Councillor Development

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

For parish and town councillors with less than one years’ experience.

Being a newly elected or co-opted councillor can Initially be quite daunting and difficult to understand, 

The New Councillor Essentials will give delegates a good introduction to parish and town life.

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

This session is for councillors only and is designed to give them a greater understanding of their duties with regard to the council’s finances.

Creating a communications strategy

This session clarifies a councillor’s legal responsibilities to themself and the council

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.

Ideal for existing councillors wanting a refresher on the subject, or for new councillors getting used to why interests need to be declared and the best way to do it.

Discover why standards and the Code of Conduct exist, what is required under the NOLAN principles, how poor conduct impacts councils and understand why interests have to be declared.

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.

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. 

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)

It has never been more important for councillors to understand social media.

Recent feedback on this course: "It was good to get an overview about potential use of social media by Councils and Councillors. Real examples and the interactive nature of the course really helped me."

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

This session is for councillors only and is designed to give them a greater understanding of their duties with regard to the council’s finances.

Interesting and informative training for new chairs and vice chairs to council and committees, councillors considering the role of chair or as a refresher for those with more experience. 

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.

Interesting and informative training for new chairs and vice chairs to council and committees, councillors considering the role of chair or as a refresher for those with more experience. 

Councillors training: Data protection training for parish and town councillors

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

This session is for councillors only and is designed to give them a greater understanding of their duties with regard to the council’s finances.

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.

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.

Councillors training: Data protection training for parish and town councillors

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)

This session is for councillors only and is designed to give them a greater understanding of their duties with regard to the council’s finances.

This session is for councillors only and is designed to give them a greater understanding of their duties with regard to the council’s finances.

Councillors training: Data protection training for parish and town councillors

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)

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.