IWALC offer training free to member councils staff and councillors. Non-members are also welcome to join , there is a fee of £75 per non member delegate per training session. Non member councils are welcome to join IWALC any time, please email the County Officer to make enquiries.
Training in person should be booked in advance via the Clerk of your Town, Parish or Community Council.
Training is normally organised every other month (topic meeting allowing) in a non election year.
October 29th 2026 7pm-9pm – Budget and Finance training
This training will cover the following:
Legal & Governance Framework: Overview of local council financial statutes, “proper practices,” the annual audit process (AGAR), and the roles of the Council, Clerk, and Responsible Financial Officer (RFO).
Delegation vs. Non-Delegable Duties: Guidance on which financial decisions can be delegated to officers/committees and which strictly require Full Council approval (e.g., agreeing the precept, borrowing money, approving the AGAR).
Key Financial Timelines: A month-by-month annual calendar detailing critical deadlines for budget setting, precept demands, AGAR submission, and public inspection periods.
Budget Planning & Precept Calculation: Practical instructions on preparing revenue vs. capital budgets, calculating the precept demand based on net expenditure, and understanding the Tax Base and Band D equivalent figures.
Effective Budget Presentation & Process: Tips for creating clear, accessible financial reports for non-specialist councillors, including public consultations and mid-year budget forecasting.
Capital Funding & Reserve Management: Options for funding capital projects (e.g., PWLB loans, crowdfunding) and the proper handling and policies for General vs. Earmarked Reserves.
Ongoing Financial Monitoring: Best practices for internal audits, regular bank reconciliations, quarterly budget monitoring, and councillor scrutiny during council meetings.