Training & Events Calendar

Course Description

This course provides delegates with the training they need to deal effectively with the management of Common Land, providing historical background and detail on the legislation, duties and procedures involved with the management of these open space areas.

The course content includes:

• Definition of Common Land
• Types of Common Land
• Effect of Registration
• Commons Act 2006
• Ownership of Common Land
• Management of Common Land
• Works on Common Land and Section 38 Consent
• Deregistration of Common Land

Who Should Attend
All town, parish or community clerks, other staff members or councillors involved with or keen to know more about Common Land.

Date & Time
9 January 2023 13:30 - 14:30

Venue
Online

Course Tutor
Roger Taylor is a Consultant at Wellers Hedleys Solicitors, a firm based in Surrey which has an extensive practice dealing with Parish and Town Councils in England. He lectures on subjects such as Common Land, Village Greens and Charitable Trusts and on other matters relating to the practice and procedure of Parish and Town Councils for a number of County Associations.

Cost per delegate
£25 + VAT members
£50+ VAT non members

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

Whether you are an experienced Councillor or have only recently been elected, it is vital that you understand how data protection fits with your role as an elected member. With legislation and case law evolving, this interactive session will provide you with an opportunity to make sure you are getting the essentials right and ensure you are meeting your legal obligations as a Councillor.

Who should attend
This course is aimed at councillors to councils of all sizes

Course Tutor
Breakthrough Communications

Cost per delegate

£38+ VAT members
£76+ VAT non members

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

When booking onto this course, the details that you provide will be used to book you onto a third party website where you will receive booking confirmation. Your details will only be used for the purposes of sending joining instructions.

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

In an ever-evolving legislative landscape, it is vital that Councils ensure they have the most up-to-date understanding of their data protection and related obligations. This session walks Councils through the principles of GDPR and related legislation including PECR, what it means in practical terms and the systems and processes Councils should have in place to ensure they are working towards sustainable compliance.

Who Should Attend
Clerks and Officers who wish to develop their knowledge in this area.

Course Tutor

Breakthrough Communications

Cost per delegate
£38+ VAT members
£76+ VAT non members

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

When booking onto this course, the details that you provide will be used to book you onto a third party website where you will receive booking confirmation. Your details will only be used for the purposes of sending joining instructions.

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

Emergencies are very rare, however recently Northamptonshire has experienced major floods, long term utility failure, recycling fires resulting in air pollution, extreme winter weather AND a global pandemic.

Coronavirus has shown that in times like these communities will pull together, but you can be better prepared to deal with any eventuality if you take steps now. You can have an emergency plan in place for any community emergency.

This practical workshop will go into more detail on how to complete an effective community emergency plan and more importantly how to embed your plan within your community. If you have already got a plan as a result of the current pandemic, this workshop with will help strengthen and embed your plan.

Aim of the Workshop:

The aim is to give advice and guidance on how to complete you community emergency.

Topics Covered:

• What Emergency?
• Why have a plan?
• Vulnerable People
• Community resilience and response group
• Community engagement
• What Other things you can do
• Individual preparedness
• Volunteering
• Questions

Who Should Attend
This course is suitable for Clerks and Councillors

Course Tutor

Joanne Maddams, Emergency Planning & Business Continuity Manager

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

Course description
How can you find and encourage a more diverse pool of people to stand or be co-opted as town or parish councillors? It is increasingly hard to find people who are willing to put their names forward either at election time or to be co-opted. We explore effective ways councils and councillors can engage people over time, building up their awareness and interest in the work of the council, in order to better promote and demystify the role of a councillor.

Who should attend
Councils wanting to know how to encourage more, and diverse, people to stand as a councillor.

Course tutor
Breakthrough Communications

Cost (per delegate)
£38+ VAT member
£76+ VAT non member

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

Course description
Young people are often a hard-to-reach demographic for councils a engage with. In this session we explore what we mean by young people, what issues matter to them, how to effectively reach and engage with them both online and offline, and how to build partnerships with youth-focused organisations.

