Councillor events

PAS deliver two LGA Leadership Essentials courses for Councillors engaged in Planning:

• Planning Committee Chairs: session to help members understand the key characteristics of a good planning committee and to develop their skills as a Chair
• Leading the Local Plan: for leaders and portfolio holders whose authority is preparing a local plan

Leadership Essentials:  Planning Committee Chairs

Please Note:  All the Planning programmes start at 9.30 on first day and finishes with lunch at 1.00pm on second day.

These sessions will help councillors who are chairs/vice chairs of planning committee understand the key characteristics of a good committee and develop their skills as a chair. The programme will also look at:

• the current challenges and agendas in the planning process such as Biodiversity Net Gain, new performance regimes, housing numbers and delivery.
• The latest government proposals for reform of planning committees.

The sessions will be useful to both new and experienced planning committee chairs and vice chairs.  The two-day residential course will be delivered in person, and we'll be holding an online warm-up for those who are attending.

Programme 7: Saturday, 10^th October – Sunday, 11^th October 2026

Programme 8: Tuesday, 19^th January – Wednesday, 20^th January 2027

Fee: The fee for attending the 2-day residential event will be £150 per place which includes accommodation on the main night, meals and all learning materials.  Cost for pre-night accommodation is £90.

Planning Leadership Essentials: Leading New System Local Plans

As part of our 2026/27 Leadership Essentials Planning offer, we will be running 2 two-day event for Council Leaders, Portfolio Holders and Local Plan Leads at Warwick Conferences, Coventry, CV4 7SH. Please note: These sessions are only for local authorities planning under new local plan system that will shortly replace the current system.

What to Expect:

• Finding your way around New Style Local Plans: Learn about the new 30-month plan-making system and your role
• Placemaking Mastery: Learn how to become a champion of placemaking and lead the local plan.
• Actionable Strategies:  What steps and actions do you need to take to ensure local plan success and what does this practically mean for your council's plan-making and decision-making.
• Strategic Planning is back: find out about new strategic plans and how they’ll interact with your emerging local plan.

Programme 7: Saturday, 10^th October – Sunday, 11^th October 2026

Programme 8: Tuesday, 19^th January – Wednesday, 20^th January 2027

Fee: The fee for attending the 2-day residential event will be £150 per place which includes accommodation on the main night, meals and all learning materials. Cost for pre-night accommodation is £90.

To book a place, please contact: [email protected]  There are only limited places available on each course so book your place as soon as possible. 

In addition, the LGA runs a wider support programme for councillors.

On 2 April 2025, PAS hosted an event for local planning authority members on addressing the nature emergency and you can access a recording and slides on the event webpage.