Councillors, political control, constitution and webcasting

Town and parish councils – conferences

We run ‘virtual’ topic-based sessions via Microsoft Teams. These sessions will run once or twice monthly and focus on guidance.

2023

The seventeenth session took place on 6 November 2023 and focused on sustainability and biodiversity.

The sixteenth session took place on 10 October 2023 and focused on the UK Shared Prosperity and Rural England Prosperity Funds.

The fifteenth session took place on 20 September 2023 and focused on outdoor sports, open spaces and community facility schedules.

The fourteenth session took place on 7 September 2023 and focused on Precepts.

The thirteenth session took place on 26 July 2023 and focused on the Playing Pitch Strategy.

The twelfth session took place on 19 July 2023 and focussed on planning obligations (SPD).

The eleventh session took place on 1 March 2023 and focussed on the planning design guide (SPD).

The tenth session took place on 7 February 2023 and focused on waste reduction volunteers – waste prevention and recycling.

The ninth session took place on 23 January 2023 and focused on Bedfordshire Employment and Skills Academy.

2022

The eighth session took place on 7 December 2022 and focussed on Parking Standards in New Developments (SPD).

The seventh session took place on 24 October 2022 and focused on the Trees Project.

The sixth session took place on 25 May 2022, focusing on First Homes and Planning Policy update 

The fifth session took place on 30 March 2022, focusing on Digital Accessibility:

The fourth session took place on 26 January 2022, focusing on the Strategic Plan:

The third session took place on 12 January 2022, focusing on the Queen's Green Canopy and Tree Planting:

2021

The second session took place in December 2021, focusing on The Design Guide:

The first session took place in November 2021, this focused on COP26 & The Sustainability Plan: 

January 2020

A town and parish council conference was held on Wednesday 22 January 2020. Delegates received updates on:

  • Schools for the Future
  • Central Bedfordshire 2050
  • an update on the Local Plan
  • community safety update

View the presentation from January 2020 (PDF).

View the conference report from January 2020 (PDF).

September 2019

Planning training sessions took place in September 2019.

View the presentation used at the training from September 2019 (PDF).

July 2019

A town and parish council conference was held on Tuesday 16 July 2019. Delegates received updates on:

  • introduction to Central Bedfordshire Council for newly elected parish councillors
  • future challenges and opportunities
  • new approaches to community engagement 
  • Central Bedfordshire Council electoral review

View the presentation used at the event from July 2019 (PDF)

November 2018

A town and parish council conference was held on Thursday 8 November 2018. Delegates received updates on:

  • primary care, social prescribing and community catalysts
  • planning application administration
  • Report It Now!
  • empty homes strategy
  • how to become a councillor on Central Bedfordshire Council

View the presentation from the event from November 2018 (PDF 5.3MB) and the post conference report from November 2018 (PDF 155.3KB) .

November 2017

A town and parish council conference was held on Tuesday 21 November 2017. Delegates received updates on:

  • Community Governance Review
  • Local Plan
  • highways reporting system
  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

View the presentation from the event from November 2017 (PDF 4.5MB) .

February 2017

A town and parish council conference was held on Wednesday 22 February 2017. The theme was ‘Emergency Planning’ and delegates heard from:

  • community emergency volunteers
  • our emergency planning team about how to plan for and respond to an emergency, before starting to draft their own emergency plans for their areas

View the presentation from the event from February 2017 (PDF 855.9KB) and read the post conference report from February 2017 (PDF 592.2KB) .

November 2016

A town and parish council conference was held on Tuesday 22 November 2016. The theme was ‘Creating Stronger Communities’ and delegates heard from:

  • emergency planning
  • LGSS Law
  • Silsoe Sports and Community Centre
  • Leighton Linslade Watch Schemes
  • and also received information on precept setting

View the presentation from the event from November 2016 (PDF 3MB) and read the post conference report from November 2016 (PDF 567.3KB) .

July 2016

A town and parish council planning conference was held on 13 July 2016 at Priory House, Chicksands.

The topics discussed were:

  • the strategic context for the Local Plan
  • an update on key aspects of the local plan process
  • community and stakeholder engagement

View the presentation from the event from July 2016 (PDF 1.6MB) , or read the post conference report from July 2016 (PDF 507.1KB) .

April 2016

A town and parish council planning conference was held on 5 April 2016 at Priory House, Chicksands.

The topics discussed were:

  • update on the Local Plan
  • gypsy and traveller experience
  • planning policy for travellers and the impact of legislative change

View the presentation from the event from April 2016 (PDF 1.8MB) , or read the post conference report from April 2016 (PDF 675.6KB) .

Delegates also took part in informal workshops.

November 2015

A town and parish council conference was held on 11 November 2015. The topics discussed were local development plans, the Passenger Transport Strategy, the Parking Strategy and the Central Bedfordshire Council Five Year Plan.

Post conference report from November 2015 (PDF 407.6KB)
Presentation from November 2015 (PDF 6.4MB)

September 2015

A town and parish council planning conference was held on 25 September 2015 at Priory House, Chicksands.

The 4 topics discussed were:

  • neighbourhood planning
  • affordable housing
  • planning enforcement
  • opportunities for open space

Post conference report from September 2015 (PDF 380.6KB)

Event presentation from September 2015 (PDF 1MB)

To see the full list of Green Infrastructure Plans, and for links to read these plans in full, visit the BRCC website .

You can also have a look at our Central Bedfordshire Design Guide.

The Design Guide sets out the key principles and standards to ensure the delivery of high quality design in Central Bedfordshire and the Council’s expectations in relation to layout, street developments, parking provision and home dimensions.

