Parish & Town Training, Lancashire

For officers of councils that spend and receive less than £25,000 a year, who want to understand how to prepare and publish their council’s Annual Governance and Accountability Return to comply with the Accounts and Audit Regulations, as well as publishing the information required by the Transparency Code for Smaller authorities. There are alternative sessions for Councils over £25,000 that submit their accounts for audit. You do not need to attend more than one of these sessions, as the content is similar. This session introduces the Annual Governance and Accountability Return and the stages of the approval process, enabling you to complete all the relevant steps correctly. It includes additional information on exemption from audit and transparency, only applicable to councils with annual receipts and payments of less than £25,000. Topics include: • Closing the accounts • Exemption from external audit • Internal audit • Reviewing internal control • The Annual Return • Electors rights • Transparency and publication requirements By the end of this session you will: • Be able to identify the steps needed as part of the year-end process • Understand how to close the council’s accounts • Understand how to complete the Annual Return • Be able to correctly allow the exercise of electors’ rights • Be able to identify the information a small council must publish

For officers who want to understand how to prepare their council’s Annual Governance and Accountability Return on an income and expenditure basis (mandatory for councils regularly spending over £200,000) and comply with the requirements of the audit process. This session explains how to convert receipts and payments accounts to income and expenditure accounts, how this affects the Annual Return and the timing of year-end activities and the audit process, enabling you to complete all the relevant steps correctly. Topics include: • Closing the accounts • Debtors and creditors • Assets and borrowing • Internal audit • Reviewing internal control • The Annual Return • Electors rights • Publication requirements By the end of this session you will: • Be able to identify the difference between IandE and RandP accounts • Know the steps needed to convert to IandE accounts • Understand how to complete the Annual Return • Be able to correctly allow the exercise of electors’ rights • Recognise the need to review internal controls

This introductory session is for inexperienced clerks, deputy/assistant clerks and finance officers in their first few months and is designed to give them an overview of a council's year, along with a basic understanding of the RFO's role. When a new clerk attends this session, you will also get a free place on a second course of your choice. If you have 9 month's experience or more, this session is unlikely to cover anything you don't already know. Please leave this session for very new clerks and book yourself onto the more detailed sessions on Budgeting, Internal Control, The Role of internal audit, Procurement, Year-end and VAT instead. Bookings for experienced clerks, or anyone that is not eligible for this course, may be removed without notice. Topics include: • Roles and responsibilities • Setting a budget and precept • Internal control • The Annual Governance and Accountability Return • Internal and external audit By the end of the session you will: • Be aware of relevant legislation and sources of guidance • Be able to describe the key financial activities in a year • Be aware of how the council's accounts must be prepared and audited • Recognise the importance and purpose of internal controls

This session is for clerks, finance staff and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affects local councils, focussing on those that are not VAT registered, but reclaim VAT using Form VAT126. Essential for any council contemplating major building projects. Alternative sessions are available in our programme for councils that are registered for VAT and submit VAT returns directly from their accounting software. Topics include: • how VAT law applies to local councils • where to find the law and guidance • what are business and non-business activities • understanding whether sales are taxable or exempt from VAT • when a council must register for VAT • when VAT can be reclaimed • partial exemption • reclaiming VAT when using grants and donations By the end of this session you will: • Know where to find the relevant legislation and guidance • Understand the key concepts of VAT • Know when a council can or can’t reclaim VAT • Recognise when a council must register for VAT • Be aware of activities that require special attention

For anyone involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils. Please note that on 12 September the Government decided to postpone implementation of this Act by 4 months, giving authorities more time to prepare for the changes and allowing the Government time to rewrite the National Procurement Policy Statement, rather than using one prepared by the previous Government. This session introduces the new rules of the Procurement Act 2023, which will now come into force on 24 February 2025 and replaces the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The session covers the basics of procurement for local councils – inviting quotes, producing specifications and tender documentation, achieving competition and value for money. Topics include: • Procurement thresholds • Basic terminology and steps involved in procurement • Estimates, quotes and tenders • Specifications • Quality and value for money • Advertising, including Contracts Finder Session benefits: By the end of Contracts and Procurement you will: • Be aware of procurement thresholds • Recognise when you must advertise contracts • Understand the purpose of a specification • Understand the basic terminology and steps involved in procurement • Be able to ensure your procurement achieves value for money

This session is for councillors only and is designed to give them a greater understanding of their duties with regard to the council’s finances. Topics include: • Roles and responsibilities • setting a budget and precept • Financial control • The Annual Governance and Accountability Return • Internal and external audit • How VAT applies to local councils By the end of the session you will: • Understand the council's duties regarding financial management • Be aware of relevant legislation and sources of guidance • Be aware of how the council's accounts are prepared and audited • Recognise the importance of internal controls • Understand how VAT law applies to your council

