33ARegular professional development training of Councillors

33A Regular professional development training of Councillors (1) A Councillor must complete professional development training annually to ensure that the Councillor understands their role and responsibilities. (2) Subsection (1) applies— (a) to each Councillor elected at a general election; and (b) to any Councillor elected to fill an extraordinary vacancy; and (c) whether or not the Councillor has been re-elected or ever been a Councillor before. (3) For the purposes of complying with subsection (1), a Councillor— (a) elected at a general election must undertake professional development training— (i) at least once each year of their term beginning in the first full calendar year after the Councillor is elected; and (ii) within the prescribed period, or by the prescribed day, in each year of their term beginning in the first full calendar year after the Councillor is elected; and (b) elected to fill an extraordinary vacancy must undertake professional development training— (i) at least once each year of their term beginning in the first full calendar year after the Councillor is elected; and (ii) within the prescribed period, or by the prescribed day, in each year of their term beginning the year after the year the Councillor completes Councillor induction training. (4) A Councillor must make a written declaration before the Chief Executive Officer after completing the professional development training that— (a) states that the Councillor has completed the professional development training; and (5) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Chief Executive Officer must— (a) ensure that the professional development training is available to be undertaken annually within the period, or by the day, prescribed for the purposes of subsection (3); and (b) provide reasonable assistance to a Councillor to enable them to access the professional development training. (6) If a Councillor is unable to take or complete professional development training because of a leave of absence, the Councillor must take or complete the training within one month after returning from leave. (7) The professional development training must be conducted in the prescribed manner and address any prescribed matters. S. 33B inserted by No. 23/2024 s. 43.