BATPC has a broad range of training options, courses and sessions. The following are some examples. Contact us to discuss your training needs.
Councillor Training: (2 hour sessions)
New Councillor Induction Training This course is intended to take newly-elected councillors through the basics of being a parish or town councillor. Having taken place at venues around the county for new councillors following the 2023 elections, when in-person these sessions continue throughout the 2023-2027 term of office at our central location of Shefford or remotely, to ensure member councils’ new councillor training needs can be met. Next Session – Thursday 28th May 2026, 7:30-9:30pm – Remote
Chairing Meetings 1 – Chairing a meeting is designed for new Chairman and Vice Chairmen and covers the basics of the role – the role of the Chairman, preparing for a meeting, the agenda, and knowing the rules. This training is offered both as in-person and remote sessions. Next Session: Wednesday 10th June 2026, 7:30-9:30pm – Remote
Chairing Meetings 2 – Professional conduct is designed for Chairmen and Vice Chairmen with some experience and covers chairing styles, managing the meeting, handling conflict, stimulating discussion, ethics and diversity. Next Session: Thursday 25th June 2026, 7:30-9:30pm, – Remote
Training for the Clerk
New Clerks Training – contact the BATPC office to find out more about training opportunities for new clerks, including a remote Induction for Clerks Session and a New Clerks’ Finance course available through our Finance Training Programme delivered by Parkinson Partnership LLP (see below). All bookings on the New Clerks’ Finance course include a free place at your next finance training course (see the current programme here).
BATPC recommends that Councils support officers to achieve the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) – the nationally recognised qualification for clerks and other officers in the parish and town council sector. CiLCA is a Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) and Ascentis Exam Board product, and you can find out more about the qualification and the SLCC training on building the portfolio of evidence required to achieve it here
Remote and On-Demand Training Sessions – For Councillors and Clerks
Finance Training: Live courses delivered by Parkinson Partnership LLP
Parkinsons offer a wide range of finance training sessions e.g. Finance for Councillors; New Clerks’ Finance; Role of Internal Audit; VAT; Internal Controls
Communications and Compliance Training: Live courses delivered by Breakthrough Communications
Through our partnership with Breakthrough Communications, BATPC offers a wide range of communications and information governance training sessions designed for local council clerks, officers and councillors.
For more information on the range of training available, click here.
Please contact BATPC office for further details or to discuss your training needs.
Planning Training: Live courses delivered by Lion Planning
Planning Nuts & Bolts:
An introductory training session for Parish/Town Councillors and Clerks covering the basic principles of planning including policy, applications, appeals and enforcement. This 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.
Suitable for both Councillors and Clerks & Officers
Planning Application Responses:
This course focuses on the practical element of responding to planning applications, looking at what should – and should not – be included in your responses. Key areas covered include pre-application enquiries, the process & timescales, assessing the application, the parish/town council response, what happens next and appeals and legal challenges. This is a live, interactive course with opportunities for questions to the expert trainer and for sharing best practice and ideas with clerks and councillors from across the county.
The course is for clerks and councillors with some knowledge/experience of planning. it builds on the content included in the Planning Nuts and Bolts course, so it is recommended that delegates undertake that training first.
Dates to be confirmed.
E-Learning with BATPC: On-demand training delivered via Nimble e-Learning
Bedfordshire Association of Town and Parish Councils offers member councils access to a range of remote e-learning courses provided via our e-learning partners Nimble. These ‘click-through’ courses are accessed on-demand and are available for twelve months after enrolment.
The wide range of topics covered include a number of sector-specific courses such as Introduction to Local Councils, Introduction to Planning for Parish Councils, Introduction to Precepts and more, in addition to many other skills and knowledge-based courses.
For a full list of course titles, click here.