We provide quality learning and development opportunities
for our council members. This helps them in their work for the
communities they represent.
Helping council members to develop
It is our responsibility to provide training and development
strategies and policies. These will outline how we intend members
to achieve the skills they need to become effective
councillors.
The Member learning and development strategy will be designed
to:
- Set out a means of meeting the needs of individual members and
the council as a whole.
- Help councillors to gain the skills and knowledge they
require.
- Raise awareness amongst members of their responsibilities.
How we deliver learning and development
Harrogate Borough Council has 54 elected members. Those
members represent an area of 505 square miles (Harrogate
District). 75 per cent of those councillors have significant
daytime commitments (such as full time employment). Therefore
evening meetings are the best time to conduct Council business.
About our council members (opens in new
widow)
It's the same for learning and development although
opportunities are limited. It is important that we offer a range of
methods to meet learning needs, personal circumstances, backgrounds
and learning styles. We currently uses a mix of in house
events and external facilitators to deliver training events.
The Member Development Charter
To take learning and development further, we have signed up to
the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA)
Member Development Charter (opens in a new
window) to help develop local council member skills.
In 2000, the IDeA launched the Charter for Member Development
which seeks to:
- Raise the profile of members' development and training.
- Encourage local authorities to provide development and training
for their elected members.
- Award authorities for best practice in member training and
development initiatives.
Find out more about how the IDeA seeks to assist local
authorties by visiting
IDeA's website (opens in a new
window).
Improvement and Involvement group
The Improvement and Involvement Member steering group works on
a range of issues affecting Member learning and development. It
also looks at improving Council meetings and the Council
constitution generally. Any Councillor can raise items for
consideration at these meetings through their own political
group.
- Member learning and development events.
- Local Democracy Week.
- Member job profiles.
- Member personal development questionnaires
- Member Induction events and tours.
- Member IT support.
- Review meetings for newly elected Members.
Further information
Find out more about Council member learning and
development:
For more information, please contact:
Chris Houghton, Senior Member Services
Officer
Department of Resources
Council Offices, Crescent Gardens
Harrogate
HG1 2SG
Tel: 01423 556076