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 27th August 2026 5.30pm- 7pm Open to councillors and clerks (free to members, online session) Please join the HAPTC team and Megan Seiorse, Deputy Monitoring Officer at St Albans DC as she explains about the code of conduct and how it applies to […]

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 […]

Who should attend? Councillors, Clerks, members of neighbourhood planning committees from your local community and anyone with an interest in neighbourhood planning Who is presenting? James Parker, CEO Bishop’s Stortford Town Council What is the format? This 2-part package comprises 1) a 1/2-day training session followed by 2) an interactive […]

click here for demo This 45 min course explores human error in the workplace. It looks at the types of errors we make, common ‘error traps’ that fall under four categories; Person, Equipment, Task and Environment (PETE), and the Human Performance (HuP) tools we can use to mitigate error traps […]

Click here for a demo Information security is important for all organisations; your information is valuable and it is important it is kept safe. Understanding information security risks and how to minimise these are the first steps in keeping information safe. By making sure employees are aware of information security […]

This e-learning course is suitable for councillors, clerks and officers and is designed to help broaden and develop your knowledge and understanding of the role of town and parish councils.   Objectives After completing the course, learners will be able to understand the purpose of the council alongside the role […]

This e-learning course, suitable for councillors, clerks and officers is designed to help broaden and develop your knowledge and understanding of the role of Parish, Town and Community Councils in relation to planning matters. Objectives After completing the course, learners will be able to understand how the planning system works […]

This module is designed to provide Clerks, Council Officers and Councillors with an introduction to the skills needed to be effective leaders in the different roles we have, and the different situations we face, in our local councils. We are going to explore the ways in which all of us […]

Click here for demo The illegal and morally corrupt practice of modern slavery and human trafficking is sadly alive and thriving today, to the tune of 40.3 million slaves worldwide. In fact, one of the largest offenders is the UK, with reported cases increasing across many industries, including agriculture, construction, […]

click for demo Objectives By the end of the course, you should be able to: Explain what is meant by the term ‘neurodiverse’ Recognise the benefits of neurodiversity at work Identify how a ‘typical’ work environment could significantly impact a neurodiverse employee’s daily life Support and implement small adjustments that […]

In this introductory e-learning module, we develop a better understanding of where our behaviour comes from. We’ll consider what resilience means for us in the context of our roles within the council. There will be opportunities to explore role-focused scenarios and consider how we might respond to them. We’ll also […]

For clerks, finance staff and councillors from councils that are VAT registered, who wish to develop their knowledge (VAT registered councils have a 9-digit registration number, submit quarterly VAT returns online and charge VAT on taxable sales. If your council submits a VAT126 claim, it is not VAT registered). This […]

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 session does NOT cover exemption from audit or the Transparency Code for smaller Authorities. We have alternative sessions for councils under £25,000 that need […]

Details For officers who want to understand how to prepare and publish their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return on a receipts and payments basis, complying with the Accounts & Audit Regulations and the Transparency Code for Smaller authorities. This session introduces the Annual Return and the stages of the […]

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

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 […]

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. […]

Addressing the Biodiversity Challenge, Mike Deegan Consultancy This topic has never been more relevant; particularly as local councils have a duty from January 2024 to consider biodiversity and help tackle the growing biodiversity crisis. This session identifies the practical changes and steps councils can realistically implement to help enhance biodiversity […]

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: £45 per delegate Thursday 13 August, 9.30am to 11.30am

These sessions cover the role of the clerk and is suitable for anyone new to clerking; including deputies and locum clerks, and admin assistants. There is ample opportunity to ask questions and discuss real situations. We will work through the Clerks Workbook produced by the YLCA. A separate session covers […]

When to go to tender and navigating the “Find a Tender” process, Mike Deegan Consultancy Cost: £40.00 per delegate Wednesday 26 August, 10.00am – 12 noon The session provides essential guidance through the public procurement process. It enables participants to implement effective and legal procurement – such as when to […]

Caring for War Memorials, Brogan Warren, Public Engagement Officer, War Memorial Trust Cost: £35 per delegate Thursday 10 September, 1.30pm to 3.00pm War Memorials Trust will discuss how to manage war memorial heritage and the importance of best conservation practice to preserve them for as long as possible. The charity […]

Employment Law Update Cost: £15 per delegate Wednesday 23 September, 10.00am to 11.00am This session will provide an update on changes to the Employment Law since 1 April 2026, along with some best practice suggestions from the presenter