Tag Archive for: Parish Council Conference

Record attendance at the Town and Parish Council Conference

This year’s event took place at the Marriott Hotel in Huntingdon on the 23rd November 2018, and attracted 227 delegates from 85 different local councils, a significant increase on the previous two years.

The annual Local Councils Conference is the only event in Cambridgeshire to which all local councils are invited.

It provides an opportunity for two way dialogue between local councils and other tiers of local government.

The event had several keynote speakers, including Gillian Beasley the Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire County Council and James Palmer the Mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

In addition, the event held nine different themed workshops:

  • Market Town Master-plans: the Role of Local Councils.
  • Realising the capabilities of parish councils.
  • The role of Community Led Housing in Cambridgeshire’s rural communities.
  • Community Engagement – Challenges and Opportunities.
  • Be Prepared! How you can mobilise your community in an emergency.
  • Undertaking a Neighbourhood Plan in your Parish.
  • Improving collaborative working between Clerks and Councillors.
  • Harnessing nature to power our future; Local Councils and renewable energy generation.
  • Declining Public Transport: What are the options for Local Councils to relieve the impact?

And a market-place where 22 different county wide organisations were exhibiting.

85% of those delegates who attended gave the Conference overall a positive rating (a score of either 4 or 5 out of 5). The average score given was 4.3 out of 5.

Comments included:

  • The multi-session learning events are very valuable (please keep going with these).
  • An excellent event.
  • Good and worthwhile conference overall.
  • More of the same please.

Let’s hope the next Conference brings more delegates, more lively debate and more opportunities for networking…!!

Picture: Mayor James Palmer addresses the County Wide Town and Parish Council audience.