Who should attend
Councils wishing to engage more with the younger community.

Course Tutor
Breakthrough Communications

Cost (per delegate)
£38+ VAT member
£76+ VAT non member

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

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

This session explains how VAT affects local councils. Essential for any council contemplating major building projects.

Topics include:
• how VAT law applies to local councils
• where to find the law and guidance
• business and non-business activities
• understanding whether sales are taxable or exempt from VAT
• when a council must register for VAT
• when VAT can be reclaimed
• Partial exemption
• Reclaiming VAT when using grants and donations

By the end of this session you will:
• Know where to find the relevant legislation and guidance
• Understand the key concepts of VAT
• Know when a council can or can't reclaim VAT
• Recognise when a council must register for VAT
• Be aware of activities that require special attention

Who Should Attend?
RFOs, Clerks, finance staff, councillors on the finance committee and councillors who wish to develop their knowledge in this area.

Course Tutor

Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP

Cost (per delegate)
£30+ VAT members
£60+ VAT non members

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

When booking onto this course, the details that you provide will be used to book you onto a third party website where you will receive booking confirmation. Your details will only be used for the purposes of sending joining instructions.

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

This session is an introduction to the basics of procurement for local councils – inviting quotes, producing specifications and tender documentation, achieving competition and value for money, managing contracts.

Topics include:
• Procurement thresholds
• Basic terminology and steps involved in procurement
• Estimates, quotes and tenders
• Specifications
• Quality and value for money
• Advertising, including Contracts Finder

Session benefits:
By the end of Contracts and Procurement you will:
• Be aware of procurement thresholds
• Recognise when you must advertise on Contracts Finder
• Understand how to produce a specification for what you want
• Understand the basic terminology and steps involved in procurement
• Be able to ensure your procurement achieves value for money

Who should attend
Clerks, Officers and Councillors involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

Course Tutor
Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP

Steve is a former Town Clerk and an accountant with 30 years' experience in public and voluntary sector finance. He now specialises in delivering training and advice on VAT and finance matters for the local council sector.

Cost per delegate
£30+ VAT Members
£60+ VAT Non Members

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

When booking onto this course, the details that you provide will be used to book you onto a third party website where you will receive booking confirmation. Your details will only be used for the purposes of sending joining instructions.

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

Course description
Everything should start with a strategy – and good communication is no different. To get the most from an increasing range of communications platforms and tools, it's vital that your Council has a strategy that supports the delivery of your Council's existing aims and objectives. We walk you through best practice for creating an effective communications strategy that fits with the needs and aspirations of your Council, whilst making best use of communication opportunities available to you.

Who should attend
Clerks and Councillors wishing to develop an clear and effective communications strategy

Course Tutor

Breakthrough Communications

Cost per delegate
£38+ VAT members
£76+ VAT non members

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

When booking onto this course, the details that you provide will be used to book you onto a third party website where you will receive booking confirmation. Your details will only be used for the purposes of sending joining instructions.

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

Description
An introductory training session for Parish/Town Councillors and Clerks covering the basic principles of planning including policy, applications, appeals and enforcement. This two hour session will also include tips on increasing the effectiveness of the responses that Parish and Town Councils send through to local planning authorities and the opportunity to ask questions of an experienced planning consultant who has worked for local Councils, a volume house builder and a planning consultancy.

Who Should Attend
Suitable for both Clerks and Councillors

Course Tutor

Lance Wiggins, Lion Planning

Cost (per delegate)
£38+ VAT members
£76+ VAT Non Members

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

Beyond Facebook: how councils can make use of Instagram, Twitter and other platforms to get their message across

More and more Councils are looking to use a range of social media platforms in order to increase their digital reach into their community. Instagram and Twitter are two key platforms that offer a range of benefits for Councils. This practical session looks at how to get started and what strategies and techniques are working well for councils like yours.

