Terms of Booking

Introduction

These Terms of Booking apply to all learning and development courses and events delivered or facilitated by DAPTC and our training partners, including but not limited to, Breakthrough Communications (communications courses), Parkinson Partnership (finance courses) and Andrew Towlerton (planning courses). By booking or attending courses and events, delegates and councils agree to the terms and conditions set out below.

Expectations

1. What you can expect from us
   1. For all courses and events, DAPTC will:
      1. Provide a comprehensive learning and development programme designed to meet sector needs.
      2. Deliver high quality courses and events through experienced, professional facilitators.
      3. Use venues that offer excellent learning environments for in-person events.
      4. Issue joining instructions approximately one week before online courses.
      5. Offer Continuous Professional Development (CPD) opportunities.
      6. Share course presentations and handouts following courses and events where applicable.

2. What we expect from delegates
   1. Delegates and councils are expected to:
      1. Follow council procedures to identify training needs and make bookings (provisional bookings are accepted while awaiting council approval).
      2. Arrive on time for courses and events.
      3. Participate with a learning mindset.
      4. Show respect to facilitators, organisers, and other participants.
      5. Provide a minimum of seven (7) clear working days notice of cancellation.
      6. Give honest feedback following the course or event.
      7. Report back to their council after attending the course or event, sharing presentations and handouts where applicable.

Participation Standards

3. Delegates attending DAPTC courses and events must:
   1. Treat fellow delegates with respect at all times.
   2. Treat those organising and facilitating cours and events with courtesy and professionalism.
   3. Ask questions constructively and avoid comments framed as personal criticism.
   4. Indicate their wish to ask a question by raising a hand and avoid interrupting others.
   5. Avoid side conversations while a speaker is presenting, as these are disruptive.

Technical Difficulties, Online Courses

4. Facilitator technical issues
   1. If the course or event facilititator experiences technical difficulties that significantly disrupt delivery (e.g., loss of internet connection), the course will be rescheduled at no additional cost to the booking council.

5. Delegate technical issues
   1. If a delegate experiences technical difficulties that significantly affect their ability to participate, they may reschedule at no additional cost, provided they make contact immediately by:
      1. The facilitator's contact details (included in joining instructions), or
      2. The office phone line (voicemail available out of hours).
   2. Failure to make contact at the time of the course will be treated as non-attendance without notice, and the full course fee will be charged. 

Cancellation, Amendment and Rescheduling of DAPTC courses

6. General cancellation rules 
   1. Cancellations must be submitted by email to DAPTC at least seven (7) clear working days before the course.
   2. If less notice is given, or if the delegate does not attend, the full course fee will be charged.

7. Cancellation by DAPTC
   1. Courses may be cancelled at any time or rescheduled without recourse.
   2. As fees are invoiced after the course, refunds are not applicable.
   3. Course details are correct at publication, but changes may be necessary due to circumstances outside our control.
   4. Courses may be cancelled if delegate numbers are insufficient.

8. Amendments and substitutions
   1. Substitutes of delegates registered to attend from the same council may attend at no extra cost, provided DAPTC is notified by email at least seven (7) clear working days before a course or event.
   2. Substitution of delegates within seven (7) clear working days of a course or event may incur a late booking fee of £5.00 to cover administrative costs.

9. Reschedule to an alternative date
   1. Reschedule requests to an alternative date at least seven (7) clear working days before a course are free of charge.
   2. Reschedule requests to an alternative date within seven (7) clear working days of a course:
      1. Will have the cancellation fee deferred to the rescheduled date.
      2. Will be liable for the full course fee if the rescheduled course is cancelled at any time.

10. Exceptional circumstances
    1. Where exceptional or unforeseen circumstances prevent attendance or timely cancellation an explanation must be submitted by email and:
       1. Each case will be considered individually by DAPTC.
       2. A credit toward another course may be offered at DAPTC's discretion.

Cancellation of DAPTC Training Partner Courses

11. General cancellation rules of courses booked via the websites of Breakthrough Communications and the Parkinson Partnership 
    1. Cancellations must be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  at least seven (7) clear working days before a course.
    2. If less notice is given, or if the delegate does not attend, the full course fee will be charged.

12. Cancellation by Breakthrough Communications and the Parkinson Partnership
    1. Courses may be cancelled at any time or rescheduled without recourse.
    2. As fees are invoiced after the course, refunds are not applicable.
    3. Course details are correct at publication, but changes may be necessary due to circumstances outside our control.
    4. Courses may be cancelled if delegate numbers are insufficient.

Whole Council Training Courses

12. Cancellation
    1. A minimum of seven (7) clear working days written notice by email is required.
    2. If less than seven (7) clear working days written notice is given, the full course fee will be charged.

13. Rescheduling
    1. If a course is rescheduled within seven (7) clear working days of a course date the course fee will:
       1. Be transferred to the rescheduled date.
       2. Be charged in full if the rescheduled date is subsequently cancelled at any time.

14. Minimum attendance requirement
    1. Whole council training requires the attendance of at least 75% of councillors. If numbers fall below this threshold the facilitator will discuss the viability of the course with the clerk and/or chairman and, if the course cannot proceed:
       1. It will be rescheduled.
       2. An administration fee of £100 will be charged to cover the facilitator's time.

Sponsors and Exhibitors at In-person Events

16. DAPTC may invite sponsors and exhibitors to events to provide delegates access to relevant services and innovations.
17. The receipt of sponsorship or the presence of an exhibitor does not imply endorsement by DAPTC.