If any Clerks want to join the Clerks’ eGroup, or any councillors want to join the Councillor eGroup, contact enquiries@lalc.co.uk.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
This fortnightly newsletter is provided to member councils through the clerk and chair and should be circulated to all councillors. This eNews can also be found on the LALC website under News (LALC News). Other important information which comes up in between eNews publication dates is also shared on the website under News (Our Blog).
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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. If you have set up your councillors on the LALC portal, you will be able to select their correct email address from a drop-down list when booking the training.
If you update your council email and are already booked on training, please let us know so that we can update your booking to ensure you receive the automatic reminders.
If one of your councillors resigns, and they were booked on LALC training, please cancel their place, so that others can book on. Failure to do so may not only deprive other councils from attending but could result in a non-attendance charge (see below).
Please note our training cancellation policy:
For part day courses – please ensure we receive cancellations at least 48 hours in advance
For full day events – please ensure we receive cancellations at least 5 working days in advance, as we need to pre-order and pay for lunches
Due to persistent non-attendance at booked events, it is unfortunate that LALC have had to amend the way we impose our cancellation fees. All members are charged 50% of the training cost when insufficient notice is received (as above) for non-attendance at training events. No shows will be charged at 100% of the course fee. All charges are regardless of whether the council is a member of the ATS or not.
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|
Position |
Closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
31st October 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
31st October 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
13th October 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Senior Manager/Clerk RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Hertfordshire Association of Parish and Town Councils (HAPTC) |
Chief Executive |
10th November 2025 |
|
Hertfordshire Association of Parish and Town Councils (HAPTC) |
Council Officer |
10th November 2025 |
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, which ensures that your advert also appears on Lincolnshire County Council’s website, Facebook, and LinkedIn (in addition to the LALC website and eNews). The current fee for this is £80 (this has increased in line with an increase in the LCC fee). 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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Sign up to the LCC Town and Parishes newsletter – email:
lcctownandparishnews@lincolnshire.gov.uk
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Latest News
To see the latest NALC news (NALC login required): https://www.nalc.gov.uk/news
To see the latest SLCC news (No SLCC login required): https://www.slcc.co.uk/news-publications/
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NEXT WEEK Places available: IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) Safety training (Safety for Executives & Directors)
When: 14 October 2025, 10:00 – 17:00
Where: Welbourn Village Hall, LN5 0LZ
Cost: £145 plus VAT (includes lunch and refreshments)
This course gives an understanding of the moral, legal and business case for proactive safety, health and risk management, and of strategic safety and health management and its integration into business management systems and procedures.
Designed for senior leaders in any organisation. Ideal for Clerks, officers and Councillors who are responsible for Health and Safety for their Council.
Delivered by a highly qualified, chartered health & safety practitioner in a face to face setting.
The course is broken down into 5 modules:
The moral, legal and financial case
Plan
Do
Check
Act
Every delegate completing the course will write a 3-point action plan representing their personal commitment to implement what they have learned. Commitments should be appropriate to their level of responsibility in the organisation. The assessment must be the delegate’s own work but can be supported by trainer coaching.
This is a rare opportunity to get an internationally recognised qualification at a much cheaper cost than the usual £200+ of a commercial face-to-face training event. Don’t miss it!
Book via the portal in the usual way.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Now booking:
Sustainability & Climate Change Thursday 13th November, 10:00 – 12:00
Addressing the Biodiversity Crisis Thursday 27th November, 10:00 - 12:00
Organised by colleagues from Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Association of Local Councils Ltd (CAPALC), these sessions will be delivered by Mike Deegan Consulting.
Mike Deegan has over 20 years’ experience working with a charity and a decade as a councillor with his local parish council. His experience means he knows how to address relevant difficult situations to help find solutions and positive outcomes.
Both sessions will be via Zoom. Non-core training, £35. Book via the portal in the usual way.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Now booking: Planning System Introduction
When: 27th October 2025, 18:30 – 20:30, via Zoom.
Delivered by Andrew Towlerton of Andrew Towlerton Associates.
In this session we aim to help councils understand their role within the planning system and how to get the most out of it. It will explore:
Roles and responsibilities of local councils in planning
Local plan making
The National Planning Policy Framework (2012)
Guidance on how to respond effectively to planning applications
Use of material considerations and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) system.
Free for ATS members, £35 for non-ATS.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Now booking: Clerks Networking Day (including SLCC Lincolnshire branch AGM)
The Clerks Networking Day, including the SLCC Lincolnshire branch AGM will take place on Thursday 20th November 2025, at Bracebridge Heath Community Hub & Library.
Come along and network with fellow Clerks! The day incorporates the SLCC AGM, workshops and guest speakers.
Schedule for the day:
9:30 Registration for SLCC members
10:00 SLCC Lincolnshire Branch AGM
10:00 Registration for non SLCC members
10:30 Operation Bridge Briefing – by Mark Garthwaite, Emergency Planning & Business Continuity Officer, LFR
11:30 Break
11:40 Public Rights of Way – Peter Hinton, LCC
13:00 Festive Buffet Lunch
14:00 LALC Pay & Recruitment Group,
including an exercise looking at the Clerk's Job Description
15:30 Close
Cost: £25 plus VAT per delegate. Book via the portal in the usual way.
