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 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
31st July 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
30th September 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
25th July 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
11th August 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
28th August 2025 |
|
|
Assistant Clerk |
1st August 2025 |
|
|
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 |
24th August 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
26th August 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
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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Latest Clear Councils newsletter:
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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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New JADU courses now live
JADU: Agendas/Minutes Friday 3rd October 2025, 10:00 – 11:00
JADU: Announcements & News Friday 10th October 2025, 10:00 – 11:00
Both sessions will be via Zoom. ATS members free, £15 for non-ATS members.
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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SLCC: Let’s talk about Changes to Proper Practices for Town & Parish Councils
Claire Reed, Project Manager ‑ Proper Practices from Smaller Authorities Proper Practices Panel (SAPPP) takes a look at the changes to Proper Practices.
Proper Practices (contained in the Practitioners’ Guide) are the standards for governance and accounting that must be met by town and parish councils whose income or expenditure does not exceed £6.5m for three consecutive years. They are recognised in the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 and Smaller Authorities must comply with them.
CIPFA, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy, have been engaged to carry out a review and have identified the following issues in the current Practitioners’ Guide:
There is no guidance on how a council’s accounts should be prepared. Some councils may prepare the AGAR form in isolation rather than producing the AGAR from a set of accounts.
There isn’t an explanation of the split between revenue and capital expenditure.
There is no guidance on how to account for assets which includes property, plant and equipment.
There is no information on the differences between Receipts & Payments and Income & Expenditure to aid practitioners in preparing their accounts.
Proper Practices do not currently require councils to produce a balance sheet. A balance sheet provides a snapshot of an organisation’s assets and liabilities at a specific point in time and so could be beneficial when describing the council’s financial position.
A sector-wide consultation on these issues will be launched in autumn 2025, with the outcome being considered in January 2026.
Read the full article:
https://www.slcc.co.uk/lets-talk-about-changes-to-proper-practices-for-town-parish-councils/
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NALC Smaller Councils Committee
This committee met on 31 July 2025 at our partner's CCLA offices. It was warmly welcomed by their relationship manager, Lee Jagger. Yorkshire Local Councils Association's chief officer, Sheena Spence, shared that some early work had begun to review national policy documents to make them easier for smaller parish and town councils to use. The committee also thanked her for gathering feedback from county associations about whether their local authorities have parish liaison teams. So far, of the 21 responses, 17 have confirmed they do. The Charity Commission's strategic policy adviser, James Wilkinson, gave a presentation on the rules parish and town councils need to follow when managing assets like village halls. The committee requested that we continue to engage with the government on remote meetings and to work with the Local Government Association and Locality to lobby the government on neighbourhood planning after the recent funding cuts. The committee agreed on essential updates to their terms of reference, and there were updates from the latest Martyn's Law Steering Group meeting.
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SLCC: Flood Resilience Survey
ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) and NALC (National Association of Local Councils) have come together to launch a new survey designed to help parish and town councils enhance their flood resilience. The short survey will capture what information and support parish and town councils need to better plan for flooding.
This initiative supports the Rural Flood Resilience Partnership Work Plan, which aims to help communities plan for flooding.
The survey results are intended to directly shape the development of practical resources tailored to local needs, ensuring that any future resources are genuinely helpful and relevant.
Complete the survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ACRE-NALC-survey-planning-for-flood-resilience/
Deadline 29th August.
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NALC funding request to government
NALC have called on the government to give parish and town councils the right to apply directly for central government funding in our bold proposal to the government's fair funding review. In our response to the government's consultation, we argued that parish and town councils are held back by an outdated and unfair funding system. We urged the government to end double taxation, where residents in parish areas pay council tax but don't receive the same level of services as those in non-parish areas, and to ensure fair and consistent funding wherever local services are devolved to parish and town councils.
Read the full response (NALC login required): https://tinyurl.com/ynjr9nmu
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SLCC: Updated Register to Vote: Easy Read Form
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has released an updated version of the Register to Vote: Easy Read form.
This step-by-step guide is specifically designed to support individuals with learning disabilities in registering to vote independently and confidently.
Access the forms: https://tinyurl.com/2rj9kdkn
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NALC calls for a stronger role for parish and town councils in local government reorganisation
NALC have called for parish and town councils and county associations to have a stronger role in local government reorganisation.
In response to the government’s consultation on proposals for local government reorganisation in Surrey, NALC:
Stressed that parish and town councils and county associations must be involved from the very start of the process to create new unitary authorities, with county associations being full members of the Joint Implementation Team establishing any new unitary authority.
Called for the creation of new parish and town councils in currently unparished areas and the abolition of existing Charter Trustees.
Urged early consultation with parish and town councils whenever assets or services are at risk of withdrawal, allowing communities to take them on. We emphasised that any transfer of responsibilities must be backed by adequate funding, such as access to the Community Infrastructure Levy.
Called for the government to consider proposals from the Surrey Association of Local Councils on structural recommendations between parish and town councils and new unitary authorities, and between parish and town councils and area committees.
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Have your say on West Lindsey’s Budget for 2026–2027
West Lindsey District Council is inviting residents, businesses, and community members to share their views as part of the budget-setting process for the 2025 - 2026 financial year.
Every year, the Council must agree a balanced budget - ensuring income matches expenditure. This task has become increasingly challenging over the past decade due to significant reductions in government funding.
