It is the Council’s policy to ensure that all employees and councillors will be trained to a high standard, to ensure that the Council’s aims and objectives can be delivered as efficiently as possible.

 

Members of staff and councillors are expected to embrace the ethos of training and the merits of a well-run and pro-active council structure.

 

Staff Training

 

• The Council’s employees are seen as fundamental to all areas of development and service delivery. It is essential that they are trained to carry out their duties as effectively as possible.
• Each member of staff will receive an appraisal (once a year) and this will be an opportunity to discuss any training needs.
• In addition, members of staff are encouraged to raise at any time the perceived need for further training in any of the areas of work they are required to carry out, if need is identified. Any requests should be submitted to the Town Clerk and those which carry a cost for the course of over £200 should be discussed and agreed with the Chair of the Personnel Committee.
• The Council may request that staff undertake further training at its discretion, where this is deemed necessary, and in view of any specialist activities that the employee is required to undertake on its behalf.
• Full support will be given to all employees undertaking training of any kind in furtherance of the Council’s activities.
• It is an aim that the Clerk should be CiLCA qualified or be working towards this qualification and the Council will endeavour to support the Clerk in pursuance of this.
• The Council will support the Clerk in their work by encouraging and meeting the cost of their membership of the Society of Local Council Clerks.
• The Clerk will maintain a record of training undertaken.

 

Councillor Training

 

• The Council will encourage all members to attend training in relation to the corporate activities of the Council, and its administrative procedures.
• Councillors will also be expected to undertake specialist courses as need arises, and dependent on any specific responsibilities that are allocated.
• The Council is a member of the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils and has full access to its training programme.
• If additional, specialist training is required on any matter, the Clerk will source an appropriate course and, if possible, arrange for a qualified person to deliver that training in-house to members.
• A record of all training attended by members will be kept.

 

General

 

• The Council will set aside an adequate training budget each year to meet training needs for staff and councillors.
• Anyone attending training is required to report back to the Clerk on the value of the training, and if appropriate prepare a written report for Council.
• Any useful training material should be shared between staff and members, either in hard copy or via e-mail, to ensure everyone is made fully aware of important updates relating to law and administration.
• The Council will take note of any matters which should be pursued as a result of training attended, and where best practice procedures should be implemented or updated as a result.

 

 

This policy should be used in conjunction with each employee’s contract.  It will be reviewed annually and subsequently linked into the following year’s budget-setting to allow for all contingencies, with regard to training needs.