Training for Councillors (England and Wales)
The Role of Councillors in Planning: propriety and good practice
This popular course is aimed at any Councillor involved in or potentially involved in the planning process. It helps Councillors understand their roles and functions more clearly. Issues covered include:
- conflicting roles and their resolution
- approaches/lobbying by developers, applicants, objectors
- interface with Parish/Town Councils where relevant
- Committee consideration, including the significance of material considerations
- conflicts and declarations of interest etc
- site visits and meetings
- decisions contrary to officer advice and how to handle these
- the role of Councillors at appeals.
This is not a briefing on planning; the course focuses exclusively on the role of Councillors in the statutory system.
This workshop is designed to last a day, roughly between 9.30am and 4.30pm with the usual breaks. However, format can be varied. For example, we have run sessions from mid afternoon to mid evening. We do insist on enough time being allocated to cover the relevant material properly in a user friendly manner. We do not simply come in to deliver a series of set "talks".
We use a variety of techniques, including:
- presentations, supported by visual aids as appropriate
- group discussions based on pre prepared case studies
- question and answer sessions
- exercises relating to planning problems
- pre-course and course questionnaires
- straightforward course documentation.
Our style is structured but informal. Quite a lot of work is conducted in small groups.
The workshop is delivered by two of our presenters.