Agenda item

The Chairman invited Cllr Judi Billing and Helen Jenkins, Head of Leadership, to introduce the update.

Cllr Billing welcomed the fact that there had now been over 2,000 training and development opportunities provided to members in the year up until 31 December 2021. Members were informed that the LGA had received some additional in-year funding to support, amongst other things, a new programme of leadership development and support in response to the UK Government’s Disability Strategy. This would help to widen participation of councillors in community leadership roles. Cllr Billing expressed reservations about the use of the term ‘disabled people’, despite this being the currently accepted phraseology by Disability Rights UK. She asked for members views on the matter. Concern was also expressed about members initially signing up for, and then dropping out of, leadership programmes, leaving them short of participants. This had possibly been exacerbated by the Covid pandemic, but Cllr Billing asked for members’ views on how this could be addressed going forward.

Helen updated members on the NGDP programme. Video interviewing of candidates was now complete and they would receive the decision later that day. The current cohort would be the most diverse so far with over 30% from BME backgrounds. Helen requested members assistance in spreading the word amongst their colleagues about the new disability offer, contracts for which were now being awarded.

Members’ comments and questions:

·       It was agreed that any members interested in the disability terminology issue should contact Jonathan Bryant in the first instance to set up a meeting.

·       A request was made for Lead Members of the Board to continue to lobby the Government about the importance of councils being able to hold hybrid or online meetings in order to widen participation in the democratic process.

·       It was suggested that there might be a gap in the LGA’s leadership training around resilience, particularly in the light of increasing public health and terrorist threats.

Decision:

Improvement & Innovation Board noted the update and, subject to the comments above, endorsed the Leadership Team’s ongoing programme of events and training.