Independent Councillor Hugh Hunter has described the attendance of fellow councillors at training sessions as "pretty disgraceful," revealing that he was the sole attendee at one session and only two were present at another. The comments were made during a meeting of South Ayrshire Council while discussing the Audit and Governance Panel's annual report.
Councillor voices dissatisfaction
Councillor Hunter, a former Conservative Council Leader, expressed his "total dissatisfaction and unhappiness" with the low turnout. He told the meeting: "I'm perhaps not the only person in this room that is totally dissatisfied and unhappy with members' attendance at training sessions." He added that while he was not suggesting "naming and shaming," the situation warranted attention.
He provided specific examples: "It wouldn't be the first training session I've been the only person that attended, and there was one the other week, I think there was only two of us there. So I think it's pretty disgraceful."
Proposed improvements
Councillor Hunter suggested that councillors should be provided with attendance figures for training sessions and feedback on the quality of the sessions. He noted that "the list of members' training sessions is extensive and, by and large, very informative."
Chief Executive Stephen Penman acknowledged the issue, stating: "Members' attendance, at both training and committees, is, of course, a matter for members. There are some functions which require training to be undertaken before those functions can be discharged." He confirmed that the council is "actively looking at ways in which members' training can be further developed" and will work with members on feedback and future training, with a view to the next term's induction.
Commitment to improvement
Councillor Hunter welcomed the commitment, saying: "Anything that can be done to improve members' knowledge of the workings of the council and the important areas it covers is going to be a good thing." The discussion concluded with councillors unanimously approving the Audit and Governance Panel's annual report.
When approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service for details of elected members' training attendance, South Ayrshire Council requested a Freedom of Information submission.
