Training courses are available to book via the portal (login required)

The Training Bulletin is issued monthly, and courses are available to book via the portal. If there is any specific training which you feel would be valuable, and we don’t currently offer it, please let us know and we will investigate. The Training Bulletin can be found on the LALC website www.lalc.co.uk/training-2-1.

Clerks – when booking training for your councillors, please ensure that their email address is correct. If not, they will not receive the booking confirmation or any joining instructions.

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Vacancy advertising

LALC can advertise your vacancy on our website and in the fortnightly eNews. This is a free service. If you do not have a pre-prepared advert to send us, please complete our Vacancy Template, which can be found in the Members Portal under Document Templates.    

We also offer a paid advertising service, costing £60, which ensures that your advert also appears on Lincolnshire County Council’s website, Indeed and LinkedIn (in addition to the LALC website and eNews). Please complete the Vacancy Template (as above), ensuring that all requested information is completed, and then contact us at enquiries@lalc.co.uk. You will be invoiced for this service.

Please note that Lincolnshire County Council require a closing date on their advert, as well as salary information (these are mandatory fields). LCC will remove your advert once the closing date has passed, so please consider the date carefully as you will have to pay again to re-advertise if your vacancy hasn’t been filled by then.

We recommend all councils advertise their vacancy, job details, method of application and up to date contact details on their own website too.

Please let us know when the vacancy has been filled, so that we can remove it from our website/eNews. If your vacancy has not yet been filled and you are continuing to advertise, please let us know of any revised closing date. If you no longer specify a closing date, please let us know so that we can update the vacancy adverts.

The NALC Recruitment Manual (developed as part of the Civility & Respect project) is now available via the portal.  Go into Knowledgebase and click on 'Recruitment Manual' in the 'Employment' menu area. 

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Don’t forget to book your place on the Clerk’s Networking Day/SLCC AGM

The Clerk’s Networking Day incorporating the SLCC Lincolnshire Branch AGM is taking place on 22nd November, 10:00 – 15:30 at Cranwell Village Hall.

The morning session will be jointly run by LALC and Pam Flint (Lincolnshire Community & Voluntary Service) and will focus on:

• Mental health awareness/first aid and next steps 

o Identifying, managing, and ideas for reducing stress

o Promoting good mental health in the workplace

o Self-care and resilience

o Work-life balance

o Signposting to organisations and information for help

o There will be some resources available to take away

o Setting personal action plans

In the afternoon there will be:

• LALC session on Clerk & Council Training Development

o Development paths for Clerks

o Recommended development paths for councillors

o Local Council Award Scheme

• SLCC AGM (Non SLCC members can remain to network and raise any other issues they wish with LALC)

• LALC will also be asking attendees for suggestions for “An evening with….” sessions which we hope to arrange

This is also your chance to come and network with colleagues.

Places are available for £20 plus VAT and can be booked via the portal.

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New – Project Management & Funding training

Following feedback from our members, LALC, in conjunction with Amy Lennox, will be putting on Project Management & Funding training on 21st November, 10:00 – 15:30 at Welbourn Village Hall.

The session will cover:

• Identifying why and when you need a project 

• Identifying what benefits it will deliver

• Clarifying what you are actually going to deliver

• Finding funding

• Actual delivery of the project – management, resources, reporting, stages/timescales, constraints

• How do you know when the project has ended?

• What may need to be put in place for day-to-day support/maintenance/‘business as usual’

• Identifying lessons for future projects

• Reviewing whether the project has delivered the expected benefits

This is non-core training and will cost £65 plus VAT and can be booked now via the portal.

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Flooding Information

Unfortunately, many Lincolnshire communities have suffered in the recent flooding. Here’s a timely reminder of some useful contacts:

For fallen trees blocking a road or footpath or dangerous standing water, call 101.

