New councillors joining Dorchester Town Council in May will be offered an induction and training – for the first time.
Existing councillors say many of them were left floundering when they first became councillors, relying on a friendly word from others.
But this year’s councillors will now get a pack containing information about the authority and how it works, some of its traditions, what it owns and manages and a tour of council facilities.
They will also be invited to in-house training events to learn the mysteries of standing orders and financial regulation, committee and officer structures, code of conduct and other issues.
External training, mainly through the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils, will also be offered to include chairmanship skills and a financial workshop.
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