National Training Strategy

The UK Government's Rural White Paper entitled "Our Countryside: The Future" was published in November 2000 and gave a commitment to strengthening the most local tier of administration, the town or parish council, and giving it a bigger role.

From April 2003 English town and parish councils which meet certain criteria, including being well managed and good at representing local views, will be able to apply for Quality Parish Status. Local councils qualifying for Quality Parish Status will have the opportunity to work more closely with partner authorities to take on more responsibility for shaping their area's development and running its services.

One of the key criteria for securing Quality Parish Status is that the parish demonstrates it has a qualified clerk.

The National Training Strategy, published in November 2001 was charged with producing a customised qualification to meet this requirement and thus the Certificate in Local Council Administration has been developed.

The Countryside Agency, Office of Deputy Prime Minister, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, University of Gloucestershire, Local Government Employers Organisation, Rural Community Council, Regional Employers Federation, National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks are all partners in the National Training Strategy.

Download the National Training Strategy