Local Government Report Writing Training

1x 3 hour LIVE, Online course (via MS Teams or Zoom) with a professional trainer and a maximum group size of 16 people.

Overview

Effective report writing is a core professional skill in local government. High-quality, clear and politically aware council reports are essential to support informed decision-making, ensure transparency and protect organisational and personal credibility.

This interactive three-hour online report writing training course for local government officers and elected members provides practical tools and proven techniques to improve the quality, structure and clarity of committee reports and decision-making papers. Delegates will learn how to write concise, well-structured reports that align with council priorities and stand up to scrutiny.

Who should attend?

This course is designed for local government officers who write reports to support formal decision-making within councils and local authorities. The session is ideal for policy officers, service managers, project leads, governance officers and senior managers who are responsible for drafting committee reports, recommendations and decision papers.

This is not a general business report writing course. It focuses specifically on the structure, standards, governance requirements and political awareness needed when writing reports that contribute to democratic decision-making in local government.

Course Agenda

• Introduction.
• Why local government reports matter (to the authority & the individual).
• The four stages of report writing.
• Understanding the reports purpose, objective, readership and the political awareness you may need.
• Local Government Report Templates – A Practical Deep Dive – An in-depth exploration of standard Local Government report templates.
• Report framework, structure and considering your reports obligations and implications.
• Writing your report (language, tone and the implementing the four Cs).
• Readability and the importance of fact checking.
• What elected councillors want from your report).
• General report writing skills.

Learning Objectives (success criteria)

By the end of the session, delegates will be able to plan, structure and write clear, concise and professionally robust reports that support effective decision-making within full council, cabinet and committee environments.

Participants will develop a practical understanding of how political awareness, governance requirements and organisational priorities influence the content, tone and presentation of local government decision-making reports.

Delegates will gain the skills and confidence to use local authority report templates effectively, ensuring that each section — including recommendations, options appraisal, financial, legal and risk implications — is completed accurately, transparently and in line with best practice.

What to expect

Please note that this is a live, fully interactive online training session. Delegates are expected to have their cameras switched on and microphones ready, as the session includes discussion, practical exercises and breakout rooms to support peer-to-peer learning and shared experience.

There will be a 10-minute comfort break each hour to allow time for refreshments and screen breaks.

Bookings, Costs & Dates

Tuesday 9 June 2026 – 9.30am to 12.30pm – £75 per person – CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW

Wednesday 11 November 2026 – 9.30am to 12.30pm – £75 per person – CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW

If you have 6 or more people interested in this course – we would run it “on demand” – please email us at hello@lgtda.co.uk

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Testimonials