Town and parish council conferences in Central Bedfordshire

Town and parish council conferences

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

2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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) .