Membership

Membership to DAPTC is open to town, parish and community councils and parish meetings in Dorset. Annual membership fees are determined by the number of electors – people eligible to vote – in your council area and range from £50 to under £4,000

Becoming a member council gives councillors, clerks and employees direct access to a range of expert advice, support and services specifically for the local council sector. DAPTC membership also includes automatic membership of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), the only national body representing the interests of local councils to government.

To join DAPTC email: info@dorset-aptc.gov.uk

View membership fees: DAPTC membership fees 2025-26.pdf

• SUPPORT & ADVICE – clarification on legislation, guidance on best practice, access to subject matter experts and more

• RESOURCES – model documents, step-by-step guides, templates and other information to help with the smooth running of councils via the members only area of the DAPTC website

• TRAINING – up to 50% discount on courses from DAPTC and partners on a wide selection of sector topics and access to courses from national providers

• QUALIFICATIONS – DAPTC is an accredited trainer for the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) and provides courses for the professional qualification Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA)

• EVENTS – conferences and area meetings to share information and build relationships with other councils

• PUBLICATIONS & BRIEFINGS – access to sector information showcasing projects and ideas and explaining hot topics

• REGULAR COMMUNICATIONS – a weekly email newsletter keeps you up to date with everything local council related plus action briefings and alerts when necessary

• NALC ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP – access to model policies and other helpful resources. Find out more about the benefits of NALC below

To discuss DAPTC membership email: info@dorset-aptc.gov.uk

Established in 1947, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is a membership organisation and the only national body representing the interests of local councils. NALC works in partnership with county associations, like DAPTC, to support, promote and improve local councils. Every local council in England automatically becomes a member of NALC by joining their local county association – when you join DAPTC your membership to NALC will be registered and you will be sent details on how to access the member only areas of the NALC website.

Cost

Approximately 25% of your DAPTC membership fee is for NALC membership. For the 2025-26 financial year membership of NALC costs 8 pence per elector capped at £2,137 for the largest councils.

NALC publishes practical resources on various topics that are exclusively available to members. These resources take the form of model policies, legal updates on legislation, advice notes to help navigate issues councils face and much more. NALC also publish The Good Councillor's Guide series which simplifies roles and responsibilities, making it easy to navigate your duties.

Other benefits include:

• Advocacy and campaigning
• Comprehensive publications
• Expert advisory services
• Events and networks
• Media and crisis support
• Awards and recognition
• Online learning and training

To find out more about membership benefits visit the
About section of the NALC website