This session is for clerks, finance staff and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affects local councils, focussing on those that are not VAT registered, but reclaim VAT using Form VAT126. Essential for any council contemplating major building projects. Alternative sessions are available in our programme for councils that are registered for VAT and submit VAT returns directly from their accounting software. Topics include: • how VAT law applies to local councils • where to find the law and guidance • what are business and non-business activities • understanding whether sales are taxable or exempt from VAT • when a council must register for VAT • when VAT can be reclaimed • partial exemption • reclaiming VAT when using grants and donations By the end of this session you will: • Know where to find the relevant legislation and guidance • Understand the key concepts of VAT • Know when a council can or can’t reclaim VAT • Recognise when a council must register for VAT • Be aware of activities that require special attention

This session gives councillors and officers an understanding of the need for internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies. Topics include: • Roles and responsibilities • Financial risks • Purpose of internal controls • Case studies • Examples of controls • Review of internal controls By the end of this session you will: • Understand the council's and RFO's duties regarding internal control • Be aware of the purpose of internal controls • Be able to identify examples of internal controls • Know when to review internal controls

For anyone involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils. Please note that on 12 September the Government decided to postpone implementation of this Act by 4 months, giving authorities more time to prepare for the changes and allowing the Government time to rewrite the National Procurement Policy Statement, rather than using one prepared by the previous Government. This session introduces the new rules of the Procurement Act 2023, which will now come into force on 24 February 2025 and replaces the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The session covers the basics of procurement for local councils – inviting quotes, producing specifications and tender documentation, achieving competition and value for money. Topics include: • Procurement thresholds • Basic terminology and steps involved in procurement • Estimates, quotes and tenders • Specifications • Quality and value for money • Advertising, including Contracts Finder Session benefits: By the end of Contracts and Procurement you will: • Be aware of procurement thresholds • Recognise when you must advertise contracts • Understand the purpose of a specification • Understand the basic terminology and steps involved in procurement • Be able to ensure your procurement achieves value for money

This session is for councillors only and is designed to give them a greater understanding of their duties with regard to the council’s finances. Topics include: • Roles and responsibilities • setting a budget and precept • Financial control • The Annual Governance and Accountability Return • Internal and external audit • How VAT applies to local councils By the end of the session you will: • Understand the council's duties regarding financial management • Be aware of relevant legislation and sources of guidance • Be aware of how the council's accounts are prepared and audited • Recognise the importance of internal controls • Understand how VAT law applies to your council

val.watson The Parkinson Partnership LLP provides training under contract to many county associations of local councils (CALCs) t You should only use the page to book training if you are a CALC member of staff, or an employee of a council where your CALC has given you access to this booking page. Prices quoted are for councils that are members of their association. Bookings by anyone else are liable to be removed without notice or charged at double the standard rate. Schedule From 10 Mar 2025 Times shown in timezone: London VAT for registered councils with Steve Parkinson View details Thursday, 1 May '25 10am – 11:40am BST Zoom online classroom 21 spaces available Information Details This session is for clerks, finance staff and councillors from VAT registered councils, who wish to develop their knowledge of how VAT applies to their council's activities. VAT registered councils have a 9-digit registration number, submit quarterly VAT returns directly from their accounting software and charge VAT on taxable sales. Councils that submit a VAT126 claim, are not VAT registered and should look at our "Introduction to VAT" course instead. This session explains when and how VAT registered local councils charge VAT, when they can reclaim VAT and when they can't. Essential for any council contemplating major building work. Topics include: • how VAT law applies to local councils • where to find the law and guidance • business and non-business activities • understanding whether sales are taxable or exempt from VAT • when to charge VAT • VAT rates • when VAT can be reclaimed • VAT returns • Partial exemption • Non-business activities • Reclaiming VAT when using grants and donations By the end of this session you will: • Know where to find the relevant legislation and guidance • Understand the key concepts of VAT • Know when a council can or can’t reclaim VAT • Recognise when a council must charge VAT • Be aware of activities that require special attention

For clerks, finance staff and councillors of councils that lease or hire out land and buildings (such as village halls, community centres, meeting rooms or markets), who need to understand when their council is at risk of not being able to reclaim VAT. Essential for any council contemplating major building projects, or incurring significant expenditure on running these facilities. This session is for those who already understand the rules of VAT (possibly from having attended one of our VAT sessions) and need to work out whether their council can reclaim VAT in relation to its use of land. This session is unlikely to be of benefit for councils spending less than £50,000 a year, or for anyone that doesn't already understand the difference between business and non-business activities or between taxable and exempt supplies. This session explains when VAT cannot be reclaimed in relation to exempt activities and what options may be available if you are in that situation. Topics include: • law and guidance • non-business, taxable and exempt uses of land • Apportionment of costs • Partial exemption calculations • Occasional breaches • Option to tax • Capital Goods Scheme adjustments By the end of this session you will: • Know where to find the relevant legislation and guidance • Understand how to undertake a partial exemption calculation • Recognise when a project is likely to lead to unrecoverable VAT • Be aware of options to achieve VAT recovery

This session is aimed at officers of parish and town councils, who are involved in preparing and monitoring their council's budgets. Topics include: • setting a budget and precept • Contingencies and reserves • how the council tax base affects the budget • Inflation • budget monitoring By the end of this session you will: • Understand how and when to prepare a budget • Know how to approve and issue a precept • Be aware of the factors that affect a budget • Understand how to manage a budget

