Wiltshire & Swindon Training PartnershiP

The Rural White Paper (November 2000) recognised the important role of the first tier of local government and proposed a number of initiatives to support parish and town councils to undertake this role.

The Countryside Agency and the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) were tasked with developing a National Training Strategy to provide training and support for parish and town councils.

Countrywide, County Training Partnerships, which represent relevant training providers in the county as well as principal authorities, deliver training for officers and members of town and parish councils.

The aim of partnerships is to enhance and support the performance of local councils so they might offer the highest standard of service to their communities.

Training can be provided by any or all of the partners and some may be open to other groups or individuals as well as to local councils.

Wiltshire Association of Local Councils (WALC) is the lead partner of the Wiltshire & Swindon Training Partnership.  Also to emerge from the strategy is the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA). This qualification is awarded to parish clerks who successfully compile a portfolio of evidence, proving their ability and thus fulfilling one of the criteria for the Quality Parish and Town Council initiative.  You can download a CiLCA registration form and the Portfolio Guide and Assessment Criteria here or contact the WALC office for a hard copy. Follow this link for a CiLCA re-sit form.

The Certificate in Local Council Administration has recently updated and amended. If you wish to register/begin work. Please make sure you are working from the 2008 guide if you did not register before 15 April 2008. If you registered before this date, you may, if you wish, use the original portfolio guide.

The Wiltshire & Swindon Training Partnership, through its lead partner, WALC, offers a choice of training opportunities, tailored to meeting the needs of this qualification, including a monthly seminar for clerks on each of the six subjects covered in the portfolio.  In addition the Society of Local Council Clerks’ correspondence course Working With Your Council has provided clerks with a background to CiLCA as well as a stand alone training tool.

Who are the Partners?

For information on any aspect of training for Town and Parish Councils, please contact office@wiltshire-alc.org.uk