Agenda and minutes

The Chairman extended a warm welcome to the new Parish Council Representative on this Panel, Carol Cockayne from Woodsetts Parish Council.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 18^th December, 2008 were agreed as a correct record.

Further to Minute No. 17 (E-Casework) Councillor Austen’s name should have been added to the trial/consultation group and an update on progress should be submitted to the meeting in February.

With regards to Minute No. 19 (Update on SYIP) an evaluation of the programme would be submitted to the next meeting. 

It was also noted that a regional approach was to be made regarding member training as a bid had been submitted to the Regional Efficiency and Improvement Partnership (REIP).

CathSaltis, Head of Scrutiny and Member Support, introduced a report which detailed various topics for the Work Programme for Members during 2009 and was based on the outcome of Members’ Personal Development Plans.  Further information was provided on each.

Members welcomed these areas for training particularly those related to the Corporate Area Assessment and the inspection regime, Safeguarding Adults and Emergency Planning.

Whilst the programme submitted was not exhaustive, further suggestions were welcomed and various were put forward for inclusion during 2009.  These included:-

·              Structure and Scrutiny of Local Strategic Partnership and Partners (Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee to lead on scrutiny side).

·              Safeguarding Children.

·              Mod.Gov Data Management System (Democratic Renewal Scrutiny Panel to lead)

·              Links to the training set up by Area Assemblies and 2010 Rotherham Ltd.

·              Dismissal/Grievance Appeals and refresh for existing Panel Members – Councillor Hughes volunteered to be included.

·              Code of Conduct – Changes and Implications.

·              Licensing.

A similar practice that existed with the Planning Board would be to extend all training organised for Members to include the Parish Councils.

Agreed:-  (1)  That the training programme and any other suggestions be incorporated into a training pack for Members during 2009, the details of which to be circulated in due course.

(2)  That Members be consulted and nominations sought for the Dismissal/Grievance Appeals Pool of Members, including those who had already volunteered.

Further to Minute No. 18 of the meeting of this Panel held on 18^th December, 2008, consideration was given to a report entitled “Promoting the Council Role to Employers”, which had been considered at an event  organised as part of the South Yorkshire Improvement Programme.

The South Yorkshire Improvement Programme had commissioned the Political Skills Forum to assess the potential and relevance of a local campaign to promote the councillor role amongst employers and to increase the range of people willing to undertake this role whilst still in employment.

The report set out in detail what action was undertaken and recommendations to overcome a number of barriers that existed and how they should be addressed to ensure there were a higher proportion of councillors who were still in employment.

It was suggested that this report be circulated to the Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and the Local Strategic Partnership for their information following its submission to the Cabinet and associated Scrutiny Panel.

Agreed:-  (1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)  That the report be submitted to Cabinet and the appropriate Scrutiny Panel for their attention.

Consideration was given to the invitation to a one day seminar on Wednesday, 4^th February, 2009 at the Cedar Court, Wakefield jointly hosted by Local Government Yorkshire and Humberside and the Institute of Community Cohesion.

Members welcomed the invitation to attend, but declined on the basis that it was on the same day as the next Council Meeting.

It was suggested that further information be sought on any workshops that would be of relevance with a view to having a similar event in Rotherham to which local Partners etc. could be invited.

Agreed:-  That further options be explored.

Consideration was given to a suggestion that had been submitted via the Employee Suggestion Scheme prior to its deliberation by the Employee Suggestion Panel.

Concern was expressed that this suggestion was being considered before its merits had been discussed by the Employee Suggestion Panel.

Agreed:-  That this suggestion be considered by the Employee Suggestion Panel and its merits evaluated in full.

CathSaltis, Head of Scrutiny Services and Member Support, circulated a copy of an IDeA paper entitled “Giving Councillors the Tools for the Job – The Supporting Councillors Declaration”.

The IDeA paper invited and encouraged all Councils to commit to ten statements setting out the standard of support for Councillors they would undertake to provide.

It was suggested that consideration needed to be given to the gap analysis of what the Council was recommended to do and what it currently did and then to consider whether to sign up to these undertakings or not.

The Democratic Renewal Scrutiny Panel were, therefore, tasked with looking at these recommendations and feeding back their conclusions to this Members’ Training and Development Panel.

Agreed:-  That the Democratic Renewal Scrutiny Panel consider the ten recommendations in tandem with what Rotherham provided and report back the outcomes to this Panel and the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee n due course prior to a submission to the Cabinet.

Consideration was given to training dates for Safeguarding Adults, which were split into half day sessions and hosted by the Neighbourhoods and Adult Services Directorate.

Discussion ensued on the course content, learning outcomes, whether there were evening alternatives and integration with officers.

Agreed:-  That consultation take place with the course organisers to identify three suitable dates for Members with the inclusion of an evening alternative.

Agreed:-  That the next meeting of this Panel take place on Thursday, 26^th February, 2009 at 2.00 p.m.