PURPOSE

1. To update the Committee on the attendance by Parish and Town Councillors and Clerks on the Code of Conduct training provided during January and February.

BACKGROUND

2. As part of this committee’s responsibility to assist members in the observance of the Code of Conduct 6 training sessions on the existing Code of Conduct were arranged across the Island for January and February. These sessions were made available to all Parish & Town Councillors and Clerks and the Members and Clerks of the 5 Town/Village Management Committees.

3. Unfortunately due to a bereavement one of the sessions had to be cancelled at short notice and has now bee re-scheduled for 11 April.

4. At each session a copy of the current Code of Conduct was provided and worked through in an informal setting on a paragraph by paragraph basis. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions throughout the sessions, and indeed did, and this helped to ensure a better understanding by all attendees of the issues. Towards the end a number of worked examples were considered around declarations of personal and prejudicial interest were discussed. An introduction to the proposed changes to the code finished off the sessions.

5. A brief assessment of the feedback forms has indicated that generally the sessions were appreciated by attendees and most seem to be able to identify at least one specific learning point from the evening. A more detailed assessment will be undertaken once the final session has been held.

6. I attach at appendix 1 a breakdown of the attendance to date by Parish/Town Council. This also includes the Sandown Town Council who, by virtue of the other work that we are undertaking with them had a completely separate session just for them.

THE FUTURE

7. The Committee will appreciate that with the proposed changes to the Code of Conduct there will be a need to provide a further round of training sessions to ensure that all Parish and Town Councillors understand the new implications. At this stage it is not clear exactly when the new arrangements will come into effect and once this is clear the training sessions will be set up.

8. It is obviously important that as many Town and Parish Councillors and Clerks attend these sessions as possible and it would be useful if when the next round of sessions are advertised those who have not attended this latest round be specifically reminded of the need to attend.

RECOMMENDATIONS

9. That the report be noted at this stage – with a more detailed analysis to be received at the next meeting.

Contact Point : Chris Mathews,

Telephone: 823280

Email: [email protected]

ALISON LOWTON

Interim Director of Legal and Democratic Services

CODE OF CONDUCT TRAINING
	ATTENDANCE
Council/Committee	Councillors	Council total	Clerk
Arreton	1	8	0
Bembridge	7	12	0
Brading	6	8	1
Brighstone	4	8	0
Calbourne	0	6	0
Carisbrooke	5	8	0
Chale	2	6	0
Cowes	9	14	0
East Cowes	0	9	0
Fishbourne	1	6	0
Freshwater	0	14	0
Gatcombe	3	4	1
Godshill	0	6	0
Gurnard	0	9	1
Havenstreet & Ashey	5	6	0
Lake	0	12	0
Nettlestone & Seaview	7	9	1
Newchurch	0	5	0
Newport	0	14	1
Niton & Whitwell	1	10	0
Northwood	4	8	1
Rookley	0	7	0
Ryde	3	18	0
Sandown	8	12	0
Shalfleet	0	6	0
Shanklin	8	15	1
Shorwell	0	6	0
St Helens	0	8	0
Totland	0	8	0
Ventnor	3	11	0
Whippingham	4	6	0
Wootton	1	10	0
Wroxall	0	8	0
Yarmouth	0	8	0
TOTAL	82	305	7
	25.01%