Latest Courses
Disciplinary and Grievance
The Disciplinary & Grievance Procedures Course is aimed at helping those in management roles or members of staffing committees responsible for discipline and grievance in their councils. It is designed to help ensure that disciplinary and grievance procedures are fair, consistent and support everyone in the workplace.
Councillor Essentials
7th July 2026
18:00 - 21:00
Hanger Farm Arts Centre, Aikman Lane, Totton, Southampton, SO40 8FT
Spaces Available
This course is suitable for new councillors or those that would like a refresher in the key aspects of being a parish or town councillor.
Introduction to Planning
This session is for Councillors on the planning committee and anyone who will be engaging with planning matters for the first time.
Clerk and Officers Update
8th July 2026
10:00 - 12:30
Weybrook Park Golf Club, Basingstoke RG24 9NT
Spaces Available
These sessions, for local council employees, are relatively informal and are designed for information sharing and networking. Topical subjects are introduced, occasionally by external expert speakers. You will also have time to raise own issues and questions and given a forum for discussion, problem-solving and support.
Introduction to Local Council Finance for Councillors
An overview financial training session is for Councillors designed to give them understanding of their duties regarding the council's finances. Topics include roles and responsibilities, setting a budget and precept, financial control, The Annual Governance & Accountability Return and the Internal and External Audit
Introduction to Local Council Finance for Officers
An introductory session for Clerks and Officers designed to give to an overview of the Councils' duties regarding financial management and the role of the Responsible Financial Officer.
Chairing Skills
21st July 2026
10:00 - 13:00
Alresford Golf Club, Cheriton Road Tichborne Down, Alresford, SO24 0PN
Spaces Available
This course is for chairs, committee chairs or those who might aspire to these roles.
Councillor Essentials
8th September 2026
18:30 - 21:00
Weybrook Park Golf Club, Basingstoke RG24 9NT
Spaces Available
The Knowledge session is designed to be an introduction to being a councillor. It will give you the knowledge and signposts to further information to enable you to be more effective in your role. Topics include the context and role of parish or town councils and that of its councillors, the legal and regulatory framework, meetings and procedures, council services and assets, community engagement/action and tools for you to use, including a jargon buster and sources of further information.
Councillor Essentials
17th September 2026
10:00 - 14:30
Alresford Golf Club, Cheriton Road Tichborne Down, Alresford, SO24 0PN
Spaces Available
The Knowledge session is designed to be an introduction to being a councillor. It will give you the knowledge and signposts to further information to enable you to be more effective in your role. Topics include the context and role of parish or town councils and that of its councillors, the legal and regulatory framework, meetings and procedures, council services and assets, community engagement/action and tools for you to use, including a jargon buster and sources of further information.
Latest Updates in Planning
The planning system is being remodelled by the new government to help achieve its objectives for housebuilding, economic development and mitigating climate change. A new version of the National Planning Policy Framework was published in December 2024 and measures contained in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act passed in 2023 to speed up plan making are now being implemented. Devolution and local government reorganisation will shake up the relationship between parish councils and upper tier authorities. All of this will have an impact on the way local plans are made, planning decisions are taken and on the role of neighbourhood plans. Suitable Audience The course is aimed at councillors and council staff who have some familiarity with the current planning system and want to keep up to date with the way that it is going to change as a result of new legislation and government policy. Benefits By the end of the Latest Updates in Planning training you will have: An understanding of recent changes to Local Plans Changes that are proposed and how they matter to you The way local plans are made How planning decisions are taken The role of neighbourhood plans Plan-making, housing numbers, biodiversity, and infrastructure funding
Finance and Budgeting for Local Councillors
7th October 2026
10:00 - 12:30
Alresford Golf Club, Cheriton Road Tichborne Down, Alresford, SO24 0PN
Spaces Available
This 2.5hour session is designed for Councillors to give them an understanding of their duties regarding the council's finances and budgetary process. Topics include roles and responsibilities, setting a budget and precept, financial controls and the Annual Audit process.
What You Need to Know
8th October 2026
10:00 - 12:30
Weybrook Park Golf Club, Basingstoke RG24 9NT
Spaces Available
This course will be held in two parts and you will need to attend both sessions Part 1 - Thursday 8th October 2026 Part 2 - Thursday 15th October 2026 This informal small-group course gives new and inexperienced Officers an introduction to some of the key aspects of the role and highlights many support mechanisms and signposts for further information. Just bring yourself and any questions you may already have! Topics include introduction to legislation, things to do before, during and after meetings, sharing initial experiences, problem-solving and troubleshooting, signposts and support and recommended publications. Suitable Audience Members of staff such as clerks, deputies, assistants. We recommend that you attend this course as soon as possible after appointment; however, it is useful to anyone who has been in post for less than a year. Benefits This session is informal, and we welcome you to bring your own questions to be answered, in addition to this some of the key topics that will be covered are: Setting the context of local councils, both nationally and locally; The ALC, and where it fits in for councils and members of staff; Powers and duties of a local council (defining duties and powers and looking as some of the specific powers in more detail, for example, The Local Government Act 1972, s.137 and the General Power of Competence); Meetings and decision-making (thinking about the cycle of meetings, managing their administration with councillors and considering the agenda, meeting and minutes.
Budgeting for Clerks and Officers
This 2-hour informal course is aimed at officers who are involved in preparing and monitoring budgets. If your larger council uses accounting software for budgeting, we will have part of the group looking at how to make the software work for you while those from smaller councils looking at how best to get an overall picture using spreadsheets. Topics include zero base and incremental budgeting, medium and long term capital planning, earmarking, spotting the gaps, assessing contingencies as well as trouble shooting past problems and sharing ideas and suggestions. We will also look at available best practice via the Transparency Code.
Introduction to Appraisals
22nd October 2026
10:30 - 13:30
Weybrook Park Golf Club, Basingstoke RG24 9NT
Spaces Available
This 3 hour session will enable you to use best practice when preparing for and conducting appraisal meetings with employees and understand where these meetings sit within the wider context of performance management systems. Topics include how to manage performance through objectives and standard setting and understand how appraisal meetings fit within a performance management system. Learning is contextualised through the opportunity to practice the skills learned through role play in a safe environment.
Making Effective Planning Representations
This 2.5 hour session will explain the principles which underpin how a planning decision is made, and how your comments as a consultee can be drafted to best effect. It will give you an understanding of the key terminology planning officers use and where to find relevant information amidst what is often a mass of documents. It will also cover what issues to consider (and what issues to avoid) when your council is discussing its response. It is a practical session designed to help anyone giving guidance to councillors as they consider their representations and get the parish councils message across more effectively.
Digital and Data Compliance
This 2 hour session is designed to update council’s on data protection legislation and how to achieve compliance with Assertion 10 on the Annual Governance & Accountability Return.
Digital and Data Compliance
This 2 hour session is designed to update council’s on data protection legislation and how to achieve compliance with Assertion 10 on the Annual Governance & Accountability Return.