Issue - meetings

To evaluate the knowledge and skills of the Governance and Audit Committee members (report of the Scrutiny and Policy Officer enclosed).

The Scrutiny and Policy Officer introduced the report on evaluating the knowledge and skills of Governance and Audit Committee members. It was explained that the skills audit had been agreed as part of the previous year’s self-assessment process and aimed to support members in identifying areas for development. Members were advised that the audit would be issued both electronically and in hard copy and that the results would feed into the next self?assessment later in the year. The questions were based on the CIPFA knowledge and skills framework, and the audit was intended to help ensure the Committee collectively possessed the appropriate skills and knowledge to discharge its responsibilities.

The report was considered and the following issues were raised:

·       Members asked whether the skills audit could be completed in hard copy rather than online.

o   The Scrutiny and Policy Officer confirmed that hard copies would be made available on request and arrangements would be made for completed forms to be scanned and returned for inclusion in the results.

·       Members queried whether a similar skills audit could be rolled out more widely to all councillors.

o   The Scrutiny and Policy Officer responded that while this had not originally been considered, the idea had also arisen during a recent skills audit undertaken elsewhere in the partnership. The officer confirmed it was something that could be explored further if members felt it would be beneficial.

·       Members sought reassurance about the purpose of the audit, noting that it should be for members’ own benefit rather than an assessment of competence.

o   The Scrutiny and Policy Officer confirmed that the audit was intended to support members in identifying areas for further development and training. Members were advised that the audit was not a test, nor would responses be shared widely; names would only be used where necessary to support individual development conversations and would not appear in reported results.

AGREED:

That Committee members complete the Personal Skills Audit.