If any Clerks want to join the Clerks’ eGroup, or any councillors want to join the Councillor eGroup, contact enquiries@lalc.co.uk.
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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 |
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|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
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|
Clerk/RFO |
31st October 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
31st October 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
7th August 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
28th August 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
13th October 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
20th September 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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Now available to book: 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)
Worknest will be delivering this ‘Safety for Executives & Directors’ course.
Book via the portal in the usual way.
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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.
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PLACES AVAILABLE: Finance Seminar for parish and town councils
When: Tuesday 23rd September, 13:15 – 17:00
Where: Balderton Village Centre, Coronation St, Balderton, Newark, NG24 3BD
Organised by colleagues from Notts ALC and Leicestershire & Rutland ALC, this half-day Finance Seminar is a great opportunity to network with fellow Councillors and Clerks from Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire & Rutland as well as from Lincolnshire.
Featuring sessions from:
Steve Parkinson from the Parkinson Partnership expert on Local Council Finance, provider of finance related advice and training to the sector
Hannah Parkhouse, Deposits Desk Manager and Megan Reeves, Assistant Relationships Manager from Unity Trust Bank
Jamie Charters from CCLA Investment Management
Melanie Aspden, Savings Product Manager from Hinckley & Rugby Building Society
Schedule for the afternoon:
1.15 Arrival, exhibition stands & refreshments
1.45 Welcome address from Notts ALC CEO Kaffy Rice-Oxley including a brief overview of why good financial administration is required
2.00 – 2.45 Steve Parkinson from the Parkinson Partnership
2.50 – 3.20 Hannah Parkhouse & Megan Reeves, Unity Trust Bank
3.20 Break for refreshments & exhibition stands
3.40 Melanie Aspden, Hinkley & Rugby Building Society
4.10 Jamie Charters, CCLA Investments
4.40 Questions to the Panel
4.55 Closing address - Kaffy Rice Oxley, CEO Notts ALC
Please book in the usual way, via the portal.
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Free Worknest webinar: HR 101 for Small Employers
As a small business, people are your biggest asset – but also your biggest challenge. Without a dedicated HR team, many owners manage instinctively, often without clear processes in place. While this can work for a while, it can also lead to inconsistencies, conflict, and missed opportunities to get the best from your staff.
In this practical 60-minute session from WorkNest on the 25th September at 2pm, they will explain how to get the HR basics right so you can build stronger teams, avoid common pitfalls, and save valuable time.
Register here:
https://worknest.com/training/hr-101-for-small-employers-partners/?v=LALC
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Heritage Lottery Grant for Reepham
The village of Reepham in Lincolnshire has been successful in obtaining a significant grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to improve amenities on the village green.
The Parish Council has installed an additional seat, which is already well used. Further improvements include a dropped kerb ramp for wheelchair access to the green and the installation of a large information board showing a brief history of the village, with photographs and a map of the footpaths radiating from Reepham to neighbouring villages.
We hope that this will encourage both local people and visitors to explore and enjoy the countryside around Reepham using the extensive network of footpaths.
The success of the project is primarily down to the efforts of Councillors Wilson, Brammer and Doughty, ably assisted by local historian Allan Crease, and the Council is most grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for their grant which has enabled us to improve this much appreciated local focal point.
We very much look forward to welcoming all visitors to Reepham in the future.
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SLCC: ILCA relaunched
ILCA England (Introduction to Local Council Administration has recently been refreshed and endorsed by Ascentis. This ensures the course remains relevant to the needs of those new to the sector as well as keeping up to date with changes to procedures and legislation. Clerks who wish to continue their professional development will benefit from a strong foundation of knowledge that supports future study.
This course is now available on our new learning management system, which features a modern, user-friendly design and improved functionality, making it easier than ever to learn online.
ILCA is a sector-specific course providing essential support during the early months of your role and covering key areas such as the functions of a local council, the responsibilities of the clerk, and the role of councillors. And for those who are considering a career in the sector, it can provide a solid grounding and support future applications.