Take part in the consultation by completing the online survey Budget Consultation 2025: https://tinyurl.com/mrfk4wax
Alternatively attend one of the following in-person events:
Tuesday 19 August – Gainsborough Market (9am–2pm)
Tuesday 2 September – Market Rasen Market (9am–2pm)
Tuesday 9 September – Council Chamber, Guildhall, Gainsborough (6–8pm)
The consultation closes at 9am on Monday 15 September 2025. For any questions or queries, please contact: engagement@west-lindsey.gov.uk
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NK Community Champion Awards 2025 launched
Do you know someone who’s making a difference within the community of North Kesteven through their kind consideration and voluntary endeavour? And have you always thought ‘they deserve a medal’ for what they do?
The next best thing is an NK Community Champion Award, backed by community-minded businesses within the District and co-ordinated by North Kesteven District Council.
Across 11 categories, this year we’re looking to champion:
Community spirit
Young Achievers
Community Businesses
Contributions to climate action, arts & culture, sport, a better environment and health & wellbeing
Good neighbours
Longstanding contributions to a single group or organisation
And there’s a new category this year to complement Council Chair Cllr Chris Goldson’s charitable theme to celebrate Contribution to Animal Welfare.
Nominations can be made at www.NKawards.org where there is more detail or using the form: https://tinyurl.com/3rmwca9p
Deadline is 12pm on September 16.
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LALC Advice: Can we stop maintaining a council website and just use a Facebook Page and other social media?
LALC has received enquiries about councils moving away from a website to just using a social media page such as on Facebook. Parish and Town Councils MUST maintain a website. Facebook and other social media sites are not a substitute.
🖥️ Why a Parish / Town Council Must Have a Website
… and why Facebook isn’t enough
While using a Facebook page can be helpful for community engagement, it does not meet legal requirements. All parish councils — whether large or small — are statutorily required to have a publicly accessible website for publishing key financial and governance information.
________________________________________
⚖️ Legal Requirements for Smaller Authorities (Under £25,000)
Parish councils with gross annual income or expenditure below £25,000 must comply with the:
Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014
Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015
Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities 2015
Localism Act 2011
Freedom of Information Act 2000
These require certain documents to be published on a publicly accessible website. This includes:
Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) – Sections 1, 2, and the Certificate of Exemption (if signed).
Internal audit report
Explanation of significant variances
Bank reconciliation
Notice of the period for the exercise of public rights
List of councillors and their responsibilities
Details of public land and building assets
Agendas, minutes, and associated meeting papers (even for committees and subcommittees)
⛔ Facebook does not meet these requirements because it:
• Is not reliably accessible to everyone (e.g. users without an account)
• Is not under the council’s control (posts can be removed or hidden)
• Does not meet required accessibility standards (e.g. WCAG 2.1 AA)
• Is not suitable for long-term document hosting
________________________________________
📈 Councils with Income/Expenditure Over £25,000
Larger councils (with income or expenditure over £25,000) are subject to external audit and must meet the requirements of:
Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015
Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014
Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018
Localism Act 2011
Freedom of Information Act 2000
They must also publish on their website:
AGAR and auditor reports
Notice of public rights and inspection
Annual accounts and governance statements
Public land/building assets
Minutes and agendas
An accessibility statement
Website content that complies with transparency and accessibility laws
________________________________________
✅ Facebook Is a Useful Supplement – But Not a Substitute
You can absolutely use Facebook to:
Share local news and community events
Post meeting reminders and deadlines
Direct residents to the official website
But you must still maintain a dedicated website, which:
Is freely and reliably accessible to the public
Hosts the required documents in a structured, durable, and searchable way
Meets accessibility obligations under UK law
________________________________________
📝 Summary
Parish councils — whether under or over £25,000 — must maintain an official website to comply with the law. Facebook and other social media are useful for community engagement but do not replace the statutory requirement to publish key information on a publicly accessible website that the council controls. All Councils must adopt and publish a Publication Scheme under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the information listed within it as provided by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
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Rural Services Network: Digital Shift Could Deepen Inequality
New analysis from Age UK has found that 2.4 million older people in the UK — nearly one in five (19%) — have limited use of the internet, going online less than once a month or not at all.
The charity warns that a “digital by default” approach to essential services risks excluding millions, especially without a clear, enforceable guarantee that offline options will always be available. It is calling on the Government to ensure that in-person and assisted digital support remains in place for services such as NHS appointments, Blue Badge applications, and council services.
The figures show that some groups are even more likely to have limited internet use — rising to 32% for older Black people, 30% for those living alone, 26% for older Asian people, and 22% for older women and those struggling financially.
In the past year, 920,000 older people (7%) have reduced their internet use, reinforcing earlier Age UK research showing that some who go online do not always stay there in later life. In addition:
6 million (12%) older people do not use a mobile phone at all.
3 million (33%) do not use a smartphone.
4 million (31%) say poor IT skills keep them offline.
9 million (22%) say a lack of trust in the internet is a barrier.
Age UK has delivered a 173,949-signature petition to 10 Downing Street, highlighting the everyday struggles some older people face when key services are only available digitally. Some told the charity they feel belittled or pressured into going online, while others spoke of being unable to arrange GP appointments or manage essential tasks.
Read more: https://rsnonline.org.uk/digital-shift-could-deepen-inequality
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NALC meeting with Reform UK
As a recognised political group within the Local Government Association, we met with Reform UK's deputy chair, Paul Nuttall, and director of local government, Jaymey McIvor. We briefed them on the work we and county associations do, the current state of the parish and town council sector and the process for establishing new councils. We also highlighted the importance of training for newly elected councillors. They expressed strong support for parish and town councils and emphasised the need for upper-tier administrations to work closely with parish and town councils and county associations. Reform UK currently form administrations in around 12 upper-tier councils following May's local elections and holds an estimated 120 seats on parish and town councils.
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