Check for flooding in your area: https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/target-area/053FWFPLWI11?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Lincolnshire Resilience Forum: https://www.lincolnshireresilienceforum.org/

Report flooding via FixMyStreet – fixmystreet.com

Sign up for flood warnings by phone, text or email:

• Call the Environment Agency’s 24/7 Floodline on 0345 988 1188

• Sign up for flood warnings – https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings

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Woodland Trust Community Trees: Free Trees for Community Groups and Schools

Since 2010, The Woodland Trust has given away 13 million free trees to schools and communities across the UK. 

 We want to make sure everybody has the chance to plant a tree, so we’re still giving away hundreds of thousands of them every year. Together, we'll get millions more trees in the ground in our quest to hit the UK’s carbon net-zero target.

 We are currently accepting applications for free trees from local councils, town councils and parish councils, as well as from schools and community groups in their area.

If you’re applying as a school your trees should be planted on either the school grounds, land the school has arranged regular access to or in an area that is publicly accessible.

If you’re applying as a community group, the land needs to be accessible to the public. You should also make sure your local community are aware of your plans to plant and are happy for you to go ahead.

The trees can be planted as copses, groves, avenues, shelter belts, hedgerows and many other ways.

 Eligible groups can apply for up to 420 free saplings per application window, with our deliveries taking place every year in March and November. Applications processed now will receive their saplings in March 2024, just in time for planting season!

 You can find more information about the Free Trees for Schools and Communities initiative, as well as a link to the application form, here:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/schools-and-communities/frequently-asked-questions/

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NALC urges the government to reevaluate its proposal for local planning authorities

NALC strongly urges the government to reevaluate its proposal for local planning authorities (LPAs) to conduct periodic reviews of their local plans every five years.

In response to the recent government consultation on local plans, NALC argued that this requirement needs to be revised and impose unmanageable pressures on LPAs, local (parish and town) councils, and neighbourhood planning groups whose plans are closely aligned with the local ones.

Furthermore, NALC has advocated for a shift in focus, suggesting that the primary emphasis should be placed on the quality and overall validity of the plans rather than solely on the speed at which they can be developed.

Read more: https://www.nalc.gov.uk/library/news-stories/3953-pr10-23-local-plans-october-2023-1/file

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Ending soon: Model Financial Regulations consultation 

NALC is undertaking a consultation to consider how the Model Financial Regulations template can be updated.  The aim is to have a new set of Financial Regulations ready by 31st March 2024. 

You can find a copy of the current Model Financial Regulations 2019 on the LALC website at https://www.lalc.co.uk/standing-orders-and-financial-regulations 

Further details about the consultation and what might need updating can be found on the NALC website at the link below.  The consultation closes on 5th November 2023. 

If you have any comments or suggestions you wish to make as to how the Model Financial Regulations can be updated please visit the following webpage:  https://tinyurl.com/4u3jhpmh

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NALC Legal Update – October 2023

The Building Safety Act 2022 – Worknest advice

We wanted to highlight the Worknest guidance on new fire safety requirements for non-domestic premises under the Building Safety Act 2022. Section 156 of the 2022 Act (in force 1 October) amends the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. 

There is also government guidance on Responsible Person and Duty Holder: roles and fire safety responsibilities: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/people-with-duties-under-fire-safety-laws

Councils may wish to contact their insurers for further information.

Can a councillor who resigns before signing their declaration of acceptance of office be employed as the clerk?

We were asked about the scenario where a council had just co-opted a councillor at a meeting. At the same meeting, there was an item and discussion about advertising and recruiting a new clerk further to the council clerk leaving. The newly co-opted councillor said they would rather be the new clerk. They had not signed their declaration of acceptance of office. The question to us was, can the newly co-opted councillor stand down and be employed as/ appointed the clerk?

Our view was no. A candidate becomes a councillor when they are co-opted. Section 116 of the Local Government Act 1972 (the 1972 Act) says a person shall for 12 months after they cease to be a member of an authority be disqualified from any paid office of the authority. A councillor ceases to be a councillor if the declaration of acceptance of office is not signed in accordance with section 83 (4) of the 1972 Act. Section 83 (4) refers to an elected councillor’s office becoming vacant for failing to deliver the acceptance of office. It does not say that the person was never a councillor.  

