Training for Councillors

Some comments from Councillors and their officers

Councillors

For new members to the Planning Committee it highlighted the “do’s” and the “don’ts” to realise and avoid. It expressed many aspects that you would only learn on the job. Cllr Knight, Newport City Council.

I have been to many planning seminars and training courses and this ranks among the best. Excellent presentation, good humoured and held new member’s attention. Philip Read, Cambridgeshire County Council & East Cambridgeshire District Council
 
A good case study that raised interesting debate and illustrated the process. Material presented in an interesting way. A comprehensive coverage. Mike Ellis, St Albans District Council
 
The workshop exceeded my expectations and made an immensely complex sea of legislation refreshingly accessible. The course addressed all the issues well and in a useful and manageable level of detail. Cllr Gary Barton, Cheshire East Council
 
The presenters were the best I have seen in all the training workshops I have attended. Well done. Don Stockton, Cheshire East Council.

It was an interesting presentation which I enjoyed. The instructor delivery was first class. Having been a County Councillor for 9 years, I learnt more today from this single session, than I envisaged. Really good stuff. Cllr Jim Gordon JP, Durham County Council
 
This was enjoyable, challenging, lively and less "dry" than anticipated. Phil Gilchrist, Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

This was one of the best planning training I have had in 6 years of being on the planning board. Keeps you interested and involved. David Bowley, Derbyshire County Council
 
A great day with good solid content that was extremely useful to a new member. Barry Lewis, Derbyshire County Council
 
The two presenters were excellent and kept one’s interest through the whole session, making a complex issue very clear. Cllr H Bainbridge, Mid Devon District Council
 
A very informative and brief journey through Planning.  Excellent speaker with lots of experience who has given me the confidence to really enjoy my time on the Planning Committee. Tom Day, Rugby Borough Council
 
It was raised above the level of any previous courses which I have religiously attended. Robin Hazelton, Rugby Borough Council

As is often the case the TRA workshop exceeded my expectations. I find that, however much I already know, I always learn something new, or see something from a different angle. Excellent as I expected it to be. Councillor A Pinnock, Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council
 
Very good presentation that informed and was clearly given by very experienced individuals, thoroughly enjoyable. Cllr Simon Lane, Newport City Council
 
I found all the information and the excellent details presented very useful to me as a member of the Planning Panel. I have enjoyed the experience of such a useful training workshop. Cllr Alice Smyth, Salford City Council

I thought it was a first class workshop. And hearing views from all sides has helped my understanding of Design Qualities. A day well spent. Tom Westherson, Scottish Borders Council

It met my expectations. It was one of the better courses I have attended. Gavin Logan, Scottish Borders Council

Exceeded expectations. Came with an apprehensive approach but was pleasantly surprised. Pitched at a level to stimulate interest/involvement. Well done! Cllr Terry Laincs, Stockton Borough Council

The anecdotes of TRA experiences were an invaluable experience. Feedback on experiences with other LA's clients was greatly appreciated and enhanced the overall presentation. Cllr Geoff Ainsworth, Salford City Council

Officers

Thank you for the excellent two days of member training you gave us at the end of July. From the feedback at the time, and since, it is clear that our members derived great benefit from the thorough and entertaining presentations and the subsequent stimulation discussion. The material was cogent, apposite to local circumstances, and up-to-date. Colin Phillips, DC and Enforcement Manager, Barrow Borough Council

Excellent style, very human and warm approach, delivered with a sense of humour, experience of the presenter gives considerable gravitas to the training and good use of real life examples. Mark Bishop, Development Control Team Leader, Worcestershire County Council

Excellent, very accessible and pitched at the right level, case study was very good, good explanation of material considerations. Gary Collins, Area Planning Services Manager, Bristol City Council

Good combination of presentation styles – authoritative yet entertaining. Brian Taylor, Principal Planning Officer, North Wiltshire District Council

A great day – extremely relevant and well presented. Chris Findley, Head of Planning, Salford City Council

Presentation style was interactive and kept councillors engaged. Chris Board, Principal Planning Officer, Colchester Borough Council

Relaxed style, good use of anecdotal evidence and experience from other authorities.  Opportunity to ask questions and debate issues. Gerri Smith, Milton Keynes Partnerships.

Absolutely first class production, well delivered and concise. Andy Booth, Swale Borough Council

Trevor Roberts Associates - Councillor Training

An extensive client list

TRA has trained Councillors in more than 210 local authorities across England, Scotland 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."

"Beyond my expectations! I have learnt more in a day than in three years on Development Control. If I had been on a course like this three years ago, my expertise would have been greatly enhanced. The mystique attached to Appeals has been dissipated!"

"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."

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."