The County Durham and Cleveland Training Partnership delivers training to member and non-member councils throughout County Durham and Cleveland. This page includes our training programme which is continually updated
Bookings close 48 hours before each course starts (unless otherwise stated) and invoices will be raised after each event. For further details about any of our courses please contact cdalc@durham.gov.uk.
Here is the training we currently have available for parish and town councils in County Durham and Cleveland
AGAR briefing by Mazars, the external auditors
Weds 9th April 2025 6-7pm on Zoom
For more info and to book on Mazars AGAR briefing
Hints and Tips for completing your Register of Interests Form
Weds 14th May 2025 6-7pm on Zoom FREE
For more info and to book on Hints and Tips for completing your Register of Interests Form
Managing Assets
Tues 20th May 2025 6-8pm on Zoom
For more info and to book on Managing Assets
New Councillor welcome training online
Weds 4th June 2025 at 6-8pm on Zoom
For more info and to book on New Councillor welcome training online
New Councillor welcome training in person
Thurs 12th June 2025 9.30am-1pm at Oakleaf Sports Centre, Newton Aycliffe
For more info and to book on New Councillor welcome training in person
Why your Council’s Code of Conduct Matters for Councillors
Thurs 19th June 2025 on Teams 6-7pm
For more info and to book on Why your Council’s Code of conduct Matters for Councillors
Social Media Skills for Parish and Town Councillors
Weds 25th June 2025 at 6pm on Zoom, 1½ – 2 hours
For more info and to book on Social Media Skills for Parish and Town Councillors
County Durham and Cleveland CiLCA mentoring (ongoing)
For more information about CiLCA and to book on CiLCA mentoring
Please note that online CiLCA mentoring is ongoing and delivered over the course of an academic year (Sep to June) and is free to clerks from County Durham and Cleveland County Association member councils. It entails an introductory session plus 5 other webinars for each of the CiLCA units. It is possible to join mid-year and continue till you have attended all the units.
Finance and VAT – Via Parkinson Partnership
A whole range of courses are available to County Association member councils and can be booked directly at Parkinson Partnership courses for parish and town councils. Cost £35. Invoice after the event.
Currently available courses:
Year End & Audit – Councils over £25,000
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.
- 11 Mar at 10am
- 20 Mar at 10am
Year-end & Transparency – Councils under £25,000
For officers of councils that spend and receive less than £25,000 a year, who want to understand how to prepare and publish their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return to comply with the Accounts & Audit Regulations, as well as publishing the information required by the Transparency Code for Smaller authorities.
- 18 Mar at 10am
- 19 Mar at 6.30pm – EVENING COURSE
Income & Expenditure accounts (for larger councils)
For officers who want to understand how to prepare their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return on an income and expenditure basis (mandatory for councils regularly spending over £200,000) and comply with the requirements of the audit process.
- 13 Mar at 10am
- 25 Mar at 10am
New Clerks’ Finance (Plus a second course FREE after you attend)
- 26 Mar at 10m
Further information and to book on Parkinson Partnership courses for parish and town councils
Communications and Engagement – via Breakthrough Communications
More courses are available to County Association member councils (clerks, officers and councillors) covering all aspects of council communications, community engagement and GDPR/FOI compliance. Here is the current schedule of Breakthrough Communications courses which also includes booking information. Course costs are £35. Invoice after the event.
Example courses include:
The range of courses currently includes:
- Communicating with your Community
- How councils can engage effectively with young people in their communities
- How councils can recruit a more diverse pool of local councillors
- Get the most from local and regional media
- Crisis communications for local councils
- Dealing with difficult people and conversations in our local councils
- Councillors: Chairing council and public meetings effectively
- Data Protection
- Freedom of Information for local councils
Click here for the current schedule of Breakthrough Communications courses
Cancellations for training should be emailed to cdalc@durham.gov.uk, and like registrations they will normally close 48 hours before each course (unless specified otherwise in the course information). After this time all live bookings will be charged (where there is a fee payable) whether the person attends or not, but non attendees will be sent the presentation. Councils will be invoiced after each event.
Online training will be delivered using Zoom or Microsoft Teams and the link will be emailed to participants no later than 24 hours before the event.
