Issue - meetings

To submit the report of the Head of Democracy.

1.     To accept the report.

2.     Establish an 8th field of core training for Elected Members, being “Violence
against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence”, in accordance with the recommendation of the Democratic Services Committee.

Gratitude was expressed for the opportunity to present the report. It was highlighted that the report had been split into two parts. It was noted that the first part provided an update on what had happened in the field over the year, along with staffing changes. It was emphasised that the Democracy Services committee had paid considerable attention to the area of training this year, and that the report highlights what had been discussed along with a further addition to the core training.

It was noted that the level of satisfaction with the work of the Democracy Team had increased since last year, and the team's work of supporting over 150 meetings was recognised. It was explained that extensive work had been done to develop the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee to establish the democracy element.

Priorities for this year were highlighted, namely, to begin the work of preparing for the May 2027 Election, in terms of reviewing what had been done during the 2022 election, and to introduce improvements for next term. Attention was drawn to the need to examine and create a plan to modernise the chamber systems and create a plan to be presented as a business plan this year.

In discussing Member Training, it was expressed that discussions had taken place in the Democracy Services Committee to introduce an eighth core area which was the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence module. It was explained that this module was mandatory for staff and therefore needed to be extended to members.

Staff in the field were thanked for their hard work.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations.

The Chair of the Democracy Services Committee thanked the Head of Department and the team for their work, and members of the committee were thanked for their work. 

The Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence training was welcomed, requesting that it be held as soon as possible.

The Questions item on the Council's agenda was discussed, with some expressing concern about its length with so many questions to be discussed. It was resolved that this matter was an issue to be discussed further in the Democracy Services Committee in terms of the constitutional perspective and to examine how other Councils were dealing with the matter. 

It was enquired in relation to the updating of the chambers and technical developments that the provision and update needed to be extended beyond Caernarfon and to Council locations across the county.

RESOLVED

1.     To accept the report

2.     To establish an 8th field of core training for Elected Members, namely “Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence”, in accordance with the recommendation of the Democracy Services Committee.