(Image: Newsquest)
Only half of councillors completed vital training to spot the signs of sexual exploitation in the first three months since the local elections.
A new report that will be discussed by the council today says encouraging more councillors to complete this and other vital training will be a “priority” for the coming year.
Members of the council’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee will receive an update on Workforce Development at its next meeting.
Only 54 per cent completed the training
They will be told that between the Local Elections in May - which saw a huge number of new members elected to the council - and the end of July, just 54 per cent of councillors completed training on “basic awareness of child and adult sexual exploitation.”
Just 51 per cent completed equality and diversity training.
Members will be told that there will be “targeted support” to improve completion rates in the coming months.
The report going to the committee details training offered to council staff and councillors – and also gives the percentage of those that have completed the training.
What other training is offered?
Over 45,000 training sessions were completed in 2025/26.
Training provided to staff includes fraud awareness, which 80 per cent of staff completed in 2025/26, and equality and diversity training, completed by 79 er cent of staff.
Training is also provided to Elected Members (councillors), and the report says: “This year this has included information and briefing sessions, introductions to council departments and services, individual IT skills assessments, digital skills learning and support, and specialist training for Members undertaking key responsibilities such as Licensing and Planning roles.
“The programme is designed to support members to become effective in their roles as quickly as possible, providing the knowledge, skills and confidence required to make informed decisions and represent their communities effectively.”
Some training for councillors is mandatory, and the report says: “Mandatory learning for Elected Members supports good governance, informed decision-making and effective representation of residents.
“Learning requirements are designed to ensure Members understand their responsibilities relating to information governance, safeguarding and equality.”
Basic Awareness of Child and Adult Sexual Exploitation is one of the mandatory training sessions.
In the first three months since the May elections, just 54 per cent of councillors have completed this training.
But last year, the figure was just 46 per cent.
Only 38 per cent completed an Information Governance training between May and July, and just 51 per cent completed equality and diversity training in that period.
The report adds: “Targeted support and engagement will continue throughout 2026/27 to improve completion rates and strengthen assurance regarding mandatory learning requirements.”
The Telegraph & Argus has asked Bradford Council for more up to date figures, but has yet to receive a response.