Council Members Training and Development Policy

Council Members Training and

Development Policy

26 September 2023

Council Member Training and Development Policy

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

The City of Adelaide acknowledges that we are located on the traditional Country of the

Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and pays respect to Elders past, present and

emerging.

We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We

also extend that respect to visitors of other Aboriginal Language Groups and other First

Nations.

DOCUMENT PROPERTIES

Contact for enquiries and proposed changes

If you have any questions regarding this document or if you have a suggestion for

improvements, please contact:

Contact Officer: Alana Martin

Title: Manager, Governance

Program: Governance

Phone: (08) 8203 7092

Email: a.martin@cityofadelaide.com.au

Record Details

HPRM Reference:

HPRM Container:

Version History

A Council must, within 12 months after each general election, review this Code.

Before Council adopts, alters or substitute this Code, it must follow the relevant steps in our

Community Consultation Policy.

The Council will review this Code on an annual basis to ensure that the principles of open

government is being applied in a proper manner.

The next scheduled review is due to occur in September 2024.

Version

Revision

Date

Revised By

Revision Description

Council Member Training and Development Policy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY ....................................................................................................................1

DOCUMENT PROPERTIES ...........................................................................................................................................1

Contact for enquiries and proposed changes ........................................................................................1

1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................3

2. Policy Objective ..................................................................................................................................................3

3. Scope .....................................................................................................................................................................3

4. Training and Development Plan ..................................................................................................................3

5. Annual Budget Allocation ..............................................................................................................................5

6. Attendance at Training and Development Activities ..........................................................................5

7. Payment/Reimbursements ............................................................................................................................5

8. Annual Reporting ..............................................................................................................................................6

9. Statement of Adoption and Review ...........................................................................................................6

10. Other Relevant Policies/Procedures ..........................................................................................................6

Council Member Training and Development Plan ...............................................................................7

Council Member Training and Development Policy

1. Introduction

The City of Adelaide is committed to providing training and development activities for its

Council Members, including the mandatory training requirements under the LGA Training

Standards, and recognises its responsibility to develop and adopt a policy for this purpose

under section 80A of the Local Government Act.

Following the amendment to the Local Government Act and the Local Government (General)

Regulations November 2014, this policy incorporates the new requirements for Council

Members to undertake mandatory training within the first year of election to office, which

complies with the LGA Training Standards as defined in regulation 8AA of the Local

Government (General) Regulations 2013.

2. Policy Objective

To ensure Council Members are offered opportunities to undertake the required training in

accordance with the LGA Training Standards and any other appropriate training and

development activities relevant to their roles and functions.

3. Scope

This Policy applies to all Council Members, who each have an obligation to abide by this Policy.

4. Training and Development Plan

Council will develop and adopt a Training & Development Plan so as to ensure that activities

available to all Council Members comply with the Regulations and contribute to the personal

development of the individual and the achievement of the strategic and good governance

objectives of Council.

Particular emphasis will be given in the Training & Development Plan to the participation of all

Council Members in the development of a new team following a general election as well as the

orientation of first time Council Members.

In preparing its Training & Development Plan the Council will utilise a range of strategies to

identify the needs of Council and match these needs against its strategic and good governance

objectives. In particular, the Council, in consultation with Council Members who have been re-

elected for another term on Council, will undertake a 'gap analysis' to identify the appropriate

modules within the LGA Training Standards that should form the basis of the required training for

returning Council Members.

Part One: All Council Members are required to undertake mandatory training as detailed in the

LGA Training Standards for Council Members.

The training provides a community leadership competency framework, with the aim of building

and developing the capabilities and performance of Council Members. There are multiple

modules within the four leadership competencies that are required to be completed and are set

out below:

Behaviour

To identify attributes and develop skills that uphold the Behavioural Standards and principles of

Council Member Training and Development Policy

good governance.

In addition, the Lord Mayor must undertake further training in relation to Effective Leadership as

defined in the mandatory training requirements.

Civic

To develop knowledge of the Australian system of government and how Councils fulfil the

objectives of the Local Government Act to deliver reputable community outcomes.

In addition, the Lord mayor must undertake further training in relation to Public Speaking and

media skills. Presiding Members of Council and Committees must also undertake training on

Meeting Procedures for technical knowledge and Effective Meeting (Chairing Skills).

Legal

To develop the knowledge and skills required to meet the legal responsibilities of a council

member.

Strategy and Finance

To develop the knowledge of integrated strategic and annual business planning and the skills to

manage public funds appropriately.