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Place available – First Aid at Work
Due to a cancellation, we now have a place available on the upcoming First Aid at Work training, being held at Dunholme Old School, LN2 3QR on 28th October (9:30 – 16:00).
Cost: £78 plus VAT.
Please book via the portal.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Now open for booking: One day RPII Play Area Routine Inspection training
24th June 2026 – with exam (£260 plus VAT – includes exam fee) OR
25th June 2026 – without exam (£110 plus VAT)
To be held at Washingborough Sports Pavilion, LN4 1AB
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LCC Admissions Policy Consultation 2027-28
The follow schools are consulting on their 2027/28 Admission Policy:
| School | Consultation period | Consultation |
| Grantham The King’s School | 06/10/25 to 17/11/25 | https://www.kings.lincs.sch.uk/consultation2728 |
| De Aston School – Market Rasen | 01/10/25 to 12/11/25 | www.deastonschool.co.uk |
| Tattershall - Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School | 01/10/25 to 14/11/25 | https://www.holytrinitytattershall.co.uk/ |
| Coningsby St Michael’s Church of England Primary School | 01/10/25 to 14/11/25 | https://www.coningsbyprimary.co.uk/ |
| Heighington Millfield Primary Academy | 06/10/25 to 17/11/25 | https://www.heighingtonmillfield.co.uk/page/?title=Admission+Arrangements&pid=13 |
| Grantham Huntingtower Community Primary Academy | 06/10/25 to 17/11/25 | https://www.huntingtowerprimary.co.uk/page/?title=Admissions&pid=506 |
| Waddington Redwood Primary Academy | 06/10/25 to 17/11/25 | https://www.waddingtonredwood.co.uk/page/?title=Admissions&pid=16 |
| Stamford St Gilbert's Church Of England Primary School | 13/10/25 to 30/11/25 | https://www.stgilberts.co.uk/ |
| Welton St Mary’s Church of England Primary Academy | 09/10/25 to 20/11/25 | https://weltonstmarysacademy.co.uk/ |
| Gainsborough Castle Wood Academy | 10/10/25 to 21/11/25 | https://www.talloaksacademy.co.uk/web/ |
| Gainsborough Mercer's Wood Academy | 10/10/25 to 21/11/25 | https://www.talloaksacademy.co.uk/web/ |
| Gainsborough White's Wood Academy | 10/10/25 to 21/11/25 | https://www.talloaksacademy.co.uk/web/ |
These notifications are in accordance with our statutory duty as outlined in section 1.47 & 1.48 of the School Admissions Code 2021: https://tinyurl.com/3s7ut2jh
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How long to leave poppies and wreaths on the War Memorial?
A member council raised an enquiry about how long poppies and wreaths should be left on the War Memorial and if LALC had a policy template for it.
Having investigated the issue we have created a Knowledgebase article on the LALC website which includes a draft template that could be used as the basis of a council policy if you need it.
However, underpinning this is the need for the Parish/Town Council to engage in some public engagement with local people and veterans’ organisations before approving a policy to ensure the decisions are acceptable for the residents in that area – it will be different from area to area.
If the Council is not felt to be respectful on this issue this will create poor relationships with the community and a bad reputation.
Knowledgebase article (LALC login required): https://www.lalc.co.uk/wiki/page/178/
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SLCC: Strengthening Charity Governance and Financial Oversight
Wellers, the firm which provides legal advice to members through enquiries to the (SLCC) Advice Service, has highlighted governance lessons for all charities, regardless of size or purpose arising from The Kids Company case, which was concluded in May this year following a Judicial Review by the High Court. Wellers has identified four key takeaways to help trustees fulfil their duties and protect their charities from similar risks.
For any parish, town or community council acting as trustee to a charity, these are worth considering.
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/4644wjch
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Gallagher ‘Community Matters’ autumn newsletter
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COUNCIL NEWS
OCTOBER 2025
Who Complains to the Monitoring Officer?
Disputes between Elected Members and Officers of the Council can, on occasion, become heated and result in allegations of unacceptable behaviour against Councillors.
With regards employment issues, section 28 of the 2011 Localism Act requires complaints regarding the behaviour of a Member of a Town/Parish Council to be referred to the Principal Authority’s Monitoring Officer.
But who makes the complaint? The Employee who is making the allegations against the Councillor, or the Council that employs them?
The Committee on Standards in Public Life’s (CSPL) Local Government Ethical Standards report of January 2019 provides helpful guidance for Town and Parish Council on this question.
Recommendation 11 states:
Formal standards complaints about the conduct of a parish Councillor towards a Clerk (or other Employee) ‘should be made by the Chair or by the parish council, rather than the Clerk’ in all but exceptional circumstances.
This was included because CSPL found that parish Clerks and officers (as Employees, and often the most senior officer in a parish council) were sometimes placed in a very vulnerable position if they personally submitted complaints about Councillors. The recommendation shifts that burden to the corporate body (the parish council, via its chair), which provides a degree of protection for the Employee.
