Training & Events

This course has 2 sessions: 1. Governance 2. Finance To de-mystify internal audit and the annual internal audit report Annual Governance Statement (section 1) – can you tick “yes”? To share “best practice” and consider how we can address any concerns that you might have To provide a directory for […]

The purpose of agendas & minutes The importance of a detailed agenda Best practice in creating agendas & minutes How to create first class agendas & minutes How to handle confidential business Freedom of Information implications Retention of records & archiving

Who should attend? All Councillors, both new into the role, or wishing to update and renew their knowledge. Who is your trainer? The HAPTC team, CEO Nikki Bugden and Council Officer, Katie Eyre Is it for you? Legal framework and purpose of a Parish/Town Council How do you get things […]

Who should attend? Any Councillor, especially those considering becoming the Chairman of their council or a committee. Clerks also welcome for information. Who is your trainer? The HAPTC team, CEO Nikki Bugden and Council Officer, Katie Eyre Is it for you? Programme: What the chairman does before the meeting; at […]

Code of Conduct Evening Training Free to members Our next session will be held after May 2027 elections dates TBA Open to councillors and clerks (free to members, online session)

Who should attend? Clerks of parish, community and town councils with ordinary elections. It aims to give practical help for you to understand the electoral process with regard to parish councils and how to encourage greater participation within your community. Is it for you? This workshop will cover the practicalities […]

When is this held? This session is not held at regular intervals, but organised when there are several new Clerks in need of this training. So, if you would like us to put one in the schedule please contact Katie@haptc.org.uk Who should attend? This course is designed for Clerks and […]

Click here to view demo The Bribery Act 2010 is among the strictest legislation internationally on bribery. It is now possible to charge organisations if it is found they failed to prevent bribery, and to charge individuals who are found guilty of bribing or being bribed. Knowing exactly what is […]

Click here to view demo The Bribery Act 2010 is among the strictest legislation internationally on bribery. It is now possible to charge organisations if it is found they failed to prevent bribery, and to charge individuals who are found guilty of bribing or being bribed. Knowing exactly what is […]

Click here for demo Have you ever refused to leave a tip at a restaurant, or put the phone down on a call centre representative in sheer frustration? Maybe you’ve been annoyed enough to leave a one-star review online! Most of us have endured bad customer service at some point. […]

Click here for demo This password management course is designed to provide clear and concise guidance on the use of passwords and other protection methods to keep your information and data safe and secure. The course will examine how cyber attackers can use different methods to gain access to passwords […]

Click here for demo This course, developed by cyber security specialists Cyber Security Associates, is designed to enhance the learner’s knowledge of one of the fastest growing cyber attack methods: phishing. The course is useful for anyone who works with digital devices, and provides learners with details of information security […]

Click here for demo This course is designed to look at the different ways of using video conferencing and the processes and technology that can be used to protect how we use these services. Objectives By the end of the course you should be able to: Appreciate the history and […]

Click here for demo Main Features Every time we buy a product, sign up to a service or get a new job, we willingly hand over our personal information, placing our trust in countless companies to handle our data securely and responsibly, despite frequent news of hacks and data breaches. […]

Click here for demo Developed by experienced training specialists, Creative Learning Solutions, this Display Screen Equipment course addresses the fact that it is not the equipment in our daily office lives that is responsible for poor health and absenteeism, but the way in which we use it. The course will […]

Wednesday, 21 October ’26   10am – 11:30am  Thursday, 5 November ’26   10am – 11:30am  Tuesday, 17 November ’26   10am – 11:30am  This session is aimed at officers of parish & town councils, who are involved in preparing and monitoring their council’s budgets. Topics include: • setting a budget and […]

This session is seasonal and held in the autumn when budgets are set Course content When to start the budget-setting process The role of the Responsible Financial Officer and councillors in preparation of the budget How to go about preparing the budget and setting the precept Budget monitoring The importance […]

