COUNCILLORS are failing to turn up at training sessions, wasting council officers' time and tax-payers' money.

Seminars are being organised at the request of members, some-times costing hundreds of pounds when external trainers are booked.

But despite the ability and knowledge of councillors being heavily criticised by Government-appointed Ofsted inspectors in September, the attendance is frequently poor, with only a handful turning up on most occasions.

Labour deputy leader, Derek Benfield (Covingham), who was responsible for organising sessions and seminars when his group was in administration, said he was disgusted by the apathy shown by members of all three parties.

"It is extremely disappointing and you can bet we will have to start cracking the whip," he said. "But you can only lead a horse to water, you can't make him drink."

So far this financial year, 18 seminars have been organised, four of which have been taken by external consultants, costing between £400 and £500.

They have included training on disabilities and equality, social inclusion and best value, scrutiny and performance management. Future briefings include risk management, data protection and workload management.

Deputy leader of the council, Brian Ford (Con, Wroughton and Chiseldon) has now taken over responsibility for members' training. He said if attendance does not improve, his group will look at chopping the budget rather than waste more money.

"I'm keeping a record of who is going and who isn't, because at the moment it isn't good enough," he said.

"I understand how difficult it is because there are a lot more meetings now under the new cabinet system and so there are greater pressures on our time. Although we do want members to be trained, we won't keep putting these sessions on if people won't turn up, because it is hardly an efficient use of council resources."

But Liberal Democrat deputy leader Wendy Johnson (Old Town and Lawn) argued it wasn't as simple as "cracking the whip".

She said: "We've got to look at why members aren't turning up and whether the training being offered is useful and appropriate.

"Most of us take council work very seriously and we have an enormous council workload with meetings almost every night and ward duties to perform.

"But people have to realise and we have lives and families as well and at the end of the day we are volunteers."

The council is currently trying to identify ways it can trim its budget for next year in order to balance the books.