Training for Councillors (England and Wales)

Feedback from Councillors

"Met my expectations completely, as a planning novice I have learnt a huge amount. After 5 years as a Councillor I have always shied away from planning but after today I shall put my name forward to sub for the committee."

"You made a dull subject FUN."

"I was most impressed by the content of the presentation and by the standard of the presentation by both of the presenters. They are obviously very au fait with their area of expertise and both very confident and polished in their presentation."

• more feedback comments from Councillors and their officers

An extensive client list

TRA has trained Councillors in more than 150 local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales

• view our clients in England/Wales
• view our clients in Scotland

The significance of Councillor training in Planning

"Planning legislation is complex and it is essential that Councillors have adequate training to enable them to apply the rules in a proper way to applications. Officer advice, however excellent, cannot be a substitute. We believe that basic training in the planning system, preferably provided by experts from outside the authority, should be compulsory for members of the planning committee. All members of an authority's planning committee (or equivalent) should receive training in the planning system, either before serving on the committee, or as soon as possible after their appointment to the committee."

Report of the Nolan Committee on Standards of Conduct in Local Government in England, Scotland and Wales

CLG endorses TRA's position on the role of Councillors

The CLG Committee looking into Labour Shortage and Skills Gaps in Planning published its final report in July 2008. TRA made a number of responses to the questions asked by the Committee about officer training and the skills of Councillors and the Committee was particularly interested in what we had to say on the role of Councillors and the wider principle of democratic accountability. Indeed, the Committee noted that TRA had “best grasped the essential importance of the principle of democratic accountability” when we stated that:

"The role of the planning officer is to provide an objective analysis of the issues in a clear and succinct way, so that the decision maker can make an informed decision…the Councillor needs to be able to have an appreciation of what is proposed but also be able to ask difficult questions in order to test the robustness of the recommendation…The system rests on the basis that the technical specialist can be challenged by a non-specialist, so that there are checks and balances and that the decisions being made reflect the needs and desires of the wider community."