Agenda item

Cllr Judi Billing MBE, introduced the item, advising that the report updated members on priorities and engagement figures for the 2017/18 Highlighting Political Leadership offer.

In the discussion which followed, members made the following points:

·         Members discussed how to increase the numbers taking up places on the Leadership Academy course.

·         Members asked what data was available on under-represented groups. They were advised that figures would be distributed when they were available at the end of the year.

·         Concerns were raised over the number of women standing to be councillors, and members asked what was being done to address this. Officers advised that the Be a Councillor Programme aimed to encourage more female candidates to come forward.

Decision

1.    The board noted progress so far on the 2017/18 Highlighting Political Leadership offer.

Action

1.    Officers to proceed with work in line with members’ comments.