Council Training

This is a continuation of part one, giving councillors the knowledge and understanding of how to deal with council business lawfully.  The session will provide you with information about the law, powers, duties and procedures relating to local councils. It will provide you with an understanding of the Councils’ responsibilities relating to employment, data protection and planning.

Only book onto this session if you are also booking on the Part 1 session.

In August 2026, the Government published a new version of the NPPF – the key national planning document. The new framework is the most substantial rewrite of planning rules in at least a decade.  It aims to increase certainty and consistency, standardise national policies and reduce unnecessary duplication and unjustified local variation in the planning system. It also includes reforms intended to boost housing supply, unlock economic growth and support sustainable development.

The webinar will explain the main changes, focusing on those with the greatest implications for the sector. It is designed to help councillors and clerks understand the changes and their practical impact.

Local councils that manage allotment sites have a duty to consider health and safety, particularly in public areas of the site. This session is recommended for councillors and clerks of member councils who oversee allotments—whether as a refresher or to gain a clear understanding of the council’s responsibilities for ensuring health and safety is properly.

Councillors and clerks of member councils that administer allotments are encouraged to attend this session, either as a refresher or to learn about allotment management, how to ensure the council has lawful tenancy agreements in place, rules for tenants and other policies and procedures required to maintain an allotment site.

This introductory cemetery management course provides a practical overview of legal compliance and day-to-day operations. It is designed to build confidence in understanding burial regulations, record-keeping, health and safety requirements, and the core processes involved in managing cemetery sites. Ideal for those new to the sector, it supports the development of essential knowledge needed to ensure respectful, efficient, and compliant cemetery operations. Who is the course for? Anyone involved in managing or working in a cemetery, particularly those in Town and Parish Councils, and is designed to give a general introduction to cemetery management.

This session is designed to give local councils an understanding of what is involved in neighbourhood planning, including the development of a Neighbourhood Plan and associated documents such as Design Codes, with a view to enabling them to get started or review an existing one. 

This training session is suitable for chairs, vice chairs and those councillors that aspire to become the chair of a council or a committee.

The Part 1 session will cover the general role of the chair (or where applicable Mayor), calling and convening an Extraordinary Meeting, the power of the chair, presiding over the Annual Parish meeting and Annual Meeting of the Council, preparation for meetings including the importance of a lawful agenda, and confirming the accuracy of the minutes, dealing with apologies and reasons for absence, declarations of interest, and handling different personalities and some difficult and sensitive issues.

Only book onto this session if you are booking Part 2.

We will discuss meeting procedures (standing orders), making lawful decisions, urgent decisions, casting vote, handling amendments, points of order and procedural motions, handling conflict at meetings and unruly behaviour, also managing public participation. The chair’s role, such as becoming the clerks liaison councillor, building a strong working relationship with the clerk and other members of staff, making sure the relevant policies and procedures are in place.

Only book onto this session if you have completed the Part 1 session.