The registration desk will be open from 8.30am. Sign in to receive your name badge and pick up your copy of our Annual Report.

We recommend arriving early to avoid queues, and to grab a cup of tea or coffee, visit our Exhibitor and Networking Areas, and chat with fellow attendees.

Member councils can send one voting representative, plus additional non-voting representatives to our Annual General Meeting. Please see AGM paperwork* for details on how to participate including advance voting and nominating proxies.

Not attending the AGM?  Then use this time to continue networking in the Exhibitors Area and Team Devon Zone.

Grab a cup of tea or coffee, visit our Exhibitors Area or Networking Zone, and chat with fellow attendees.

Cllr Elizabeth Brookes-Hocking, Chair of DALCs Board of Directors, will welcome everyone to the conference and outline the programme for the day. We’ll be joined by conference sponsors: Wicksteed and Cloudy IT.

We are delighted to welcome Cllr James McInnes, Leader of Devon County Council, and Donna Manson, CEO to the Council, to this year’s conference.  Building on insights gained from last years event, where parish council views were heard about highways and working relationships, they will provide an update on the County Council’s current priorities as outlined in the new corporate plan, and highlight the ongoing collaboration with DALC to strengthen relationships between county and parish councils.  In addition they will offer an update on the evolving devolution deal showcasing the value these developments will have in shaping local governance in Devon.

Choose from a range of four workshops:

A. A session with Devon County Council. Join Devon County Council for a workshop focussed on tackling Devon’s pressing highways challenges.  The session will delve into the innovative strategies DCC is employing to address the issues, including the latest updates on bus travel and infrastructure.  The workshop will conclude with an open Q&A session – your opportunity to engage directly with DCC representatives and have your questions answered.  A must attend session for those interested in Devon’s transportation network.

B. Members Panel: Working with young people. Hear from three of our member councils about the amazing and varied work they’ve been doing to engage young people in their area! Moretonhampstead Parish Council will discuss their school visit to talk about the work of the council, Zishan Adamson-Drage from Uplyme Parish Council will talk about their work engaging young people to help regenerate public land, and Okehampton Town Council will introduce their work setting up their Youth Council with speakers including clerk Emma James and some Youth Councillors.

C. Delivering rural affordable housing with Devon Communities Together. Find out what help and resources are available for rural parishes to get affordable houses built in the right place for local people. We’ll look at assessing local housing need, finding sites, different delivery models and how to retain community control of the process. The session will include a presentation from Alison Ward of Middlemarch Community Led Housing on community land trusts.

D. Cyber-Security: learn the risks with Cloudy IT and James Hallam Insurance. Strengthen your council’s cyber defences, enhance your data protection, and implement best practices that are achievable even for small councils.  Key takeaways will include: cyber essentials framework, practical steps for small councils. Microsoft 365 security, FOI requests, cyber insurance overview, and an interactive Q&A.

If these workshops don’t take your fancy – head to the Exhibitors Area or Networking Zone for some quality one-to-one chats with our various partners.

It’s time for a scrumptious buffet lunch and more networking! Visit our Exhibition Area and our Networking Zone.

Bonus Content:  Head to the Denman Room at 1.15pm for a demonstration of AI tools with conference sponsors Cloudy IT.

In early summer 2024, the Brixham area became national news when cryptosporidium, a illness causing parasite, was found in their water supply. The contaminated water led to weeks of boil notices and the need for bottled water.

Access to clean water may not be a function of parish and town councils, but with the widespread concern, including a need to care for the most vulnerable residents, as well as supporting local business impacted by a rapid decline in visitors, the Town Council played a pivotal role in supporting and representing its community.

We’ll be hearing from Tracy Hallett, Clerk to Brixham Town Council, about their experiences managing in this public crisis, how they had to collaborate with other agencies, and their challenges in communicating and managing the expectations of their residents.

Hearing about Brixham Town Council experience will undoubtedly help inform emergency plans and collaborative efforts happening in other areas.

Melanie Wellman, Monitoring Officer at East Devon District Council, will be talking about the crucial role of ethical standards in public life, with a focus on efficient complaint management in local councils.

Delegates will gain clarity on the role of the monitoring officer in addressing complaints and understand the limitations of this role, with explanations of situations where the monitoring officer cannot intervene.

This session also aims to empower parish and town councils to proactively resolve minor issues/disputes, acting before a situation escalates and preventing incidents which may bring the council or individuals into disrepute.

Choose from a range of four workshops:

E. Crisis communications with Breakthrough Communications. A crisis can happen at any time. Whether flooding or a meeting going viral, there are many ways in which councils can find themselves in the eye of a media storm. This session will look at how you can prepare for a crisis with expert tips and effective steps you can take if the worst happens.

F. Managing stress and illness in the workplace with Tozers LLP. Simon Sanger-Anderson will deliver an overview of employment issues impacting local councils, reminding councils of their responsibilities as an employer, their duty of care towards employees, and offering practical advice about managing sickness absences and work related stress (and avoiding costly employment tribunals!).

G. Understanding your personal impact DALC’s Training Officer, Elise Callaghan, will explore the concept of personal impact and its significance for councillors and officers.  Participants will delve into what it means to have a positive personal impact, the impact of incivility, and a focus on key skills such as effective communication, emotional intelligence and authenticity.  The session will highlight why personal impact matters, emphasising its influence on relationships, reputation, decision making, and conflict resolution.

H. National Living Map with Parish Online. Learn more about the new project launched by Parish Online which maps local council statistics to help visualise organisational, environmental, and technological factors about local councils. This can help build a picture of how councils compare, and supports councils in their work such as addressing the climate emergency or neighbourhood planning.

Join Elizabeth Brookes-Hocking, Chair of DALC’s Board of Directors, for a summary of the day’s events and final thoughts as we close the conference.  A winner for the prize draw will be selected.