Who Should Attend
Clerks, Councillors and officers wanting to know how to use social media platforms

Course Tutor

Breakthrough Communications

Cost per delegate
£38+ VAT members
£76+ VAT non members

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

When booking onto this course, the details that you provide will be used to book you onto a third party website where you will receive booking confirmation. Your details will only be used for the purposes of sending joining instructions.

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

Session overview:

This session is designed to give councillors a greater understanding of their duties with regard to the council's finances. Topics include:

• Roles and responsibilities
• setting a budget and precept
• Financial control
• How VAT applies to local councils
• The Annual Return
• Internal and external audit

Session benefits:

By the end of Local Council Finance you will:

• Understand the council's duties regarding financial management
• Be aware of relevant legislation and sources of guidance
• Understand how VAT law applies to your council
• Be aware of how the council's accounts are prepared and audited
• Recognise the importance of internal controls

Who should attend
All councillors would benefit from this course

Course Tutor
Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP

Steve is a former Town Clerk and an accountant with 30 years' experience in public and voluntary sector finance. He now specialises in delivering training and advice on VAT and finance matters for the local council sector.

Cost per delegate

£30+VAT Members
£60+VAT Non Members

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

When booking onto this course, the details that you provide will be used to book you onto a third party website where you will receive booking confirmation. Your details will only be used for the purposes of sending joining instructions.

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

This introductory session is for inexperienced clerks 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.

If you have 9 month's experience or more, this session is unlikely to cover anything you don't already know. so you may benefit from the following more detailed sessions on budgeting, Internal Control, Year-end and VAT instead.

Topics include:
• Roles and responsibilities
• Setting a budget and precept
• Internal control
• The Annual Governance & Accountability Return
• Internal and external audit

By the end of the session you will:
• Be aware of relevant legislation and sources of guidance
• Be able to describe the key financial activities in a year
• Be aware of how the council's accounts must be prepared and audited
• Recognise the importance of internal controls

Who Should Attend
Clerks new to the sector with less than 9 months experience in the role

Course Tutor
Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP

Steve is a former Town Clerk and an accountant with 30 years' experience in public and voluntary sector finance. He now specialises in delivering training and advice on VAT and finance matters for the local council sector.

Cost per delegate

£30 + VAT Members
£60 + VAT Non Members

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

When booking onto this course, the details that you provide will be used to book you onto a third party website where you will receive booking confirmation. Your details will only be used for the purposes of sending joining instructions.

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

Social media provides town and parish Councils a unique opportunity to significantly enhance their communications – yet few Councils are fully reaping the benefits on offer. Moreover, few councils have a clear social media strategy in place. This comprehensive course looks at how to build a social media strategy that seeks to promote your services and key council priorities.

Who should attend
Clerk, officers and Councillors wanting to create an effective social media strategy for their council

Cost per delegate)

£38+ VAT members
£76+ VAT non members

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

When booking onto this course, the details that you provide will be used to book you onto a third party website where you will receive booking confirmation. Your details will only be used for the purposes of sending joining instructions.

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

This advanced data protection session considers how to deal with data subject rights requests, including Subject Access Requests. We explore specific steps to take to ensure you are compliant with the legislation, and we consider what exemptions may apply, and when. We also explore the importance of Information Security for local councils and what this means in practice.

Who should attend
This course is aimed at clerks and officers

Course Tutor
Breakthrough Communications

Cost per delegate

£38+ VAT members
£76+ VAT non members

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

When booking onto this course, the details that you provide will be used to book you onto a third party website where you will receive booking confirmation. Your details will only be used for the purposes of sending joining instructions.

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

This advanced data protection session deep dives into how councils are required to demonstrate accountability with GDPR. We consider the lawful bases for how councils process personal data and we explore how to create different policies and documents, including your Privacy Notice and Data Protection Impact Assessments.

