Newham Council's Standards Committee has unveiled its comprehensive Councillor Development Programme for the 2026/27 municipal year, aiming to significantly enhance skills and provide robust support for both new and returning councillors.
At a meeting on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the committee discussed a detailed Member Induction and Development Programme for 2026/27, outlined in the Report to Standards Committee MD 11th March. This programme is designed to equip new councillors with essential skills and to support returning members in mentoring their colleagues.
Central to the programme's rollout will be the introduction of an online Members' portal, scheduled for Tuesday 12th - Wednesday 13th May as part of the onboarding process. This portal will offer a wide variety of resources and support through an e-learning platform, with video recordings of training sessions also being made available online.
The programme will feature a blend of internal and external training opportunities, with mandatory sessions scheduled for Cabinet Members and those serving on statutory committees. The curriculum encompasses a broad spectrum of critical areas, including safeguarding, data protection, council finances, effective collaboration with residents and officers, environment and sustainable transport, commissioning and procurement, communications and social media, digital transformation, the climate emergency, public health, and emergency planning.
Newham Council is also actively working towards achieving LGA Member Development Charter status by 2027. To attain this, the council aims to showcase evidence of the 2026-27 programme's effectiveness. The charter itself provides a framework with three essential criteria: a clear commitment to councillor development and support, a strategic approach to councillor development, and effective learning and development in building councillor capacity. While specific benchmarks for Newham are not detailed, alignment with these general criteria is key.
Mandatory sessions will be implemented for key topics, with attendance meticulously monitored and reported to the committee. To ensure the programme's ongoing effectiveness, feedback mechanisms are being strengthened. Beyond anonymous evaluation questionnaires and confidential meetings, members will have the opportunity to meet as a cohort without officers present to discuss the programme's strengths and areas for improvement. Feedback can be submitted informally via email or in person to the Head of Democratic Services and Programme Manager. Furthermore, Member Engagement workshops will be held upon the programme's conclusion, with multiple sessions offered to accommodate schedules and facilitate small group discussions. Members unable to attend these workshops will be requested to provide year-end feedback via a further questionnaire.
The full details of the Draft Member Induction and Development Programme 2026-27 can be found in Appendix 1.