The course is flexible and can be studied at your own pace, making it easy to fit around your other commitments. There are no formal entry requirements – all you need is an interest in the work of local councils.
Find out more: https://www.slcc.co.uk/qualification/ilca/
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NALC announces the latest Local Council Award Scheme results:
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SLCC: English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Second Reading)
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill received its second reading in Parliament on 2 September. In the debate, several Members of Parliament made comments specifically about parish and town councils, including their role, contribution, and notably the challenges faced by parish and town council clerks.
The second reading passed by 365 votes to 164 and will now progress to committee stage.
Read the full transcript of the debate here: https://tinyurl.com/w8hazfdx
Watch the debate on parliament tv: https://tinyurl.com/y44mu4vd
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New Civility and Respect Newsletter
The August 2025 Civility & Respect (C&R) newsletter is now available (no login required):
https://www.slcc.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CR-Newsletter-Aug25-Final.pdf
It provides an update that 18% of parish and town councils have signed up to the Civility and Respect Pledge. Work has started on how to promote the pledge to small and micro-councils, which make up over 65% of all parish and town councils. Analysis has also shown that there are significant variations between different geographical areas, and work is ongoing to understand why this is the case. We want to hear your suggestions on how we can increase sign-ups to the pledge. The newsletter also includes an update on the Statement of Assurance for councillors. The statement ensures councillors take personal responsibility for being civil and respectful. The statement was trialled in Cornwall with success, and we will do a full rollout in due course.
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NALC: Stand Up Against Street Harassment training
The Improvement and Development Board's Civility and Respect Task Force has secured free training from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. The training brings the expert approved international Stand Up Against Street Harassment training programme to the UK. The global programme has been rolled out across 40 countries and has trained over 3.8 million people to date. The 30-minute programme is free of charge. It raises awareness of harassment, as well as upskilling and empowering bystanders across various settings, including public spaces and workplaces, to help defuse situations, discourage harassers, and support victims.
For bookings, please find more information on the Suzy Lamplugh website: https://tinyurl.com/22fkrxpx
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NALC and County Association meeting
This week's meeting between NALC and county associations included an update on the sector-wide consultation by the Smaller Authorities Proper Practices Panel to improve governance in the sector. Parish Online attended to outline their offer of a free clerk email address to support parish and town councils moving to a gov.uk domain. We discussed the draft event schedule for 2026/27. We also provided an update on our Parish and Town Elections 2025 report and next year's elections.
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Latest Highways News:
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Rural Services Network: Persistent ‘Dental Deserts’ Risk Leaving Rural Communities Behind
New analysis from the Local Government Association (LGA) highlights a continuing crisis in NHS dental provision, with so-called ‘dental deserts’ leaving many communities – particularly rural and deprived areas – struggling to access care.
Using NHS England data, the LGA found that no local authority area in England has more than one NHS dentist per 1,000 residents. Rural areas in particular are more likely to have fewer practices, creating significant barriers to treatment.
The LGA warns that this unequal distribution is widening health inequalities and is calling on Government to introduce targeted measures to improve access where need is greatest.
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/3bhxrx82
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Creating a Community Emergency Plan - the story from Heighington
In the wake of storms Babet and Henk, Heighington was left licking its wounds and questioning what could be done differently.
We met up with Heighington Parish Council Chair Sue Sockell to talk about their experiences and the benefits of creating a plan - some of which might surprise you!
So, settle down with a cuppa and catch up on their story: https://tinyurl.com/2s44ecwe
Getting prepared might be easier than you think.
If you want to find out more about the support available from the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum: https://tinyurl.com/2n2vmk98
Source: NKDC Parish and Town Council Newsletter
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Arnold-Baker on Local Council Administration – Fourteenth edition
Arnold-Baker on Local Council Administration, often referred to as 'the bible', is a complete statement of the law relating to parish and community councils, in the form of an extensive though succinct narrative accompanied by comprehensive statutory materials. Now in its Fourteenth edition, the ever-popular 'yellow book' remains the key text for Parish Councils, Local Authorities, barristers, and solicitors practising in local government law and public and administrative law.
