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 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 […]

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. Topics include: • Roles and responsibilities • setting a budget and precept • Financial control • The Annual Governance & Accountability Return • Internal and external […]

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 • Examples of controls • Review of internal controls […]

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 council contemplating major building projects. Alternative sessions are available in our programme for councils that are […]

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 role. If you have 9 month’s experience or more, this session is unlikely to […]

For anyone involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders, or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils. This session introduces the new rules of the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025 and replace the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The session covers the basics […]

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 the council […]

For clerks, finance staff and councillors of councils that lease or hire out land and buildings such as village halls, community centres, meeting rooms, sports facilities or markets, who need to understand when their council is at risk of not being able to reclaim VAT. Essential for any council contemplating […]

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