Clerk Development

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Planning Enforcements and Appeals

Wed 15 Oct 2025 10:00 -11:00
Zoom
£35 members

What to do if you consider a bad / unlawful planning decision has been made.

Suitable for new to role councillors, refresher for existing and experienced councillors. Also beneficial for clerks and their teams where they have one.

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New Clerk L&D support and networking event

Thu 16 Oct 2025 9:30 -13:00
Pimperne Village Hall
Free

An opportunity for new clerks, appointed in 2025, to come together, meet the DAPTC team and learn more about how we can support you in your role.  

Data Protection - Data subject rights and information security (part 3)

Fri 17 Oct 2025 9:30
Online
£35.00

In this session we consider how to deal with data subject rights requests, including Subject Access Requests (SARs). 

Wheelbarrow

Allotment Training | National Allotment Society

Mon 20 Oct 2025 18:00 -19:30
Online
£40.00

The National Allotment Society are your trainers and this event is being hosted by our colleagues at Somerset ALC. THIS COURSE IS OVER TWO DATES - Spaces limited to 30 book early.

VAT - Partial Exemption

Tue 21 Oct 2025 10:00
Online
£35.00

For clerks, finance staff and councillors of councils that lease or hire out land and buildings such as village halls, community centres, meeting rooms, sports facilities or markets, who need to understand when their council is at risk of not being able to reclaim VAT.

Essential for any council contemplating major building projects, or incurring significant expenditure on running these facilities.

Dealing with difficult people and conversations

Wed 22 Oct 2025 9:30 -11:30
Online
£35.00

In this session, there will discussions about practical techniques for managing difficult conversations and situations.

FOIA graphics

Freedom of Information for local councils: obligations, procedures and exemptions

Fri 24 Oct 2025 9:30 -11:30
Online
£35.00

This course examines the obligations of local councils regarding Freedom of Information (FOI)

Procurement

Procurement

Tue 28 Oct 2025 10:00
https://bookwhen.com/parkinson/e/ev-s83tc-20251028100000

This session is for offficers that are involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders, or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

Internal Controls

Internal Controls

Wed 29 Oct 2025 10:00
Online
£35.00

This session gives councillors and officers an understanding of the need for internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies.

Canva Part 2 - Advanced

Canva Part 2 - Advanced

Wed 29 Oct 2025 10:00 -12:00
Online
£35.00

Part 2 of Canva training shows how your Council can get more out of Canva, for instance, creating complex designs and a brand for your Council.

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A Fresh Start event: DEVOLVING DORSET

Thu 30 Oct 2025 9:15 -15:30

Join us for a one-day conference for councillors and clerks inspired by the A Fresh Start report.

Data Protection & GDPR - Foundations & theory (part 1)

Mon 3 Nov 2025 9:30
Online
£35.00

This introductory session walks councils through the theory and core principles of UK GDPR and other relevant legislation.

New Clerks' Finance (get second course free after you attend)

Tue 4 Nov 2025 10:00
Online
£35.00

This introductory session is for inexperienced clerks, deputy/assistant clerks and finance officers in their first few months and is designed to give them an overview of a council's year, along with a basic understanding of the RFO's role.

How councils can engage effectively with young people

Tue 4 Nov 2025 11:00 -13:00
Zoom
£35.00

In this session we explore what we actually mean by the term ‘young people’, what issues matter to different groups of younger people and how to effectively reach and engage them, both online and offline

Parkinson Partnership Course logo

Budgeting

Thu 6 Nov 2025 10:00
Online
£35.00

This session is aimed at officers of parish & town councils, who are involved in preparing and monitoring their council's budgets.

Communicating with your community Part 1

Communicating with your community Part 1

Mon 10 Nov 2025 9:30 -11:00
Online
£35.00

Creating a communications strategy

VAT in capitals in neon red with yellow neon percentage sign on top against very dark purple background. Parkinson Partnership logo in bottom right

Introduction to VAT (Free)

Tue 11 Nov 2025 10:00

This session is for clerks, finance staff and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affects local councils, whether they are VAT registered or reclaim VAT using Form VAT126.

Planning training image

An intermediate understanding of the planning system

Tue 11 Nov 2025 18:00 -19:30
Zoom
£35 members

NEW FOR 2025

This session builds on the Basic Introduction to Planning webinar and covers some of the more specialised aspects of the planning system as well as looking at some aspects in more detail.

Boosting Your Council's identity: how to promote your council effectively

Wed 12 Nov 2025 9:30 -11:30
Online
£35.00

This session will explore what brand identity means for parish and town councils, why it matters, and how to create a clear and consistent identity that reflects your council’s purpose and values. 

Social media for councils: getting started

Fri 14 Nov 2025 9:30 -11:30
Online
£35.00

Social media is a great tool for councils to use to improve their communication.

Data Protection & GDPR - Accountability and lawfulness (part 2)

Mon 17 Nov 2025 9:30
Online
£35.00

This session deep dives into how councils demonstrate accountability with UK GDPR. 

Social media for councils: advanced strategies

Tue 18 Nov 2025 9:30 -11:30
Online
£35.00

 Councils often use different social media platforms to connect with the community. 

Parkinson Logo

The Role of Internal Audit

Wed 19 Nov 2025 10:00 -11:30
Zoom
£35.00

For councillors and officers that want to understand the role of the internal auditor and how to appoint one. (Please note, this is NOT a training session for people who want to undertake internal audits)

Getting the most from local and regional media

Getting the most from local and regional media

Tue 25 Nov 2025 10:00 -12:00
Online
£35.00

In this session we will consider how to establish positive relationships with journalists and how to write impactful press releases.

Procurement

Procurement

Thu 27 Nov 2025 10:00
https://bookwhen.com/parkinson/e/ev-s6vin-20251127100000

This session is for offficers that are involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders, or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

Introduction to VAT (Free)

Introduction to VAT (Free)

Thu 4 Dec 2025 10:00

This session is for clerks, finance staff and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affects local councils, whether they are VAT registered or reclaim VAT using Form VAT126.

Data Protection - Data subject rights and information security (part 3)

Data Protection - Data subject rights and information security (part 3)

Fri 5 Dec 2025 9:30
Zoom
£35.00

Part 3 of the GDPR training covers covers data subject rights and information security

Internal Controls

Internal Controls

Wed 10 Dec 2025 10:00
Online
£35.00

This session gives councillors and officers an understanding of the need for internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies.

New Clerks' Finance (get second course free after you attend)

Tue 16 Dec 2025 10:00
Online
£35.00

This introductory session is for inexperienced clerks, deputy/assistant clerks and finance officers in their first few months and is designed to give them an overview of a council's year, along with a basic understanding of the RFO's role.

Data Protection -  Foundations & Theory (part 1)

Data Protection - Foundations & Theory (part 1)

Mon 12 Jan 2026 9:30
Zoom
£35.00

In part one of the Data Protection for councils trainign we will cover the foundations , theory and core principles of UK GDPR legislation.


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Contact

Telephone: 01305 224460

Member Advice: advice@dorset-aptc.gov.uk
Member Training: training@dorset-aptc.gov.uk
General Enquiries: info@dorset-aptc.gov.uk

 

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