The Member Development and Standards Sub Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday 23 February 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the committee's terms of reference and an update on member learning and development activities.

Terms of Reference

The committee is scheduled to consider its terms of reference as part of an annual review. This review allows for any proposed changes to be considered in time for the annual re-appointment, composition, and terms of reference of sub-committees, which is undertaken by the Policy and Resources Committee. The review also provides an opportunity for members to assess the frequency of the committee's meetings and determine if it remains appropriate or requires adjustment. The report on this matter is from the Town Clerk and Chief Executive.

Member Learning and Development Update

An update on member learning and development activities during the 2025/26 civic year is scheduled for discussion. This report will provide an overview of training delivered, attendance data, and engagement trends. It will also include an update on actions and feedback from the previous meeting held on 9 December 2025. Furthermore, the report will detail the rescheduling and development of the Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EEDI) quarterly theme, which is now planned for the first quarter of the 2026/27 civic year (April–June/July 2026). This adjustment allows for more thorough training needs analysis and programme design.

The report highlights that the Member Learning and Development Strategy 2025–2029 was approved on 9 December 2025. This strategy outlines a structured, rolling programme of development opportunities for all Members of the Court of Common Council, delivered on a quarterly themed basis. The strategy commits the sub-committee to monitoring member participation, reviewing attendance and engagement data, identifying training needs, and ensuring value for money.

During Quarters 1 and 2 (April–September 2025), the focus was on the Member Induction and Refresher Programme following the March 2025 Ward Elections. Quarter 3 (October–December 2025) concentrated on ad-hoc and requested sessions, including Chair's Training, Cyber Security Training, and Digital Transformation Workshops. External opportunities provided by bodies such as the Local Government Association (LGA) have also been signposted, covering topics like building effective member and officer relationships, personal safety for councillors, and handling online abuse and intimidation.

The planned quarterly training themes for 2026/2027 are:

• Q1 (April–June 2026): Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Q2 (July–September 2026): Leadership Skills
• Q3 (October–December 2026): Health, Safety & Wellbeing
• Q4 (January–March 2027): Data and Information

The report notes that the EEDI theme has been moved to Q1 of 2026/27 to allow sufficient time for a structured training needs analysis and programme design. This approach aims to ensure that the content addresses genuine knowledge gaps and practical challenges faced by Members, is proportionate and role-relevant, and aligns with statutory responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010¹. The finalised programme for the EEDI quarter will be presented to the sub-committee for a final decision.

The report also references a separate report to the Equity, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EEDI) Sub-Committee on 18 February 2026, which invited members' views on the scope and focus of the EEDI-themed quarter. This included discussions on potential gaps in members' knowledge or confidence, the balance between legal responsibilities and practical application, and areas of higher legal, reputational, or governance risk.

The Member Development and Standards Sub-Committee is invited to note the report and appendices, and provide any further direction regarding future delivery and monitoring arrangements.