Clerk Development

For clerks, finance staff and councillors from councils that are not VAT registered, but reclaim VAT using Form VAT126.

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

Recent feedback from delegates attending this training:

'There was a good balance between the technical aspects, law etc. and the practicalities, spelling it out for council

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

For officers who want to understand how to prepare their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return and comply with the requirements of the audit process.

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 officers who want to understand how to prepare their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return and comply with the requirements of the audit process.

In this session we explore practical techniques to manage difficult conversations and situations in a council environment.

Recent feedback from delegates attending this training:

The trainer was particularly good at including our comments and questions. He was obviously very experienced at online presentations and easily handled the material, adding some anecdotes to keep the session alive and relevant. 

For officers who want to understand how to prepare their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return and comply with the requirements of the audit process.

This session does NOT cover exemption from audit or the Transparency Code for smaller Authorities. We have alternative sessions for councils under £25,000 that need those topics.

In this session we consider how to deal with data subject rights requests, including Subject Access Requests (SARs) and the importance of Information Security for local councils and what this means in practice..

This session is for officers who want to understand how to prepare their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return on an income and expenditure basis (mandatory for councils regularly spending over £200,000) and comply with the requirements of the audit process.

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.

This session is for clerks, finance staff and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affects local councils, focussing on those that are not VAT registered, but reclaim VAT using Form VAT126. Essential for any council contemplating major building projects

This course looks at what requirements and obligations local councils have when it comes to Freedom of Information.

Learn how to create a public communications strategy that supports the delivery of your council’s priorities, aims and objectives.

Recent feedback from delegates attending this training:

I found the course to be very informative and it has given me the confidence to look at how we can better promote the Council and increase public engagement.

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 takes participants through the detail of preparing for any crisis. We pass on expert tips and guidance on being prepared, and cover the effective steps your council could take should the worst happen.

In this session we consider how to deal with data subject rights requests, including Subject Access Requests (SARs) and the importance of Information Security for local councils and what this means in practice..

Discover the tools, strategies and techniques needed to better promote your own messages but also to better respond to the voices within your local community.

Recent feedback from delegates attending this training:

As a relatively new parish councillor the course was really usefully our parish does not have a communication strategy therefore great information for our next steps. Also it encompasses all roles in councils.

Learn effective ways to raise awareness and interest in the work of the council, in order to better promote and demystify the role of a councillor.

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 anyone involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

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.

This course looks at what requirements and obligations local councils have when it comes to Freedom of Information.

This session is for clerks, finance staff and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affects local councils, focussing on those that are not VAT registered, but reclaim VAT using Form VAT126. Essential for any council contemplating major building projects

This session is for clerks, finance staff and councillors from VAT registered councils who wish to develop their knowledge of how VAT applies to their council's activities.

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.

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.

Explore how to create a social media strategy and the basics of Facebook. Our goal is to share with you time-saving tools and techniques. Hopefully, this will help you and your council to be more confident using social media.

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 clerks, finance staff and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affects local councils, focussing on those that are not VAT registered, but reclaim VAT using Form VAT126. Essential for any council contemplating major building projects

For anyone involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

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.

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 from VAT registered councils, who wish to develop their knowledge of how VAT applies to their council's activities.

Ideal for new councillors recently in roles, or for returning councillors wanting a refresher course. This course may benefit new to role clerks and members of their team where they have one.

Examples of recent feedback from delegates attending this course:

“This was a good refresher for me, packed with useful information and with excellent examples”

“Presentation was very clear and didn’t presume any prior knowledge. The trainer was happy to take questions throughout”

“Useful summaries on all aspects”

“Andrew’s delivery of the information was the best I have attended so far, clear, informative with memorable examples that make the principles stick in the mind”

Explore how to create a social media strategy and the basics of Facebook. Our goal is to share with you time-saving tools and techniques. Hopefully, this will help you and your council to be more confident using social media.

This session is for clerks, finance staff and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affects local councils, focussing on those that are not VAT registered, but reclaim VAT using Form VAT126. Essential for any council contemplating major building projects

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.

Some recent delegate feedback from this course:

I like how easy it is to fit this short session in to a busy schedule and get so much out of it.

It was helpful to get a clear analysis of the way the system works which Andrew does well and illustrates with good examples.

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.

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

Ideal for new councillors recently in roles, or for returning councillors wanting a refresher course. This course may benefit new to role clerks and members of their team where they have one.

Examples of recent feedback from delegates attending this course:

“This was a good refresher for me, packed with useful information and with excellent examples”

“Presentation was very clear and didn’t presume any prior knowledge. The trainer was happy to take questions throughout”

“Useful summaries on all aspects”

“Andrew’s delivery of the information was the best I have attended so far, clear, informative with memorable examples that make the principles stick in the mind”

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.

Some recent delegate feedback from this course:

I like how easy it is to fit this short session in to a busy schedule and get so much out of it.

It was helpful to get a clear analysis of the way the system works which Andrew does well and illustrates with good examples.

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.

Some recent feedback from delegates attending this course:

“Refreshed and updated my skills/knowledge/understanding. A development in our parish has gone to Appeal”

“The course covered everything and facilitated discussion as well”

“Great opportunity to explore solutions to enforcement problems”

“A pleasure to hear from a really experienced trainer with wide knowledge of this field”

Would you like to know which topics our New Councillor Induction Programme will cover after the May Elections?

DAPTC are pleased to offer the opportunity free of charge so you are reassured your new and existing councillors are getting the right support to do their role.