Councillor Development

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

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

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 will help you understand your legal obligations to yourself and to your council and how to get things right. as well as introducing Freedom of Information and what this means for councillors.

NEW FOR 2025

Does your council want to get started on a Neighbourhood Plan, or review an existing Plan?

This session will provide an understanding of what is involved in the development of a Neighbourhood Plan, and associated documents such as Design Codes, and also help with reviewing exisiting Plans.

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.

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)

For councillors, clerks/RFO's and officers.

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.

Some recent feedback from new councillors attending this training:

“A very good course. The instructor was very open to receiving questions”

“Every subject was covered if only briefly and it then allows you to have an overall understanding and to go into more specific detail of a subject in its own particular training course”

“The delivery was very good and everything was explained thoroughly”

“I think this should be mandatory for all councillors”

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.

Some recent feedback from new councillors attending this training:

“A very good course. The instructor was very open to receiving questions”

“Every subject was covered if only briefly and it then allows you to have an overall understanding and to go into more specific detail of a subject in its own particular training course”

“The delivery was very good and everything was explained thoroughly”

“I think this should be mandatory for all councillors”

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

This session will help you understand your legal obligations to yourself and to your council and how to get things right. as well as introducing Freedom of Information and what this means for councillors.

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

Does your council want to get started on a Neighbourhood Plan, or review an existing Plan?

This session will provide an understanding of what is involved in the development of a Neighbourhood Plan, and associated documents such as Design Codes, and also help with reviewing exisiting Plans.

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.

NEW FOR 2025 - Reimagining Local Community Leadership

For parish and town councillors who've completed their first year of service and also more experienced councillors.

This transformative course provides a comprehensive, forward-looking exploration of how parish and town councils can become dynamic catalysts for positive local change.

NEW FOR 2025 - Reimagining Local Community Leadership

For parish and town councillors who've completed their first year of service and also more experienced councillors.

This transformative course provides a comprehensive, forward-looking exploration of how parish and town councils can become dynamic catalysts for positive local change.

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

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

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”

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.

Some recent feedback from new councillors attending this training:

“A very good course. The instructor was very open to receiving questions”

“Every subject was covered if only briefly and it then allows you to have an overall understanding and to go into more specific detail of a subject in its own particular training course”

“The delivery was very good and everything was explained thoroughly”

“I think this should be mandatory for all councillors”

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.

Some recent feedback from new councillors attending this training:

“A very good course. The instructor was very open to receiving questions”

“Every subject was covered if only briefly and it then allows you to have an overall understanding and to go into more specific detail of a subject in its own particular training course”

“The delivery was very good and everything was explained thoroughly”

“I think this should be mandatory for all councillors”

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.

NEW FOR 2025

Does your council want to get started on a Neighbourhood Plan, or review an existing Plan?

This session will provide an understanding of what is involved in the development of a Neighbourhood Plan, and associated documents such as Design Codes, and also help with reviewing exisiting Plans.

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, focussing on those that are not VAT registered, but reclaim VAT using Form VAT126. Essential for any council contemplating major building projects

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.

Some recent feedback from new councillors attending this training:

“A very good course. The instructor was very open to receiving questions”

“Every subject was covered if only briefly and it then allows you to have an overall understanding and to go into more specific detail of a subject in its own particular training course”

“The delivery was very good and everything was explained thoroughly”

“I think this should be mandatory for all councillors”

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.

Some recent feedback from new councillors attending this training:

“A very good course. The instructor was very open to receiving questions”

“Every subject was covered if only briefly and it then allows you to have an overall understanding and to go into more specific detail of a subject in its own particular training course”

“The delivery was very good and everything was explained thoroughly”

“I think this should be mandatory for all councillors”

NEW FOR 2025 - Reimagining Local Community Leadership

For parish and town councillors who've completed their first year of service and also more experienced councillors.

This transformative course provides a comprehensive, forward-looking exploration of how parish and town councils can become dynamic catalysts for positive local change.

NEW FOR 2025 - Reimagining Local Community Leadership

For parish and town councillors who've completed their first year of service and also more experienced councillors.

This transformative course provides a comprehensive, forward-looking exploration of how parish and town councils can become dynamic catalysts for positive local change.

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”

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.

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.

Some recent feedback from new councillors attending this training:

“A very good course. The instructor was very open to receiving questions”

“Every subject was covered if only briefly and it then allows you to have an overall understanding and to go into more specific detail of a subject in its own particular training course”

“The delivery was very good and everything was explained thoroughly”

“I think this should be mandatory for all councillors”

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.

Some recent feedback from new councillors attending this training:

“A very good course. The instructor was very open to receiving questions”

“Every subject was covered if only briefly and it then allows you to have an overall understanding and to go into more specific detail of a subject in its own particular training course”

“The delivery was very good and everything was explained thoroughly”

“I think this should be mandatory for all councillors”

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.

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 FOR 2025 - Reimagining Local Community Leadership

For parish and town councillors who've completed their first year of service and also more experienced councillors.

This transformative course provides a comprehensive, forward-looking exploration of how parish and town councils can become dynamic catalysts for positive local change.

NEW FOR 2025 - Reimagining Local Community Leadership

For parish and town councillors who've completed their first year of service and also more experienced councillors.

This transformative course provides a comprehensive, forward-looking exploration of how parish and town councils can become dynamic catalysts for positive local change.

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”

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.

Some recent feedback from new councillors attending this training:

“A very good course. The instructor was very open to receiving questions”

“Every subject was covered if only briefly and it then allows you to have an overall understanding and to go into more specific detail of a subject in its own particular training course”

“The delivery was very good and everything was explained thoroughly”

“I think this should be mandatory for all councillors”

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.

Some recent feedback from new councillors attending this training:

“A very good course. The instructor was very open to receiving questions”

“Every subject was covered if only briefly and it then allows you to have an overall understanding and to go into more specific detail of a subject in its own particular training course”

“The delivery was very good and everything was explained thoroughly”

“I think this should be mandatory for all councillors”

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.