Being a parish/town council chair is an important, complex and unique role. The aim of these informal sessions is to provide an opportunity for chairs to get together and discuss experiences and share learning. The session will be facilitated by Parish Councillor Darren Cranshaw who has chaired Brindle Parish Council in Chorley for the last 18 years and has chaired LALC for a number of years. Professionally Darren works in local government in the governance arena and involved as a school governor and is a trustee for a number of local organisations. There is no set agenda for the network, we will be guided about what chairs wish to discuss and what might help them in their role and their council. BOOK ONE DATE ONLY

This 2 hour online course is designed for new Councillors and Clerks. It describes the role of the Parish Council, its powers, responsibilities and purpose. The course will set out in some detail how Councillors should behave, how meetings are conducted, how the Council raises money, the rules surrounding how decisions are taken to spend it, and the need for transparency in conducting its business.

This is the ground covered, with ample time allowed for participation as we go along: ´ What needs planning permission and what doesn't? This will include an update on the many changes to this that the Government has made recently ´ Who actually takes the decision? Officers? elected members? Inspectors? ´ Who gets to be consulted or notified when applications are made? ´ What factors are relevant to the decision? (a) The policy framework The importance of the Development Plan (the Local Plan and any Neighbourhood Plans); any other locally-approved policies; and the relevance of national policy ´ What factors are relevant to the decision? (b) other "material considerations" The responses from consultees and publicity; examples of what is and what is not "material" in planning terms - and the grey areas in between. ´ The choices for the Planning Authority - approve? refuse? defer? ´ The appeals system rights of appeal – the importance of evidence in defending the decisions

This course is suitable for Councillors, Clerks and other Officers who may be new to the role or would like information on what the precept is and how it works for the Council. In this course you will learn What a precept is and how a Parish Council receives it What a Parish Council needs to do in preparation for setting it How a Parish Council can justify the money it seeks Who should be consulted

The Bribery Act 2010 is among the strictest legislation internationally on bribery. It is now possible to charge organisations if it is found they failed to prevent bribery, and to charge individuals who are found guilty of bribing or being bribed. Knowing exactly what is and isn't accepted under the Act enables employees to act within the confines of the law. This course explains the Bribery Act, including the four offences covered by it, and uses case studies to give learners more insight. This course can form an integral part of an organisation's defence against the crime of failing to prevent bribery. This course helps you understand the Bribery Act and shows you how the provisions of this UK legislation function. When you finish the course, you will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of some of the key points by completing a short assessment. E-Learning Courses are available at any time and undertaken independently at your convenience. To sign-up please email training@lalc.org.uk. Once processed you will receive joining instructions and your council will be issued with an invoice. Registration on this course will last 12 months. Available to members only

Most people experience stress from time to time, and this isn't necessarily bad; stress is a natural response, but prolonged periods of stress can be harmful. There are many ways in which employees can reduce or avoid stress, and if they are experiencing stress already, there are approaches they can follow to manage their stress most effectively. This highly interactive course helps your employees prevent, reduce, and manage their stress levels, by providing them with a wide range of tools to deal with stress. Courses developed by Nimble Elearning have been certified by the CPD Certification Service and count towards your annual CPD requirement. Objectives After completing this course, learners will be able to: Understand and identify stress and why it can be detrimental Identify stress and stressors in themselves and others Reduce their exposure to stress Develop a Wellness Action Plan Implement coping strategies in work and personal life Topics Topics explored in this course, Managing and Reducing Stress: Causes of stress Responses to stress Reducing stress Wellness Action Plans Stress coping strategies

Mental health is an important part of everybody's wellbeing. During this course we'll explore the causes and impact of things that can affect peoples mental health. In part one we'll be looking at depression, and in part two we'll cover stress. We'll also have tips on how to spot signs of mental health issues in yourself and others, and ways to stay mentally healthy. By the end of the course learners will be able to: Understand the causes and impacts of mental health conditions Identify key signs and symptoms of mental health conditions Understand mental health needs, conditions and the continuum Know how to stay mentally healthy Explain how to support colleagues and family Recognise when they themselves need support

Certain characteristics are protected by the equality law and it is necessary for every employee to know what these are, so they can abide by the equality legislation. If a person feels your organisation (or someone in your organisation) has treated them unfairly, they can start a grievance procedure or take their case to the employment tribunal. It is important to make sure everyone in your organisation complies with equality law. The course boosts understanding of the equality and diversity legislation, and its hand-picked examples demonstrate the benefits that come from promoting equality and diversity in the workplace. Objectives After completing the course, learners will be able to: Understand what is meant by 'equality' and 'diversity' and recognise how they benefit us Identify who is protected by the Equality Act, and explain what happens if their rights are compromised Recognise discrimination and other unfair practices in the workplace and know how to act on them Understand what they can do to promote equality and diversity Topics Topics explored in this course, Equality and Diversity: Equality and diversity Facts about equality and diversity Equality legislation Unlawful behaviour Making a complaint Discrimination Harassment and victimisation Responsibilities

Environmental Awareness Essentials. It explores the importance of being environmentally aware in your workplace and the steps we can all take to reduce our negative impact on the climate.