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
Becoming an Internal Auditor for Parish & Town Councils – What You Need to Know
Thurs 1st October 6 – 7.30pm
Sedgefield Parish Hall
Free event
For more information and to book on Becoming an Internal Auditor for Parish & Town Councils
Budgeting for Parish & Town Councils
Tues 13th October 6-7.30pm on Zoom
£20 County Association members/£35 non-members
For more information and to book on Budgeting for Parish & Town Councils
Changes to how Planning Decisions are Made 2026
Tues 20th Oct 6-7pm on Teams
Free event
For more information and to book on Changes to how Planning Decisions are Made 2026
Making Meetings Matter
Tues 3rd November 2026 6-7.30pm on Zoom
£20 County Association members/£35 non-members
For more information and to book on Making Meetings Matter
Managing Risk with Confidence: Practical Guidance for Parish and Town Councils
Thurs 12th Nov 2026 6-7.30pm
Free event on Zoom
For more information and to book on Managing Risk with Confidence
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 Couty Association member councils and can be booked directly at Parkinson Partnership courses for parish and town councils. Cost £35 and will be invoiced after the event by the County Durham Association of Local Councils.
Currently available courses:
Procurement
- 16 September at 10am
- 20 October at 10am
- 26 November at 10am
Finance for Councillors
- 22 September at 10am
- 29 October at 6.30pm
- 3 November at 10am
- 10 December at 10am
Introduction to VAT
- 13 October at 10am
- 12 November at 10am
- 8 December at 10am
VAT Partial Exemption
- 29 September at 10am
Internal Controls
- 30 September at 10am
- 18 November at 10am
New Clerks’ Finance Course
- 1 October at 10am
- 24 November at 10am
The Role of Internal Audit
- 14 October at 10am
Budgeting
- 8 October at 10am
- 21 October at 10am
- 5 November at 10am
- 17 November at 10am
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.
