Community Governance students are required to undertake various pieces of coursework including a dissertation for those who are completing a degree.
Here is a selection of dissertations which present the author’s research and findings in a specific area of parish and town council work:
Who is really in charge? An examination of the role of the parish clerk in decision-making at parish council meetings, Annie Child
A review of lack of community engagement in local council activity in England: Focusing on the hard to reach, Kelly Holland
An evaluation of the effectiveness of neighbourhood planning in England, Lisa Courtney
Diverse voices? Are local councils in England attracting councillors with non-visible disabilities? Daphne Dunning
Is there a need to improve relationships between local councils and the local businesses they represent? David Mears
Should the whole of England be parished? Ruth Mullett
An examination of youth councils as a tool for engaging with young people in a representative democracy Julie Shirley, 2023
The purpose of local councils in England. Sheridan Jacklin-Edward, 2022
Management Report on Performance Appraisal/Management in First Tier councils. Cas Leo, 2022
Has populism changed local council politics? Belina Boyer, 2020
Do feelings of isolation and loneliness impact on the work and the health of the lone working local council clerk? Penelope Clapham PSLCC, 2020
Compulsory Training for Clerks in Local Councils Kelly Holland, 2020
The Influence our Emotions and/or Reason/Facts within the Decision-Making Process Cally Morris, 2020
Other coursework includes specific essays which are completed as part of the other Community Governance Qualifications. Here is an example:
Trowbridge is Well Equipped for Community Governance Juliet Weimar 2022
A useful resource booklet introducing the process of project management with examples taken from the experiences of local councils, has been put together by Elisabeth Skinner MBE FSLCC & University of Gloucestershire for SLCC (with significant contribution also made by Richard Walden, former Town Clerk of Dunstable Town Council). It takes you through a five-stage process from the first three stages (increasingly detailed planning) to the delivery of the project and ways of bringing the project to a close.
Earn CPD Points!
Reading sector information including dissertations carry the following points:
– Reading a whole textbook – 4 points
– Reading all six editions of The Clerk or 4 editions of LCR – 3 points
– Researching Government policy on community rights – 4 points
– Reading a set of publications in preparing for a neighbourhood plan – 6 points
– Reading a Community Governance dissertation – 2 points
– Reading a book from the Book List – 4 points
See ‘Professional Development & members’ for more information on collecting and recording CPD or applying for Principal or Fellow membership.