As a separate point, section 7 (1) (a) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 provides that every appointment of a person to a paid office or employment under a local authority or parish or community council in England and Wales shall be made on merit. Our view is that the way that a local council can act in accordance with section 7 and appoint on merit is by advertisement and competitive interview. 

Recent elections case

We have been asked what happens if incorrect decisions are made in elections, e.g., a candidate is elected when they do not meet the statutory qualification criteria. As we have stated previously, we defer to principal authorities on matters election law and procedure. 

In a recent elections case, a losing candidate in a party-political parish council election (Ms Hannah-Wood) was mistakenly declared the winner in the May elections this year rather than the actual winner (Ms Green). Ms Hannah-Wood resigned the following month. One of the High Court judges in the case deferred to the proper election processes for questioning elections whilst giving a view on the likely outcome. Paragraph 35 of the judgment says “Were it not for the resignation of Ms Hannah-Wood, it is, in my judgment, clear that the outcome of [the elections] petition, whether by trial, summary judgment or special case, would be that this court would determine that Ms Hannah-Wood was not duly elected and Ms Green was duly elected”.

Councillor secretly filming council meetings

We were asked about a scenario where a councillor was clandestinely filming the meeting and all those present.

Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), recording conversations without consent is legal provided the recording is done for personal use. However, the situation changes if such recordings are shared with third parties without the consent of the participants of the conversation. It is a criminal offence to sell recorded conversations to third parties or make such conversations public without the participant’s consent in the conversation.

Taking photographs or shooting videos in public places is not illegal unless it’s for nefarious purposes. However, taking photos or videos of someone where there is the expectation of privacy is a breach of privacy laws. 

The legality of posting a video of someone in the United Kingdom without their permission comes down to how the video was filmed. If the video was filmed where there is no expectation of privacy (e.g. a public place), then it would be legal to post the video on-line. If the video is filmed secretly where there is an expectation of privacy, then it would be illegal to post it on-line. In the situation of a public meeting, our view is that there will rarely be an expectation of privacy.   

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NALC publishes its quarterly activity report

NALC has published its quarterly activity report covering July to September 2023.

The quarterly activity report details progress in delivering NALC's strategic plan, including information on critical internal issues, parliamentary and government affairs work, events, finances, media coverage, publications and legal advice. It features updates from NALC's chief executive, the policy and communications, member services, and finance and administration teams, as well as key performance indicators (KPIs).

This quarter's report summarises the organisation's strategic direction and significant milestones during the reporting period. Key highlights include:

• Affiliation fee recommendation

• Annual Report approval

• County association engagements

• NALC becoming a White Ribbon accredited organisation

• New planning webpage

• New chair of the Smaller Authorities Audit Appointments

The following report covers October to December 2023 and will be published in January 2024.

Read the full report: https://www.nalc.gov.uk/library/committees/member-list/3951-quarterly-activity-report-2023/file

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NALC advocates for community wealth funding distribution through local councils

NALC has taken a proactive stance, asking the government to channel the new Community Wealth Fund to local councils in those places below 20,000 population in the scope of the fund. We underscored that local councils in these smaller communities are well-equipped to understand and address the unique needs of their areas. Given their status as statutory bodies and the first tier of local government, they are deemed the most competent entities to administer and distribute funds which the National Lottery Fund will allocate. Our advocacy extends further as we also recommended the establishment of new local councils in all un-parished areas throughout England, including those where the fund will be targeted.

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MPs overturn House of Lords on remote meetings

On 17 October, MPs debated the amendments made by the House of Lords to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. Disappointingly, the government has disagreed with the amendment (22) that would have enabled the option of remote meetings. The official response is that local authorities should continue to meet in-person to ensure good governance. Though the vote was passed to overturn the amendment, it’s encouraging that during the debate, there was still much cross-party support for the change. The full debate can be read in Hansard or on parliamentlive.tv.

