Ward Member & Town / Parish Councillor Training

I asked Central Bedfordshire District Council, under a Freedom of Information request:

I would like to know how many Biggleswade Town Councillors attended Town & Parish Councillor Training events, organised by Mid Beds / Central Bedfordshire District Council, over the 4 years prior to the local elections in May 2011.

To assist you in this, I know that one event was arranged by Rachael Brydges, Community Involvement Officer in March this year to cover:

1. The planning process from submission to decision.

2. Planning Obligations, S106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

3. Planning Enforcement - dealing with unauthorised development.

4. Neighbourhood plans - delivering on localism.

5. Delivering New Housing

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The response I received today says:

I am writing to inform you that we have searched our records and only hold information in relation to the workshops you have listed above as 1-5. Please see spreadsheet attached.

Central Bedfordshire Council does not hold any other information in relation to training events attended by Biggleswade Town Councillors over the 4 years prior to the local elections in May 2011. It is possible however, that Biggleswade Town Council may hold some or all of the information you require.

Surprisingly the spreadsheet shows actual names, which I had not asked for and  have not reproduced here.

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The event was held at Priory House, on three different dates in March 2011. The 15th, 22nd and 24th.

Prior to the start of the event a light supper was served at 18.00, along with various stands outside the Council chamber for Members to Network with staff and discover the different ranges of issues currently being dealt with and the day to day work each area undertakes.

The main event commenced at 18.30 with a key note session on the future of Planning in Central Bedfordshire.

The five workshops were:

1. The planning process from submission to decision.

2. Planning Obligations, S106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

3. Planning Enforcement - dealing with unauthorised development.

4. Neighbourhood plans - delivering on localism.

5. Delivering New Housing

There was an opportunity for questions after the workshops were completed.

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According to CBC records:

Workshop 1 - The planning process from submission to decision, no-one from Biggleswade Town Council attended.

Workshop 2 - Planning Obligations, S106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), three attended.

Workshop 3 - Planning Enforcement - dealing with unauthorised development, three attended.

Workshop 4 - Neighbourhood plans - delivering on localism, four attended.

Workshop 5 -  Delivering New Housing, one attended.