Training Councillors

Have you ever wondered what councillors have to do? I always wonder what they are up to to be honest.  More than anything what they have the responsibility for looking after, too. I mean the council has to look after roads, social services, housing, transport, planning applications, archives, and more.  This sort of knowledge doesn't just drop into their heads in their sleep.  All councillors needs training to do the jobs that we elect them to do.  So why not find out what they have been trained in doing?

So one morning I sent all councils in Wales the following series or questions:

1. How much money is allocated to training of councillors
2. What courses have they been on
3. Who took part

No before I go any further I should point out that originally I asked the question “how much money is spent on training counselors (people who help you with emotional problems… Insert your own joke here)...  A few replies came back on that one!  In fact (I don't think he would mind me saying this) Mike from Monmouth and me had a good joke over it!  Anyway, moving on.  The answers came back thusly:

Name	Amount spent
Blaenau	1940
Bridgend	unable
Caerphilly	2125
Cardiff	No Answer
Carmarthenshire	2512.62
Ceredigion	2292
Conway	2246.56
Denbighshire	No Answer
Flintshire	211,222
Gwynedd	3648.28
Anglesey	No Answer
Merthyr Tydfil	3338
Monmouth	5000
Neath Port Talbot	No Answer
Newport	mostly no cost
Pembroke	No Answer
Powys	792
RCT	No Answer
Swansea	6000

Torfaen	487.5
Vale Of Glamorgan	No Answer
Wrexham	No Answer

Now the thing is I was going to write all of courses that they went on, but to be honest most of them were really dull and boring (Strategy methods, housing changes, administration methods…) and were pretty uneventful.  Most were done in house and a few were done through other methods.  There were some, however, that were really interesting to see, Lesbian, Gay Bisexual Transexual (LGBT) seminars, Single Parent strategies meetings, religious and cultural awareness meetings, investigation of very serious offences.  Shows that councils are making themselves more aware of the world around them.

Most of you looking at the amount above and thinking, How is Flintshire the highest with £211,222?  I mean most of them have spent thousands on training.  Surely it costs a LOT more than that?  Well, that because the Welsh Government actually give money and training for free to local councils.  This means that the councils have more money to spend on us.  WHOO HOO!!! How much?  Find out here...