It is a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and should be used to guide all types of new development in Central Bedfordshire.

January 2015

A town and parish council conference was held on 20 January 2015.

In response to feedback, the event focused on:

  • The Highways Contract
  • Combined Parliamentary and Local Government Elections 7 May 2015
  • Dog Control Orders
  • Budget 2015
  • Police and Crime Commissioner

Post conference report from January 2015 (PDF 660.6KB)

Event presentation from January 2015 (PDF 1.1MB)

November 2014

A town and parish council tax seminar was held on 25 November 2014.

Delegates were given an explanation of how the tax base works and how precepts could be calculated.

Event presentation from November 2014 (PDF 746.3KB)

July 2014

A town and parish council conference was held on 3 July 2014.

In response to feedback, this event focused on planning.

Delegates attended a number of pre-selected workshops to find out more about issues such as affordable housing, protecting and enhancing the environment and local area, the planning application process and neighbourhood planning.

Post conference report from July 2014 (PDF 533.3KB)

Event presentation from July 2014 (PDF 5.7MB)

April 2014

A town and parish council conference was held on Tuesday 29 April 2014.

In response to feedback, this event included information on community defibrillators, cemeteries and burial grounds , digital traffic safety cameras and the review of future healthcare services in Bedfordshire.

A new Central Bedfordshire Council app that enables the easy reporting of highways issues on a smartphone was also introduced to delegates by Councillor David Hopkin.

A post conference report will be available here shortly.

The presentations from the event can be found below:

Highways mobile reporting app presentation (PDF 283.6KB) - CBC

Your Health in Bedfordshire, the future services review (PDF 3.1MB) - BCCG

Management of cemeteries and burial grounds (PDF 10.2MB) - CDS

The use of community defibrillators (PDF 10.1MB) - CHT

The implementation of digital traffic safety cameras (PDF 164.8KB) - CBC

You can also download (PDF 59.4KB) supplementary information on the management of cemeteries and burial grounds.

Read our April 2014 town and parish council post conference report (PDF 290.4KB) .

November 2013 conference

A town and parish council 'highways' conference was held on Wednesday 27 November 2013.

In response to feedback, this event included information and workshops on highways issues.

The PCC Olly Martins also spoke to delegates about the challenges facing policing in Central Bedfordshire.

This was followed by a short presentation by Councillor Fiona Chapman, Chairman of the Police and Crime Panel, to explain the role and remit of the panel.

Delegates then took part in 3 highways workshops:

  • preparing for winter
  • highway improvement schemes
  • highways contract renewal

Read our November 2013 town and parish council highways conference report (PDF 290.4KB) .

April 2013

A town and parish council conference was held on 16 April 2013 which gave town and parish council representatives the opportunity to focus on key aspects of 'planning', namely:

  • development strategy
  • community infrastructure levy
  • planning applications
  • neighbourhood planning

Read our April 2013 town and parish council post conference report (PDF 207.6KB) .

April 2013 town and parish council conference presentations (PDF 3.8MB) .

November 2012

A town and parish council conference was held on 27 November 2012 which gave town and parish council representatives the opportunity to network with colleagues, and to visit workshops to discuss the issues that are important to them and their communities.

Read our town and parish council post conference report from November 2012 (PDF 5.4MB) .

May 2012

A town and parish council conference was held on 1 May 2012 which gave town and parish council representatives the opportunity to network with colleagues, to receive a briefing on how the Localism Act is being implemented in Central Bedfordshire, and to discuss the draft framework to devolve services to town and parish councils.

Below are links to the conference report, a copy of the presentations, and the draft framework for delivery of services by town and parish councils.

Town and parish council conference May 2012 report (PDF 159.5KB) .

Town and parish council conference May 2012 presentations (PDF 3.8MB) .

Draft framework for delivery of services by town and parish councils (PDF 106.4KB) .

January 2012

A town and parish council conference was held on 25 January 2012. Over 100 town and parish council representatives attended, to network with colleagues and consider the impact of the 2012/13 budget.

The links below provide a copy of the presentations and write up of all the questions and feedback we received.

Town and parish conference January 2012 report (PDF 196.8KB) .

Town and parish conference January 2012 presentation (PDF 3.6MB) .

October 2011 report and presentation

The fifth town and parish council conference was held on 5 October 2011.

The links below provide a copy of the presentations and write up of all the questions and feedback we received.

Town and parish conference report, October 2011 (PDF 7MB) .

Town and parish conference presentation, October 2011 (PDF 1.1MB) .

January 2011

The fourth town and parish council conference was held on 13 January 2011.

The links below provide a copy of the presentations and write up of all the questions and feedback we received.

Town and parish conference January 2011 report (PDF 5.5MB) .

Town and parish conference January 2011 presentation (PDF 7MB) .

June 2010

The third town and parish council conference was held on 9 June 2010.

The links below provide a copy of the presentations and write up of all the questions and feedback we received.

Town and parish conference June 2010 report (PDF 1.8MB) .

Town and parish conference June 2010 presentation (PDF 5.8MB) .

November 2009

The second town and parish council conference was held on 4 November 2009.

The links below provide a copy of the presentations and write up of all the questions and feedback we received.

Town and parish conference November 2009 report (PDF 361.3KB) .

Town and parish conference November 2009 presentation (PDF 2.8MB) .

April 2009

The first town and parish council conference was held on 29 April 2009.

The links below provide a copy of the presentations and write up of all the questions and feedback we received.

Town and parish conference April 2009 report (PDF 8.7MB) .

Town and parish conference April 2009 presentation (PDF 2.4MB) .