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. Thursday, 29 October ’26   6:30pm – 8pm  Tuesday, 3 November ’26   10am – 11:30am Thursday, 10 December ’26   10am – 11:30am   Topics include: • […]

Wednesday, 18 November ’26   10am – 11:30am This session give councillors and clerks an understanding of the need for internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies. Topics include: • Roles and responsibilities • Financial risks • Purpose of internal controls • Case studies • […]

Thursday, 12 November ’26   10am – 11:30am  Tuesday, 8 December ’26   10am – 11:30am   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 […]

 Tuesday, 24 November ’26   10am – 11:30am  Thursday, 28 January ’27   10am – 11:30am This introductory session is for inexperienced clerks of councils in membership of HAPTC in their year and is designed to give them an overview of a council’s year, along with a basic understanding of the RFO’s […]

For anyone involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders, or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils. Tuesday, 20 October ’26   10am – 11:30am Tuesday, 26 January ’27   10am – 11:30am  Thursday, 4 March ’27   10am – 11:30am Tuesday, 27 April ’27   10am – 11:30am This session introduces […]

Dates TBC 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) This session explains the role of the internal auditor in providing assurance to […]

Local newspapers, magazines, regional TV, and radio offer local councils a way to communicate with residents. However, dealing with journalists and the media can be intimidating. In this session we will consider how to establish positive relationships with journalists. How to write impactful press releases. Ensure that your council gets regular and […]

Councils often find it challenging to connect with young people. In this session, we will define “young people.” Consider the issues important to young people. Explore effective ways to engage online and offline. We will also offer insights on forming partnerships with local youth organisations. Wednesday 2nd Sept at 10am […]

Councils often find it challenging to connect with young people. In this session, we will define “young people.” Consider the issues important to ‘young people.’ Explore effective ways to engage online and offline. We will also offer insights on forming partnerships with local youth organisations

The learning content, live workshop, and toolkits will enable participants to deal with various role-focused challenging situations and explore how we can work with others more effectively. We will consider different leadership styles and approaches in the context of your role, exploring which styles we personally ‘default’ to and which […]

The learning content, live workshop, and toolkits will enable participants to explore different methods and strategies for dealing with negative attacks on social media and ways in which they can keep control of our social media output. We will consider how we come across on social media as councils, as […]

Councils often use different social media platforms to connect with the community. This session explores a wide range of social media platforms. There will be a focus on how to get the most from key social media platforms. Exploring the ways of ensuring that social media supports your council to […]

Social media is a great tool for councils to use to improve their communication. In this session you will learn the basics and how to get started right. We will focus on creating a social media strategy and the basics of Facebook. Our goal is to share with you time-saving […]

Cemetery Management for Parish and Town Councils 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 […]

Making  Accessible Document using MS Word and PDF’s As a Parish or Town Council Clerk, you’re responsible for producing key documents such as agendas, minutes, and reports—and ensuring they are accessible to all members of your community, including people with disabilities, is not just good practice, it’s a legal requirement. […]

Allotment Management 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 […]

Heath and Safety on Allotments 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 new National Planning Policy Framework – what Councils need to know  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 […]

NEW – Induction for Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) We will go through the RFO’s workbook that YLCA have produced, to ensure you understand the role and responsibilities of the RFO. These sessions cover the role of the RFO. Cost: £55.00 per delegate Thursday 29 October, 9.30am to 11.30am Wednesday 9 […]

Getting to grips with using the website for more community engagement, Mark Tomkins This engaging webinar is perfect for parish and town councils looking to maximise the potential of their website for both functionality and community engagement. You’ll discover how to make your website a dynamic tool that not only […]

Business Continuity Plan – Preparing for the Unexpected Every council faces risks that can disrupt normal operations, from severe weather and utility failures to cyber incidents, staff shortages, and other unforeseen events. A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) helps ensure that essential services can continue and recover quickly when disruption occurs. […]