In addition to the above, the Standards put further focus on the following:

The development and inclusion of a formal orientation and induction program. The CEO will

arrange a program that complements the completion of the mandatory training and will aim to

provide support and resources to effectively perform in the role.

A Council Leadership Workshop

The CEO will arrange for the inclusion of a workshop/s focusing on ensuring leadership

effectiveness in working to deliver Councils strategic purpose.

A mid-term refresher workshop

This will include but will not be limited to effective working relationships, legal and financial

responsibilities and effective council meetings and procedures.

Lord Mayor Leadership

This training is specific to all Mayors and includes key responsibilities as leader of the Council,

and skills to guide the promotion of positive and constructive working relationships of the Council

as a whole.

Training outlined within the Standards must be completed by all Members within the first 12

months of their four-year term.

Council Members will have access to Council Member specific training that is offered by the Local

Government Association (LGA). This training is a suite of professional and personal development

training opportunities for Council Members which is contextualised to the local government sector

of South Australia. All courses aim to provide Council Members with the skills and knowledge to

better understand their role and the responsibilities to effectively perform their duties confidently

and to the best of their ability.

The Council Governance Team will circulate the LGA's Council Member course offerings on an

annual basis or as new training if offered. This training does not require Council approval.

Part Two: This training aims to provide Council Members with the skills and knowledge of

technology and general Council information they will require to navigate their interaction with

the Council, the administration and the general community. Examples of such activities include

but are not limited to:

Council Member Training and Development Policy

 Training in the Microsoft suites of applications and training in how to use this

technology, at either a basic, intermediate or advanced level;

 Seminars and informal (briefing) sessions conducted by Council with appropriate guest

speakers and trainers;

 Purchase of training booklets and discussion papers that could be distributed to Council

Members for information;

 On-line training delivery; and

 Circulation of information.

This training may be provided by Council staff or a Council training provider and the Chief

Executive Officer may approve this training if it is under $5,000. Any requests over $5,000 will

require Council approval.

The Standards promote ongoing personal and professional development to ensure that Council

Members remain effective and reputable in the discharge of their duties.

Part Three: Provides Council Members with the opportunity to undertake professional

development to enhance the skills and knowledge required to perform their official functions and

duties and interactions with the Community. Any request under this category, which is over

$5,000 will require specific approval by Council and the Council Member will be required to

provide:

 How the request aligns to the performance and discharge of their official functions and

duties;

 How the request contributes to the good governance and the strategic objectives of

Council.

Requests will be not considered if the requests fall within the last year of the Council Members

term on Council.

Professional development opportunities will be discussed between the Lord Mayor and Council

Members. The Lord Mayor will take an active role in the continued professional development of

Council Members to assist Council Members with the skills and knowledge required to serve the

community.

If support under this section is approved the Council Member is required to provide a report to

Council at the completion of the course and how they have applied the skills gained. If a member

does not provide a report or fails to complete the course cost are to be refunded to Council.

Part Four: Requests for Attendance at Interstate Conferences

Council approval is required prior to any travel being undertaken by a Council Member.

Relevant and comparable training and development opportunities within metropolitan Adelaide

should be explored prior to considering intra or interstate options.

If there are no comparable opportunities within metropolitan Adelaide and a Council Member

requests the attendance at an interstate conference or seminar the Council Member will be

required to provide the benefits to Council and the alignment to the discharge of their duties.

The Manager Governance will ensure that this information will be provided to Council for

consideration.

Travel for the Lord Mayor

As per the Council Members Allowances and Benefits Policy and in recognition of the strategic

importance of the Lord Mayor role as the primary representative of the City of Adelaide, the

Council Member Training and Development Policy

Lord Mayor may attend interstate conferences, seminars, meetings or other engagements

without the need for separate Council approval, with Council meeting the reasonable costs of

travel, accommodation and subsistence.

Any international travel proposed by the Lord Mayor must be approved by Council prior to any

such travel with an appropriate budget for travel, accommodation, and subsistence.

Travel for Council Members (other than the Lord Mayor)

Where travel is required, accommodation, flights and rental cars (where applicable) are to be

arranged through the Council Liaison Officer and will be made to ensure the best value to Council.

