Commentary on Sections Part 4: Local Authority Executives, Members, Officers And Committees Section 67 – Community council training plans
372.Section 67 requires a community council to make a plan setting out what it proposes to so to address the training needs of its councillors and staff.
373.The intention is that, by considering training provision in this way, community councillors, as a group, and the staff supporting the council, will come to collectively possess the knowledge and awareness needed for the council to operate effectively. It is not necessary for all councillors and staff to have received the same training and develop the same expertise.
374.Subsections (2) and (3) specify the timetable for making a community council’s first training plan, and when they are subsequently required to make a new one. The timing for making the first plan is determined by the date the subsection comes into force, and allows up to 6 months for a community council to comply. This provides a reasonable period for a community council to consider the current skillsets of its councillors and staff, having regard to any guidance, in accordance with subsection (7), and to make a plan about the provision of training.
375.A new training plan must be put in place after each ordinary election of community councillors to reflect changes in training needs resulting from changes in councillors, and potentially staff too. Subsection (4) requires a community council to review its training plan from time to time. How often a plan is reviewed is at the discretion of a community council, to reflect local circumstances.
376.The training plan, and any revised plans, must be published, this requirement is intended to facilitate accountability on this matter.
377.Subsection (6) requires that the training plan must be considered by the full council by providing that section 101 of the 1972 Act does not apply. This means the functions of determining the content of a training plan, or reviewing a plan, cannot be delegated to a committee etc., or an officer of the community council.