This meeting was scheduled to include a review of Councillors' responses to a survey about training and development, and the consideration of a proposed programme of training and development events for Councillors in 2025.

Programme of Training and Development Events for Councillors in 2025

A draft programme of training and development events for Councillors in 2025 was scheduled to be presented to the meeting for discussion. The draft programme included mandatory training on health and safety for 16 named Councillors, and sessions for all Councillors about the Leisure Strategy, the Arts & Culture Strategy, and Domestic Abuse.

Councillor responses to training and development survey

The meeting was scheduled to receive feedback on Councillors' responses to a survey about training and development. The survey asked Councillors a number of questions about their training needs and preferences, including:

• When do you prefer training to take place?
• What would be your preferred format for training?
• Areas of Special Interest - Please list those areas of Council work in which you would wish to develop further
• Was there anything that you felt was missing in the induction [programme] that would have been useful The survey also asked Councillors to rate how useful they found each training session they had attended. For example, Councillors were asked to rate how useful they found the training on Council Budget Setting on a scale from Really Useful to Not Useful. > For each Mandatory session attended, please confirm how useful you found it: Council Budget Setting  Really Useful  Somewhat Useful  Not Useful  I did not attend > The survey also asked Councillors about their use of the Local Government Association (LGA) website as a source of information and training. The LGA is a national membership body for local authorities. They provide advice and support to councils, and campaign on their behalf. > Have you accessed any of the training or useful information on the LGA website that was given in your welcome pack: >

This was to be the second time this feedback was presented to the Steering Group, having previously been presented at their meeting on the 8th of August 2024.