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Gallagher – Community Matters Newsletter

Read it here: https://tinyurl.com/38wmkvnw

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Have you been a victim of crime?

Have you been the victim of crime?  Are you supporting a friend or family member that has been?

My Support Space is a free, online resource from Victim Support to help you manage the impact that crime has had on you.

http://mysupportspace.org.uk/moj

Victim Support Lincolnshire

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Did you know you can report Hate Crime Online?

Hate crimes and incidents hurt. They can be confusing and frightening.  By reporting, you may be able to prevent them from happening to somebody else.

Report hate crime online - True Vision: http://report-it.org.uk

Get support -  https://victimlincs.co.uk

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A Message From Action Fraud

Reusing the same password means criminals only need to steal one of your passwords in order to get into many of your accounts. 

Check out these top tips on how to secure your accounts properly:

https://ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/home #TurnOn2SV

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An introduction to the Local Council Award Scheme event

NALC have launched another free event on the Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS), which introduces the core principles of the scheme and helps councils have the confidence to put in an application. It is open to councillors, clerks and other council staff interested in the scheme. The event will detail the benefits of applying, how to apply, how the scheme works, tips on making the best application possible, how to make the most of achieving accreditation, and an opportunity to ask further questions about the scheme. 

Find out more about this event (12th December, 12:30 – 13:45): https://tinyurl.com/24zxv5j7

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Shared Intelligence free online event on climate change

Shared Intelligence are holding a free online event on developing town and parish council actions on the climate change and nature depletion agenda on 9 November 2023. Shared Intelligence wrote a delivery framework to support parish and town councils, and have since been working with Friends of the Earth on identifying some key steps for principal local authorities in their report Road to Zero Carbon: council action on green jobs and skills and are keen to broaden the thinking to the most local level of local government. The webinar will explore how councils can identify and plan action towards net zero, address nature depletion, consider a range of levers available, and how to move beyond a menu of possibilities and into action. Speakers include Tony Blake, director, Shared Intelligence, Sandra Bell, senior sustainability analyst, Friends of the Earth and a NALC speaker to be confirmed.

More details: https://tinyurl.com/3jvwdt7j

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NALC Blog - The benefits of fixing energy costs

Author: Sally-Ann Beaver, director of Utility Aid

In recent years, we have all seen energy costs fluctuate significantly, making it difficult for local (parish and town) councils to budget accurately. This can be especially problematic for smaller councils that may not have large reserves to fall back on if unexpected energy costs arise. By fixing energy costs, councils can plan their budgets with more certainty and have greater control over their expenses.

Another benefit of fixing energy costs is that it can help councils to be more sustainable. Many councils are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and becoming more environmentally friendly. By locking in energy costs, councils can budget for renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, which may require a higher initial investment but can provide long-term savings and environmental benefits.

In addition to budgeting and sustainability benefits, fixing energy costs can also help councils to be more efficient. When energy prices are uncertain, councils may have to make reactive decisions, such as turning off heating or cooling systems, to save money. However, these decisions can negatively impact staff and service users' comfort and well-being, and potentially damage equipment or facilities. By fixing energy costs, councils can plan for energy usage without worrying about unexpected spikes in bills, ensuring that staff and service users are comfortable, and facilities are maintained appropriately.

Our National Charity Tender was created to group organisations (including local and parish councils) to provide the lowest possible cost contracts with a range of excellent aftercare services that are provided to organisations that use Utility Aid as their broker. At Utility Aid, we manage 'baskets' of energy. By becoming a member of the NCT, we will group your organisation with others who are in the 'basket', and by doing so, we accumulate considerable purchasing power to be able to purchase your energy contracts at a discounted rate. This then allows Utility Aid to pass these savings onto our valued customers and results in all 'basket' members benefitting from brilliant contract deals and award-winning aftercare services!

Read the full blog here: https://tinyurl.com/bdns2pmp

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