Who should attend
Clerks and officers

Course Tutor
Breakthrough Communications

Cost per delegate

£38+ VAT members
£76+ VAT non members

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

When booking onto this course, the details that you provide will be used to book you onto a third party website where you will receive booking confirmation. Your details will only be used for the purposes of sending joining instructions

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

This session introduces the Annual Return and the stages of the audit process, enabling you to complete all the relevant steps correctly.

Topics include:
• Closing the accounts
• Assets and borrowing
• Internal audit
• Reviewing internal control
• The Annual Return
• Electors rights
• Publication requirements

By the end of this session you will:
• Be able to identify the steps needed as part of the audit process
• Understand how to close the council's accounts
• Understand how to complete the Annual Return
• Be able to correctly allow the exercise of electors' rights
• Recognise the need to review internal controls

Who should attend
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 course is specifically aimed at councils with receipts and payments over £25,000.

There are alternative sessions for:
Councils under £25,000
Councils that prepare Income and Expenditure accounts

Cost
£30+VAT per person (member)
£60+VAT per person (non-member)

Course Tutor
Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP
Steve is a former Town Clerk and an accountant with 30 years' experience in public and voluntary sector finance. He now specialises in delivering training and advice on VAT and finance matters for the local council sector.

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

Course description
Social media offers Parish and Town Councillors as individually-elected members a fantastic opportunity to engage and communicate with their residents. Building up two-way conversations through the power of digital platforms has never been easier, but it can be tricky to get started and to know where to focus your time and effort as an individual Councillor. We walk you through the essential ways to get the most out of key social media platforms as a local Councillor, and provide top tips to engage with your residents

Who should attend
This course is aimed at councillors wishing to learn more about how to use social media

Course Tutor

Breakthrough Communications

Cost (per delegate)
£38+ VAT member
£76+ VAT non member

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

This session will help you consider practical and effective ways for your Council to systematically and proactively find out what really matters to people living within your parish, through a range of print and digital tools.

Discover the tools, strategies and techniques needed to not just better promote your own messages but also to better hear and respond to the voices within your local community, and get buy-in on your vision for your community's future.

Who should attend
This course is open to Clerks, Officers and Councillors wanting to engage with their community.

Course Tutor

Breakthrough Communications

Cost per delegate
£38+ VAT members
£76+ VAT non members

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

When booking onto this course, the details that you provide will be used to book you onto a third party website where you will receive booking confirmation. Your details will only be used for the purposes of sending joining instructions.

Venue:

Marie Reilly

Contact:

Online

Course description
How can you find and encourage a more diverse pool of people to stand or be co-opted as town or parish councillors? It is increasingly hard to find people who are willing to put their names forward either at election time or to be co-opted. We explore effective ways councils and councillors can engage people over time, building up their awareness and interest in the work of the council, in order to better promote and demystify the role of a councillor.

Who should attend
Councils wanting to know how to encourage more, and diverse, people to stand as a councillor.

Course tutor
Breakthrough Communications

Cost (per delegate)
£38+ VAT member
£76+ VAT non member

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly

This session introduces the Annual Return and the stages of the audit process, enabling you to complete all the relevant steps correctly.

Topics include:
• Closing the accounts
• Debtors and creditors
• Assets and borrowing
• Internal audit
• Reviewing internal control
• The Annual Return
• Electors rights
• Publication requirements

By the end of this session you will:
• Be able to identify the steps needed as part of the audit process
• Understand how to close the council's accounts
• Understand how to complete the Annual Return
• Be able to correctly allow the exercise of electors' rights
• Recognise the need to review internal controls

Who should attend
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 course is specifically aimed at councils with an income and expenditure basis (mandatory for councils regularly spending over £200,000).

There are alternative sessions for:
Councils under £25,000
Councils that prepare Receipts & Payments accounts

Cost
£30+VAT per person (member)
£60+VAT per person (non-member)

Course Tutor
Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP
Steve is a former Town Clerk and an accountant with 30 years' experience in public and voluntary sector finance. He now specialises in delivering training and advice on VAT and finance matters for the local council sector.

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

Venue:

Online

Contact:

Marie Reilly