All CALCs and their members can obtain this publication at a 20% discount - £176.00 plus £9.00 delivery. (The normal price is £220.00 plus £9.00 delivery).
To reserve your copy, please contact scott.firth@lexisnexis.co.uk. (Please do not contact LALC).
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Has your council considered joining CPRE (the countryside charity)?
At CPRE, the countryside charity, we believe in a countryside that is accessible to all, rich in nature and which plays a role in tackling the climate emergency. With a local presence in every county, we work alongside communities to promote sustainable development and inclusive access to green spaces.
We help councillors make planning decisions that look after and improve the countryside for everyone. With new changes to planning rules and policy being discussed in the House of Lords as part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, it’s more important than ever that councillors feel confident in the choices they make.
How can your council benefit from CPRE membership?
Your parish or town council can join as an organisational member to support a beautiful, thriving countryside for all. You will benefit from:
Help from your local CPRE
Our local groups can help you with planning issues, including:
Responding to planning applications
Working with neighbourhood and community groups to lobby for more affordable housing in rural areas.
Getting involved in Local Plan reviews
Giving evidence at appeals and inquiries
Some of our local groups also offer training and advice to help others understand the planning process.
Help from national CPRE
Our national office planning team is here to support you with:
Monthly updates to keep you informed
Helpful documents such as our updated guide, How to Respond to Planning Applications – written with a community focus to help you formulate the right response.
General advice and answers to your planning questions via our dedicated email inbox
Responses to government consultations and major planning applications
Parish and town councils can join us from £5 a month or £60 per year.
To find out more contact CPRE on supportercare@cpre.org.uk or 020 7981 2870.
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Create a community garden
The National Garden Scheme is offering grants of £1,500 - £5,000 to support community gardens. The fund helps local groups create sustainable, biodiversity-friendly gardens that bring people together and benefit the wider community. Match funding isn’t required.
They are welcoming applications for projects that foster diversity and/or support people with physical or mental disabilities. Guidelines on eligibility are available on the National Garden Scheme website (https://tinyurl.com/j3wuutad) allowing interested groups four weeks before applications open to ask any questions they may have.
Submissions open on Monday 15 September and close at noon on Monday 20 October, however, due to the enormous popularity of the grants only the first 300 submissions will be accepted for assessment and applications may close early. Successful applicants will be notified of the results in April 2026.
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Rural Services Network: New Study Exposes Experiences of Racism in Rural England
A study into racism in rural England has found many minority ethnic individuals and families feel the countryside is an unwelcoming and unsafe place to visit.
The research, conducted by the University of Leicester’s Centre for Hate Studies, revealed people have faced hostility in the countryside, including name-calling, racial slurs, intimidation and even threats.
The findings reveal a complex picture: a longing for peace and belonging; a deep respect for the countryside and the beauty of rural space; but at the same time a common experience of conscious and unconscious racial stereotyping, exclusionary behaviours and open hostility.
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/437daurp
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Elsewhere in the country: Norfolk parish council clerk spared jail over £28k fraud
A parish council clerk who stole almost £30,000 from its bank account - more than his village's entire tax take - while suffering from a terminal illness has been spared jail. Jonathan Hicks started taking the cash from Old Buckenham Parish Council only days after he took up the role and the fraud was not detected until he handed himself in to police nine months later.
Mr Haswell argued that jailing him would be a "death sentence" and a judge imposed a 12-month prison term, suspended for 18 months. The court was told that Hicks - who lived in the village and had previously served as a parish councillor for eight years, including as chairman - fraudulently took £28,000 from the authority between November 2023 and August 2024.
The is more than the entire amount paid by locals to the parish through their council tax the previous year, which was £22,700. He took the money by writing cheques to himself while failing to make payments he was supposed to be making.
Read the full story: https://tinyurl.com/ytdr49pe
Source: Wymondham and Attleborough Mercury
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