Where accommodation is required as part of the attendance of the activity, accommodation will

only be booked for the nights of the training and development activity. For example, if a

conference commences on a Thursday evening and concludes on a Sunday afternoon,

accommodation will include the nights of Thursday, Friday and Saturday only. The only

exception where Sunday night accommodation is considered will be in the case of no return

flights being available. It would also be deemed appropriate to extend an accommodation

booking to include the night before the commencement of a conference in the circumstance

where the earliest flight would not guarantee the Council Member arriving at the conference on

time.

Any additional nights outside of this timeframe are to be arranged by the Council Member and

will be at their own expense.

If the Council Member requests a return flight on a date after the conclusion of the activity and

that flight is more expensive, the additional costs will be at the expense of the Council Member.

Council Members are not entitled to link their travel to any personal reward programs such as

airline reward programs.

The reimbursement of reasonable expenses for training and development purposes will be

made in accordance with the requirements of the Council Members’ Allowances & Support

Policy. Itemised tax receipts for all expenses incurred by the Council Member must be provided

and no reimbursement will be made without the appropriate tax receipts.

Costs for mini bar use or in-house movies will not be paid for by Council.

Council Members may take a travelling companion and they will be able to share the

accommodation with the Council Member if there is no additional cost to Council. If there is an

additional cost this will be at the expense of the Council Member and will be invoiced by

Council to the Council Member. All other travel arrangements and expenses for the travelling

companion will not be made or funded by Council.

If a Council Member wishes to attend an interstate conference and their attendance is restricted

due to their child/dependent care commitments e.g. breastfeeding an infant, a report will be

provided to Council outlining the specific circumstances, the support required, and any

additional costs attributed to the extra support.

Following attendance at any conference, individual Council Members are to prepare a report to

be presented to Council detailing the nature of the conference, the benefits to Council and the

learnings gained by the individual member through such attendance.

When making a decision on a training program, a professional development opportunity or the

attendance at an interstate conference, Council will take into consideration the number of

attendances an individual member has had in that year.

Council Member Training and Development Policy

Part Five: Training Plan

This Training Plan will operate during the entire term of Council and will be reviewed annually to

ensure that the training and development opportunities for Council Members remain relevant

and optimal for Council Members to perform their duties.

As part of the annual review of the Training Plan, Council Members and Administration will work

together to establish the training and development needs of Council Members and how the plan

for the delivery will be undertaken. Options of this annual review may include but not be limited

to:

 Annual assessment of council and/or committee performance

 Survey/questionnaire

 Workshops

It is recommended that Council Members should as a minimum, undertake a refresher of LGA

Training Modules 2 and 4 of the mandatory training modules halfway through the Council term.

Council Members are however permitted to undertake a refresher of any of the mandatory

training modules at any time which they feel will benefit their role as a Council Member. The

need to attend a refresher course could be identified by self-assessment, gap analysis or

through another mechanism.

Other training issues will emerge that are directly related to specific service areas and other

community issues and address environmental, social and economic challenges facing the

community.

It is recognised that a range of delivery methods will be required to support the training needs

of Council Members, including:

 In-house workshops, seminars and briefing sessions conducted by the Council with

appropriate staff, trainers and guest speakers;

 Attendance at workshops, seminars and conferences offered by training providers and

industry bodies including the Local Government Association of SA, Local Government

Managers Australia, other industry bodies and/or private providers offering courses for

Members to gain new skills and knowledge and to network with other Council Members;

 Printed material, including training booklets and discussion papers, that may be

distributed for information;

 On-line self-paced learning; and

 CD Rom/DVD information.

Council’s Training and Development Plan will include the agreed delivery method to respond to

the needs of Council Members identified during the development of the training plan.

The Training and Development Plan does not specifically address invitations that Council

Members may receive, accept and attend such as Business SA Lunches, and State

Government events. Any invitations received of this nature will be managed in accordance with

the Council Members Allowances and Benefits Policy.

5. Annual Budget Allocation

A budget allocation will be provided to support the training and development activities

undertaken by Council, and progress against expenditure of the budget allocation will be

reported on a quarterly and annual basis.

Council Member Training and Development Policy

All training undertaken by Members will be recorded in the Council Allowances and Benefits

6. Attendance at Training and Development Activities

The Training & Development Plan will determine the nature of training to be made available,

however access to training programs not directly conducted by the Council, or where no budget

allocation has been identified and approved under the plan for other specified local government

related activities, will require Council approval upon application and must link to the training

plan unless otherwise agreed by the Council.

Application forms are available from the CEO (or nominee).

Following attendance at a training program or activity, individual Council Members are required

to prepare a report outlining the nature of the training program/activity and the benefits gained

through attendance along with feedback on ideas to enhance the program/activity.

