Training Plan
Cyngor Cymuned Llansanffraid Glan Conwy Community Council Training Plan
The Council has a statutory duty under Section 67 of the local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 to develop a plan setting out what it proposes to do to address the training needs of its Councillors and Clerk.
The training plan is designed to ensure that collectively, Councillors and Clerk, possess the skills and knowledge needed for the Council to operate effectively.
A new training plan must be adopted after each ordinary election of Community Councillors to reflect the training needs resulting from changes to the Council. This is our first training plan but it will be reviewed after each Annual General Meeting to keep it up to date and relevant.
With regard to the Clerk, an annual performance appraisal will identify individual training opportunities. The training plan is designed to support Councillors to have the relevant training to carry out their roles, this applies to all Councillors and not just those who take on roles such as Chair, Finance Officer, Employment committees, etc.
There are essential areas that should be addressed to ensure that the Council has sufficient skills and understanding.
These include:
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Basic induction for Councillors (including the Good Councillor Guide)
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The Code of Conduct for Members of local authorities in Wales;
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The Council, The Councillor, The Council Meeting; Code of Conduct (OVW modules);
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Financial Management and Governance.
In addition to these, the Council will consider whether there are new skills for Councillors and the Clerk to attain going forward from the publication of this first training plan.
Induction of new Councillors:
The Clerk will issue a welcome pack to all new Councillors. The pack will include: • Contact details for Councillors and the Clerk;
• The Good Councillors Guide;
• Code of Conduct;
• Standing Orders; Financial Regulations; Risk Assessment;
• Meetings Calendar;
• A list of all Council Policies;
• Any other relevant and current information.
Councillor Training:
All new councillors are expected to attend Code of Conduct training in the first six months of taking office.
It is a requirement of the council’s code of conduct that all councillors attend Code of Conduct training in each electoral term.
All new councillors are expected to attend the following One Voice Wales modules in the first six months of taking office: The Council; The Councillor; The Council Meeting.
All new councillors are expected to attend the following One Voice Wales modules in the first twelve months of taking office: Understanding the Law; Local Government Finance.
The Council’s initial training plans are set out in the folllowing tables:
Training Needs Analysis - Scale: 1 (desirable) - 5 (Crucial)
Members’ responsibilities
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Members are individually responsible for taking ownership of their own training; they need to identify and undertake any required initial/annual/refresher training;
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Members can check the list of all available OVW training events held by the Clerk, and then advise the Clerk of any identified/required training;
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Members must inform the Clerk of any training undertaken for inclusion within the Training Record.
The Clerk will keep an up-to-date Training Record for both themself and all Members.
Training Budgets
The training budget is reviewed annually as part of the budget process. The training budget for Councillors in 2024/25 is £1800, covering four courses per Councellor. This figure should reduce sharply in following years as training is completed. The training budget for the Clerk is assessed separately depending on their individual circumstances.
If a councillor or Clerk fails to attend a course or examination they will be required to reimburse the Council. This requirement will only be waived by a resolution of the full council if a reasonable excuse is given and accepted.
Adopted by Llansanffraid Glan Conwy Community Council at AGM dated 14/05/2024
To be reviewed May 2025 or earlier if required by legislation.