Issue - meetings

Report CSD 18118

The Committee received a report reviewing the Member Induction Programme following the 2018 local elections. The report included tables with detailed feedback from all the sessions - most of the feedback was positive. One new Member commented that more information on Council decision-making processes and structures would have been helpful.

All of the sessions had been provided by in-house staff, except the session on Scrutiny. Some Members considered that it was useful to have an outside perspective on this subject, but a number of Members thought that this was unnecessary expenditure, and that in future the session could be run by Councillors and officers. 

The report also covered the issue of new IT equipment to Councillors. Following extensive consultation by BT, the Council’s IT contractor, the range of equipment available to new Members, and returning Members wishing to upgrade, had been expanded to a choice of an iPad, a standard laptop or a 2-in1 laptop with detachable screen. A Member commented that she had not been offered assistance to install her new laptop at home; it was confirmed that, with the agreement of Members at the time, this had not been included in the IT support contract, but that such additional assistance could still be provided in exceptional circumstances 

The Council offered a basic mobile phone, or a £10 per month contribution to the cost of using a Member’s personal phone for Council business.  Some Members requested that the Council provide smart-phones to assist them in their work, and officers responded that this could be reviewed, but this would involve additional expenditure.

RESOLVED that the content of the report be noted.