The CEO will keep a record of all training attended, but particularly the mandatory training

requirements. Failure to complete the mandatory training requirements in the relevant time

frame amounts to a breach of the Council Members Code of Conduct.

The mandatory training requirements have been defined into four community leadership

competencies which are:

Behaviour To identify attributes and develop skills that uphold the Behavioural Standards and

principles of good governance.

Civic To develop knowledge of the Australian system of government and how Councils fulfil the

objectives of the Local Government Act to deliver reputable community outcomes.

Legal To develop the knowledge and skills required to meet the legal responsibilities of a

council member.

Strategy & Finance To develop the knowledge of integrated strategic and annual business

planning and the skill to manage public funds appropriately

7. Payment/Reimbursements

The reimbursement of expenses for training purposes must be approved by the Council

consistent with its Training & Development Plan or through a separate resolution endorsing

attendance at the training program/activity.

Where approval has been granted by Council for attendance at a training program/activity a

Member may seek reimbursement of expenses in accordance with the relevant provisions of

the Act and Regulations.

8. Annual Reporting

A Council’s annual report will include a segment regarding the operation of this Policy, the

nature of matters raised in the Training & Development Plan, attendances by Members and

expenditure allocated and used for training of Council Members.

9. Statement of Adoption and Review

This policy was adopted on [insert date following adoption] and will be reviewed every year in

Council Member Training and Development Policy

conjunction with the development of the Annual Budget Allocation and Review and Training &

Development Plan.

10. Other Relevant Policies/Procedures

 Council Members Allowances and Benefits Policy

Council Member Training and Development Policy

Council Member Training and Development Plan

City of Adelaide

Details

Attendee

Available to:

Provider

Date

Cost

LGA Training Standards (Mandatory Modules)

Module 1 - Introduction

to Local Government -

Role and function of

Council Members

All Council

Members

LGA

Education

and Training

Nov 22

Module 2 - Legal

Responsibilities

All Council

Members

LGA

Education

and Training

Nov 22

Module 3 - Council and

committee meetings

All new Council

Members

LGA

Education

and Training

Nov 22

Module 4 - Financial

Management and

Reporting

All Council

Members

LGA

Education

and Training

Nov/Dec 22

Overview of City of

Adelaide

Council Development

Plan and associated

Planning and

Development issues

All Council

Members

In house

Dec 22

Committee Specific

Training

Council Assessment

Panel Member Training

CAP Members

Consultant /

Dec 22

Financial Sustainability

and Asset Management

Finance and

Asset

Management

Committee

Members

LGA

Audit Committee

Audit

Committee

LGA

Other Committee specific

training sessions

As appropriate

LGA Education and

Training Services

Public Speaking Skills for

Council members

Mayor

LGA

Feb 23

Media Skills for Council

Members

Mayor

LGA

Feb 23

Deputy Mayor Forum

Deputy Mayor

LGA

Apr 23

CEO Performance

Management

All Council

Members

LGA

Conflict of Interest,

Governance Roles and

All Council

LGA

Apr 23

Council Member Training and Development Policy

Details

Attendee

Available to:

Provider

Date

Cost

Responsibilities

Members

Council & Committee

Meeting Procedures and

Chairing Skills

All Council

Members

LGA

CAP Fundamentals

CAP Members

LGA

Strategic Financial

Sustainability for Good

Governance Decision

Making

All Council

Members

LGA

Other relevant training

programs provided by

LGA

As appropriate

LGA

Local Conferences and

Seminars

Council Members

Governance Residential

Program

All Council

Members

LGA

Mayors & Chairpersons

Residential Seminar

Mayor/Chairper

son

LGA

LGA Annual Conference

and/or OGM Showcase

All Council

Members

LGA

Other relevant local

conferences that may be

identified throughout the

year

Other relevant short

seminars and special

interest sessions

throughout the year

All Council

Members

Interstate Conferences

and Seminars

Local Government

Professionals Annual

Conference [location]

All Council

Members

Professionals

Local Government

Managers Australia

(LGMA) National

Congress [location]

All Council

Members

LGMA

ALGA National General

Assembly of Local

Government [location]

All Council

Members

ALGA

Other interstate

conferences that may be

identified throughout the

year

As appropriate

Council Member Training and Development Policy

Other Training

Identified

Ordinary Returns

All Council

Members

Norman

Waterhouse

August 23