Training for Councillors (Scotland)

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.

The course helps Councillors understand their roles and functions more clearly. Issues covered include:

  • conflicting roles and their resolution
  • approaches/lobbying by developers, applicants, objectors
  • 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.

Trevor Roberts Associates - Councillor Training

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."

An extensive client list

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

The presenting team

Over a dozen presenters regularly deliver Councillor training for TRA

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