To receive feedback on the recent hearings procedure training held on 15 October 2014.
To receive a verbal update from the Independent Persons on training recently attended.
To consider any other training required.
Minutes:
1. Feedback on Hearings Procedure Training
Members felt that it would have been helpful to have also had a dummy hearing.
Asmat Hussain agreed that we would look in to organising a session in the New Year.
2. Independent Person Training
Sarah Jewell reported back on a training session for Independent Persons that she had attended at Southwark Council, organised by Hoey Ainsclough Associates. She highlighted the following:
· The session had begun with a review of the Independent Person role.
· The consensus view was that the new standards framework was working well, but there was some concern about the limited nature of the sanctions available.
· Discussion around the difficulties of assessing whether or not a councillor was acting in his private or official capacity had taken place.
· Wigan Council was said to have a useful list of sanctions available on its website: including issuing press releases, barring members from council offices and the use of council resources. Any ban should be time limited. In cases where members were asked to apologise, and they refuse, sanctions should be applied.
· Use of social media was an area where clarity was needed.
· In some councils, but this did not apply in Enfield, codes of conduct needed updating to include issues of disrespect and non-pecuniary interests.
· In other councils there were problems where a macho culture of leadership prevailed - it was felt that this could be addressed through training. All councillors could also benefit from sessions on how to handle and respond to difficult situations.
· There was also a lack of clarity about what information should be kept private and what could be subject to Freedom of Information requests.
· Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights – the right to a free trial was not relevant because of the limited censure powers: but Article 10 was, as it related to freedom of expression and should be considered in appropriate cases.
· An example of a standards investigation report, provided by a legal advisor, would be circulated to all members.
· Some independent persons had reported that they were not as included in the discussion of standards issues as they thought they should be and others were expected to be involved beyond their remit.
3. Other Training
3.1 A package of training for councillors was being put together. It was suggested that something on appropriate use of social media could be included in a session on the councillor code of conduct.
3.2 In the past there had been difficulties getting members to attend similar sessions. Members felt that it was important that special dates and times should be set aside in the council calendar and that sessions should not clash with other meetings.
3.3 Including more than one session on councillor conduct would be considered.
3.4 Members were concerned that as many councillors as possible should attend. There was a suggestion that these sessions should be mandatory, but after discussion it was agreed that it would be more appropriate for the whips to be responsible for encouraging people to attend.
3.5 Asmat Hussain agreed to bring the proposed training programme to the March meeting for discussion.