Training Programmes
In-house Training for Inquiries/Examinations
We currently offer a range of training workshops for those involved in Inquiries/Examinations:
- Appearing at Public Inquires
- Examinations of Development Plan Documents
- Appearing at Local Plan Inquiries (Scotland)
- An Introduction to the Appeals Process (new).
Appearing at Public Inquiries
This workshop is aimed at staff in development control and related fields who need to learn, practice or sharpen the skills involved in appearing at Public Inquiries.
The objectives of the session are :
- to improve presentation, witness and advocacy skills
- to clarify the roles of different participants at the Inquiry
- to equip participants with a clear understanding of Inquiry procedures
- to enhance good practice
The aim is to boost participants' confidence by enhancing their competence.
A crucial part of the two-day training session is a "cameo inquiry" which is run on day 2. Participants get an opportunity to practice presentation as part of the inquiry; they are allocated a "role" in advance and are asked to prepare for that role.
The training normally runs over two full days with a maximum number of participants of 16. We usually run the session for one authority, but we have run the course successfully for a group of staff from neighbouring authorities. Day 1 includes a series of briefings covering procedural elements and good practice advice. Day 2 is a more practical day.
Examinations of Development Plan Documents
This recently developed workshop aims to provide those who are about to be involved in a DPD examination with a better understanding of the new system; what is it designed to achieve; and crucially, how they personally can participate in the process effectively. The first half of the workshop will explore the nature of the examination process, the roles of the different participants, and how the Inspector will run the examination and what he or she is hoping to gain from the process. Most of the second half of the workshop will be devoted to a mock examination exercise in which participants will take an active part.
The objectives of the session are:
- to provide those who are about to be involved in an examination of a development plan document with a better understanding of:
- the new system
- what it is designed to achieve
- and crucially - how they personally can participate in the process effectively
- to provide practical skills and information which will assist participants and their authority when attending their own examination.
The workshop is delivered jointly by one of TRA's Senior Associate and a part-time Planning Inspector.
The training runs over one full day with a maximum number of 20 participants. We usually run this session for one authority, but we have run the course successfully for a group of staff from neighbouring authorities. The Planning Inspector will lead the proceedings and participants will all have a role to play during the course of the examination. Roles will be allocated by the presenters during the morning session.
Appearing at Local Plan Inquiries (Scotland)
For those authorities in Scotland approaching the Public Inquiry into their draft Local Plan, this in-house training session will be of great benefit. The objectives of the session are :
- to improve presentation, witness and advocacy skills
- to clarify the roles of the different parties involved
- to equip participants with a clear understanding of Inquiry procedures.
The aim is to boost participants' confidence by enhancing their competence.
A crucial part of the two-day training session is a "dry run" usually based on material from an objection, or potential objection to the client's own Local Plan.
The session will be of benefit to all staff who are going to be involved in the Local Plan Inquiry. It is especially useful for staff who have little experience of appearing at Public Inquiries. Whilst most of those who attend will be planners, it may also be appropriate for specialist staff from other areas (including legal, engineering, highways, education, social services etc. ) to attend, where they are likely to be called upon to represent the authority at the Inquiry.
The training normally runs over two full days with a maximum number of participants of 15. We usually run the session for one authority, but occasionally "spare places" have been taken up by staff from neighbouring authorities. Day 1 includes a series of briefings covering procedural elements and good practice advice. Day 2 is a more practical day. Part of the practical day will be run on traditional, formal inquiry lines and part on a hearings basis. This is to reflect the switch to less formal methods of considering objections now favoured by the Planning Inspectorate.
An Introduction to the Appeals Process
This course gives an overview of the appeals process. It will cover:
- the right to appeal, and some other basic legal provisions
- "written reps", hearings and public inquiries - the key characteristics of each (and who decides which should be used in any particular case)
- recent trends, including success rates
- where the courts come in
- the Secretary of State, Inspectors and the Inspectorate
- the Government's view of how the system should operate
- the current "culture" of the Inspectorate, especially in relation to the efficiency of the process
- what inspectors look for (and what they don't)
- some key points for practitioners about each of the three mechanisms, and the different roles they will be required to play
- an introduction to the costs regime.
