ALL 40 Fenland district councillors are being invited back to the classroom to equip them to do their job better. There will be individual development plans for councillors which clearly defines the essential and desirable training requirement for their

ALL 40 Fenland district councillors are being invited back to the classroom to equip them to do their job better.

There will be individual development plans for councillors which "clearly defines the essential and desirable training requirement for their role."

Eve Fenelon, the recently appointed overview and scrutiny support officer for the council, spelt out the proposal today.

"Each member will receive a role profile to raise awareness of their role within the council," she said.

They will be assessed to enable the council to:

* Identify future ambitions

* Establish training already undertaken and prevent duplication

* Identify ICT equipment and broadband requirements.

Ms Fenelon said each councillor will receive an individual training record which will be a clear record of all training undertaken. At the end of each training session councillors will be asked for feedback "to ensure the most appropriate and enjoyable training is delivered."

One of the key aims of the training is to ensure councillors are computer literate which will "reduce paper usage and provide access to additional information."

Councillors will also have joint training events with local authorities, which will reduce costs, provide networking opportunities "and allow shared knowledge of best practice with other authorities."

Ms Fenelon believes "supported and special trained members will become more effective in representing the residents of Fenland."

Her report is due for debate at Thursday's meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee whose members can expect an even tougher regime.

She will outline training for the 12 councillors on the committee that includes a post graduate module in oversight and scrutiny. Most of the extended training for committee members will be delivered by the Institute of Local Government Studies which is based at the University of Birmingham.