More generally, the report expects every local authority (including parish/town councils) to implement CSPL’s best practice recommendations. These include clear procedures, accessible codes, accessible complaints processes, transparency, etc.
The CSPL’s best practice says that Monitoring Officers should play a role: giving advice, supporting, managing investigations & adjudications for alleged breaches by parish/town Councillors, under the code of conduct, for matters in their (principal) authority’s remit. That implies that a parish council making a complaint about an elected parish/town Councillor to the Monitoring Officer is consistent with CSPL’s guidance.
In matters involving a complaint by an Officer about a Councillor, the guidance prefers that the complaint be made by the parish/town council, not by the clerk alone — though exceptional circumstances may allow otherwise.
However, there are limits. The guidance does not require every parish/town council to complain in every situation to the Monitoring Officer. Some complaints may not fall under the code of conduct; some may be internal matters (etiquette, custom, etc.), etc. Also, sanctions available under the Localism Act on breach of the code are limited.
Unfortunately, SOME Employee disputes cannot be resolved internally and can end up at an Employment Tribunal with claims for Constructive Dismissal, Harassment, Discrimination, etc. In this situation the Council has to defend how it managed the Employee’s original complaint. If the Council can demonstrate that it has followed the CSPL’s guidelines, this can support that defence.
Statutory Pay Rates from April 2025
Minimum Wage from April 2025
| Workers aged 21 and over (National Living Wage) | £12.21 |
| Workers aged 18 – 20 | £10.00 |
| Workers under 18, Apprentices under 19, or over 19 in first year | £7.55 |
PROFILE
Chris Moses LLM Chartered FCIPD is Managing Director of Personnel Advice & Solutions Ltd. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and has a Master’s Degree in Employment Law. If you have any questions regarding these issues please feel free to contact him on
(01529) 305056 or email p.d.solutions@zen.co.uk
www.personneladviceandsolutions.co.uk
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NALC: Improvement and Development Board
The Improvement and Development Board (IDB) Workforce Taskforce met on 25 September 2025 to examine good practices and recommend improvements in job evaluation and benchmarking, and to examine working hours. The task force aims to take its recommendations on job evaluation and benchmarking to the IDB meeting on 6 November 25. They also agreed to seek the IDB's approval for reviewing job scales.
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NALC: Assertion 10 resources
The Practitioners' Guide 2025 introduced a new Assertion 10 to the Annual Governance Statement, part of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR). This new assertion brings existing requirements around digital and data compliance to the fore. It introduces two new requirements for email management and an IT policy. We have several resources to help parish and town councils meet the requirements, such as guidance on council parish and town council email addresses and understanding and preparing to move to a .gov.uk domain (NALC login required). We have plans for more resources, such as a Data Protection Roadmap, a comprehensive IT Policy template and guidance on meeting the new WCAG 2.2 website accessibility guidelines, which will form part of a new Assertion 10 resource, launching on our website soon.
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Quick fact: The Parish Domains Helper Service have announced that over 50% of councils with a known precept now use a gov.uk domain.
In Lincolnshire, 32% of LALC member councils are now using a gov.uk domain. A further 10% have a council specific domain such as .org or co.uk. The remaining 58% have emails (such as gmail.com or outlook.com) which do not meet the Assertion 10 test of “a generic email account hosted on an authority owned domain”.
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Get Safe Online announce new scam detection tool
Get Safe Online has launched a new scam detection tool on their website.
If you are suspicious of a text, email or message and you want to check if it is legit or not before responding, you can upload a screenshot to Ask Silver on the Get Safe Online website and whereupon it will return an indication of whether the communication is safe or a ‘red flag’ for fraud.
Ask Silver: https://www.getsafeonline.org/asksilver/
Get Safe Online have also launched a Back-to-Basics campaign - providing lots of tips and advice from our experts about staying safe online this October.
Read more: https://www.getsafeonline.org/onlinesafetybasics/
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Smaller Authorities' Audit Appointments (SAAA) Strategic Priorities
The SAAA Strategic Priorities 2025-2028 can be viewed here: https://tinyurl.com/4s2bcv78
These include:
Supporting local audit reform
Supporting our suppliers
Reviewing Proper Practices
Making AGAR digital
Developing the contract
Strengthening governance
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SLCC: World Mental Health Day – 10 October
World Mental Health Day is observed each year on 10 October, serving as a global reminder of the importance of prioritising and investing in good mental health.
Read more: https://www.slcc.co.uk/world-mental-health-day-2025/
This year’s theme, ‘Access to services – mental health in catastrophes and emergencies,’ focuses on the critical need for people to have support and resources to protect their mental wellbeing during times of crisis and global instability.
SLCC will be running the webinar Mental Health Awareness and Wellbeing at Work on 16 October at 11am. This 1-hour webinar will focus on signs to look out for/indicators that you need to pay more attention to your wellbeing; setting boundaries and managing other people’s expectations; practical tips and tools for managing stress; dealing with working or feeling alone and isolated; letting go of the negatives; and work self-care.
Cost: £30 plus VAT for SLCC members; £35 plus VAT for non-members.
Sign up to the webinar: https://tinyurl.com/43943ent
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