Notes Joint Meeting 2810110

Joint Member and Officer Meeting 23rd September 2011

Present: Councillors: Abbott (Coventry City Council), Sutton (Malvern Hills DC), Jones (Newcastle-under-Lyme BC), Povey (Staffordshire Moorlands DC), Conteh (Stoke-on- Trent City Council), Roache (Stratford-on-Avon DC), Greatorex (Tamworth BC), Fletcher (Telford and Wrekin Council), Stevens (Warwickshire CC), O’Donnell (Wychavon DC)

Officers in attendance: Margaret Yates (Birmingham City Council), Amanda Farmer (Coventry City Council), David Harris (North Warwickshire BC), Judith Wain (Sandwell MBC), Julie Fildes (Shropshire Council), Deborah Merry (Solihull MBC), Julie Roberts (Staffordshire CC), Jean Cartwright, Linden Vernon (Staffordshire Moorlands DC), Michaleen (Stoke-on-Trent City Council), Darren Whitney (Stratford-on-Avon DC) Tracy Leonard (Warwick DC), Paul Williams (Warwickshire CC), Deborah Dale (Worcestershire CC), Sheena Jones (Wychavon DC), Penny Williams (Wyre Forest DC)

Present WMC: Shane O’Callaghan and Carrie Rowberry

Chair’s opening remarks

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting everyone introduced themselves as to who they were and if it was their first meeting.

1. Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from: Helen Abraham (Coventry City Council), Kelly Collett, Sarah Treneer (Dudley MBC) Charlotte Taylor, Cllr Peters (East Staffordshire BC) Jo Lowman, Lisa Perks (Malvern Hills DC), Geoff Durham, Julia Cleary (Newcastle under Lyme BC), Trish Buckley, Cllr Brunner (Redditch BC), Cllr Eling, Lindsay Rogers (Sandwell MBC), Cllr Robinson (Solihull MBC), Andrew Bailey Stafford BC, Cllr Winnington (Staffordshire CC) Lisa Powell (Stoke-on-Trent City Council), Zoe Blake (Tamworth BC), Emma Price (Telford and Wrekin Council), Clare Kelly (West Midlands Fire Service), Cllr Campion, Maggie Collins (Worcestershire CC),

2. Notes of the last meeting were agreed as a true record.

3. Charter Introduction – Shane O’Callaghan, West Midlands Councils

WMC is committed to ensuring that we provide a platform for this and the associated group can continue to function, by providing a platform for this and the associated groups can continue to function, by providing the facilities to host there meetings.

WMC does though have to re-iterate that we do not now have a dedicated in-house member development resources. We will though, where we are able to, look to provide you with the appropriate support you require and can, for example, provide an external resource to assist you in pursuit of the WM Development Charter.

4. LGG Presentation – Charles Leslie

Gave a presentation on what the LGG are currently doing since there restructure. Attached is a copy of the presentation.

Chas also discuss the LGG representative for the West Midlands as it used to be Nano. It was decided that 2 officers would job share the role in case one of the officers couldn’t attend. The officers are Helen Abraham from Coventry City Council and Sheena Jones Wychavon District Council. It was also discussed if a lead member should also attend possible Cllr Roger Sutton from Malvern Hills District Council.

5. Network ‘round up’

There was a network roundup of what had happened at previous meetings as there were lots of new officers and members.

Stoke are currently signing up to the Charter and are going through the self assessment process with Nano. Attached is some information from Cllr Randolph Conteh.

Other authorities are looking at 360 degree assessments, joint working with other authorities as its difficult to get members in the same place at the same time.

Sandwell have used Garth Wood to carry out PDP’s of members.

Lots of authorities have had significant cuts in the member development budget and find it difficult at present with training.

A few authorities are looking at training more specifically for new members.

6. Bitesize sessions for Councillors – Sheena Jones, Wychavon DC

Theses bitesize sessions are hosted at County Hall, Worcestershire. The Business School Worcester help to deliver the training. They are general skills training and looking forward to Localism.

7. Recommendations

Charter – WMC Subscriptions email exchange between Colin Williams (WMC) and Darren Whitney (Stratford DC). Speak to CW to get clarity.

8. General Observations

General observations from the Chair was that the meeting was useful. Need clarity from the next officer group if officer or joint meetings in the future.

9. Next Meeting

Meeting closed at 12:30.