Town and parish council conferences in Central Bedfordshire

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

2025

The twenty-sixth session took place on 25 September 2025 and focused on the draft Waste Strategy.

• view the Topic Session Q&A and feedback from 25 September 2025 (PDF)
• view the Draft Waste Strategy presentation from 25 September 2025 (PDF)

The twenty-fifth session took place on 22 January 2025 and focused S106 Parish Reports.

• view the S106 Parish Report presentation from 22 January 2025 (PDF)
• view the Topic Session Q&A and feedback from 22 January 2025 (PDF)
• view the meeting recording from 22 January 2025
• view the first-time login process (PDF)

2024

The twenty-fourth session took place on 25 November 2024 and focused on the Freight Strategy Consultation and Street Trading Policy Consultation.

• view the freight presentation from 25 November 2024 (PDF)
• view the street trading presentation from 25 November 2024 (PDF)
• view the Topic Session Q&A and feedback from 25 November 2024 (PDF)
• view the recording from 25 November 2024

The twenty-third session took place on 29 October 2024 and focused on Electric Vehicle Infrastructure.

• view the presentation from 29 October 2024 (PDF)
• view the Topic Session Q&A and feedback from 29 October 2024 (PDF)
• view the recording from 29 October 2024

The twenty-second session took place on 8 October 2024 and focused on the Community Safety Team and the Gypsy and Traveller Unit.

• view the Community Safety briefing (PDF)
• view the Topic Session Q&A and feedback – Community Safety Team and GRT Unit (PDF)
• view the recording from 8 October 2024

The twenty-first session took place on 13 May 2024 and focused on the Library Services and the Arts and Culture Strategies.

• view the Library Services Strategy presentation from 13 May 2024 (PDF)
• view Arts and Culture Strategy presentation from 13 May 2024 (PDF)
• view the recording from 13 May 2024
• view the feedback/Q&A from 13 May 2024 (PDF)

The twentieth session took place on 8 May 2024 and focused on the Tree Planting Grant: opportunities and improvements to the grant process.

• view the presentation from 8 May 2024 (PDF)
• view the recording from 8 May 2024
• view the feedback/Q&A from 8 May 2024 (PDF

The nineteenth session took place on 16 April 2024 and focused on the Local Transport Plan.

• view the presentation from 16 April 2024 (PDF)
• view the recording from 16 April 2024
• view the feedback/Q&A from 16 April 2024 (PDF)

The eighteenth session took place on 25 March 2024 and focused on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

• View the presentation from 25 March 2024 (PDF)
• View the recording from 25 March 2024

2023

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

• view the sustainability presentation from 6 November 2023 (PDF)
• view the biodiversity presentation from 6 November 2023 (PDF)
• view the recording from 6 November 2023
• view the feedback/Q&A from 6 November 2023 (PDF)

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

• view the UKSPF presentation from 10 October 2023 (PDF)
• view the recording from 10 October 2023
• view the feedback/Q&A from 10 October 2023 (PDF)

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

• view the presentation from 20 September 2023 (PDF)
• view the recording from 20 September 2023
• view the feedback/Q&A from 20 September 2023 (PDF)

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

• view the presentation from 7 September 2023 (PDF)
• view the recording from 7 September 2023
• view the feedback/Q&A from 7 September 2023 (PDF)

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

• view the presentation from 26 July 2023 (PDF)
• view the recording from 26 July 2023
• view the feedback/Q&A from 26 July 2023 (PDF)

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

• view the presentation from 19 July 2023 (PDF)
• view the feedback/Q&A from 19 July 2023 (PDF)

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

• view the presentation from March 2023 (PDF)
• view the recording from March 2023
• view the feedback/Q&A from March 2023 (PDF)

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

• view the presentation from February 2023 (PDF)
• view the recording from February 2023
• view the feedback/Q&A from February 2023 (PDF)

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

• view the presentation from January 2023 (PDF)
• view the feedback/Q&A from January 2023 (PDF)

2022

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

• view the presentation from December 2022 (PDF)
• view the recording from December 2022
• view the feedback/Q&A from December 2022 (PDF)

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

• view the feedback/Q&A from 24 October 2022 (PDF)
• view the recording from 24 October 2022
• view the presentation 24 October 2022 (PDF)

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

• view the feedback/Q&A from 25 May 2022 (PDF)
• view the recording from 25 May 2022
• view the presentation from 25 May 2022 (PDF)

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

• view the recording from 30 March 2022
• view the presentation from 30 March 2022 (PDF)

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

• view the recording from 26 January 2022
• view the presentation from 26 January 2022 (PDF)

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

• view the feedback/Q&A from 12 January 2022 (PDF)
• view the recording from 12 January 2022
• view the presentation from 12 January 2022 (PDF)
• view the sustainability funding opportunities (PDF)

2021

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

• view the feedback/Q&A from December 2021 (PDF)
• view the recording from December 2021
• view the presentation from December 2021 (PDF)

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

• view the feedback/Q&A from November 2021 (PDF)
• view the recording from November 2021
• view the presentation from November 2021 (PDF)

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

October 2011 report and presentation

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

January 2011

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

June 2010

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

November 2009

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

April 2009

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