and political Group Leaders had been sent further information on individuals who had not completed their training.
· 84% of Members had completed all compulsory training modules, with most Members completing the GDPR, Code of Conduct, Cybersecurity and Safeguarding training at one of the in-person sessions in May 2026.
· All but 1 substitute Member of the Planning Control Committee and all but 2 Members of the Licensing and Regulation Committee had completed their mandatory training to sit on the respective Committees, and they would not be able to do so until they had completed the training.
· Training records had been added to the page of every Member on the Council website to highlight training delivered by the Council, and this would be regularly updated. Members were encouraged to attend external training as well, but this would not be recorded.
· Thanks was given to all Members that had completed their training.
Councillor Nigel Mason highlighted that bringing the protocol in had been a good idea, especially the in-person training.
Councillor Martin Prescott highlighted the quality of in-person training and commended the implementation of this.
Councillor Daniel Allen advised Members to investigate extra training available through the Local Government Association as this could be useful.
Councillor Martin Prescott proposed and Councillor Claire Winchester seconded and, following a vote, it was:
RESOLVED:
(1) That the Committee noted the Annual Report on Councillor Learning and Development.
(2) That the Committee discussed and provided suggestions on Councillor Learning and Development provision and increasing Member completion.
REASON FOR DECISIONS: To comply with the Councillor Learning and Development Protocol as considered and endorsed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on Tuesday 24 March 2026.
N.B. Following the conclusion of the item there was a break in proceedings at 20:39 and the meeting reconvened at 20:48. During the break, Councillor Dominic Griffiths left the Chamber and did not return.