Council Employee Development

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.

Learn how to organise your Gmail inbox, including creating contact lists, setting up an email signature and using the holiday responder.  Demonstrations include Google Drive, Google Calendar, and Google Keep.  If there is a need Google Docs and Google sheets can be covered (the basics)

Explore how to create a social media strategy, how to get the most out of Facebook in particular, and make use of tools and techniques, saving councils time and effort.

This data protection session considers how to deal with data subject rights requests, including Subject Access Requests.

For officers who want to understand how to prepare and publish their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return on a receipts and payments basis, complying with the Accounts & Audit Regulations and the Transparency Code for Smaller authorities.

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

A session on top tips (including what must be minuted for audit purposes).

+++ Spaces limited book early +++

Developed to help support the work undertaken on Civility & Respect in the parish and town council sector. For clerks, council employees and councillors.

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 explore practical techniques to manage difficult conversations and situations in a council environment.

In this session we  explore how to get the most from each of the key social media platforms and how to ensure your social media content is delivering on your council’s communications objectives.

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

Explore how to create a social media strategy, how to get the most out of Facebook in particular, and make use of tools and techniques, saving councils time and effort.

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

In an ever-evolving legislative landscape, it is vital that councils ensure they have the most up-to-date understanding of their data protection obligations.

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.

In this session we  explore how to get the most from each of the key social media platforms and how to ensure your social media content is delivering on your council’s communications objectives.

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

This online briefing via Zoom is to assist clerks and their teams with two key processes that take place immediately after an election day and the results of the ballot are known.

The session will touch on the requirements for:

1. The declaration of acceptance of office and the important timing for clerks to plan around capturing the councillor's signature
2. The Register of Interest (ROI) e-form via the Achieve Portal with Dorset Council

A certain amount of discretion has been applied since the introduction of the new e-form. The expectation beyond 2 May 2024 is that all councillors must establish their ROI within 28 days of taking up their role of councillor.

This online briefing via Zoom is to assist clerks and their teams with two key processes that take place immediately after an election day and the results of the ballot are known.

The session will touch on the requirements for:

1. The declaration of acceptance of office and the important timing for clerks to plan around capturing the councillor's signature
2. The Register of Interest (ROI) e-form via the Achieve Portal with Dorset Council

A certain amount of discretion has been applied since the introduction of the new e-form. The expectation beyond 2 May 2024 is that all councillors must establish their ROI within 28 days of taking up their role of councillor.

This online briefing via Zoom is to assist clerks and their teams with two key processes that take place immediately after an election day and the results of the ballot are known.

The session will touch on the requirements for:

1. The declaration of acceptance of office and the important timing for clerks to plan around capturing the councillor's signature
2. The Register of Interest (ROI) e-form via the Achieve Portal with Dorset Council

A certain amount of discretion has been applied since the introduction of the new e-form. The expectation beyond 2 May 2024 is that all councillors must establish their ROI within 28 days of taking up their role of councillor.

Learn how to create a calendar checklist for a 'year in the life' of your parish council so that important tasks and timescales are always met.  An introduction to time blocking and prioritisation of workload.

"Genuinely one of the most beneficial training sessions I have taken part in for ages! I have started using the suggested online tools and feel more organised already! Would really recommend this session to any busy Clerk looking to make the best use of their time"

Learn how Trello works and how it can be used to manage daily tasks and keep track of projects.

This session is for people who have never used Canva before. We will go through the basics and show you how to get the most out of the free version. Our goal is to get you started with Canva and to help your Council to communicate better.

This data protection session considers how to deal with data subject rights requests, including Subject Access Requests.

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

This session is for experienced Canva users.

During the session we will focus on the advanced features of Canva, showing you how your Council can get more out of this online graphic design tool.

Learn how to set up Mailchimp and create engaging templates to send parishioners e-newsletters.

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

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

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

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 explore how you can build effective two-way relationships with journalists, how to write effective press releases and how to get regular coverage in your local and regional media.

Explore how to create a social media strategy, how to get the most out of Facebook in particular, and make use of tools and techniques, saving councils time and effort.

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.

This session is for people who have never used Canva before. We will go through the basics and show you how to get the most out of the free version. Our goal is to get you started with Canva and to help your Council to communicate better.

In an ever-evolving legislative landscape, it is vital that councils ensure they have the most up-to-date understanding of their data protection obligations.

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

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

This data protection session considers how to deal with data subject rights requests, including Subject Access Requests.

Learn how to organise your Gmail inbox, including creating contact lists, setting up an email signature and using the holiday responder.  Demonstrations include Google Drive, Google Calendar, and Google Keep.  If there is a need Google Docs and Google sheets can be covered (the basics)

This session is for experienced Canva users.

During the session we will focus on the advanced features of Canva, showing you how your Council can get more out of this online graphic design tool.

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

In this session we  explore how to get the most from each of the key social media platforms and how to ensure your social media content is delivering on your council’s communications objectives.

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

Ideal for new councillors taking up their roles after the May 2024 election 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.