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).
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
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.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
|
Position |
Closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
28th February 2025 |
|
|
Admin Assistant |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
14th February 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
28th March 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Grounds Team Manager |
16th April 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
2nd May 2025 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
3rd July 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 £75. 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.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Sign up to the LCC Town and Parishes newsletter – email:
lcctownandparishnews@lincolnshire.gov.uk
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
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/
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Latest Highways News
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
LALC at the Lincolnshire Show - 18th and 19th June 2025
Come and see LALC and our colleagues from ERNLLCA (covering North and North East Lincolnshire) in the “Greater Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils” marquee stand, where we will be promoting the work of local councils across Greater Lincolnshire, and particularly promoting the role of parish and town councillors and clerks.
Come for a chat, a chance to sit down and have some refreshments.
You can find us on stand 8-30, situated on Row B, between Eighth Avenue and Tenth Avenue. (We’re near the Traditional Fairground, in the bottom corner of the Showground, nearest the A15). Check out the official Lincolnshire Show map online (due to be updated with the 2025 map any time):
https://www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk/contact-us?map=showmap
We hope to see you there.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
LALC Summer Conference - 16 July 2025
Booking is now open for the 2025 LALC Summer Conference - taking place at the Epic Centre at Lincolnshire Showground.
Come along for an interesting and enjoyable day: meet old friends, network, and make new friends and contacts.
The day will start with a Welcome & Introduction from our guest speaker.
There will be a varied selection of Talking Tables on different topics. These will be interactive sessions using discussion, scenarios, case studies, and shared problem solving.
See details of Talking Tables and Trade Stands below.
Delegates will have the opportunity to attend 5 of these tables during the day, selecting topics which are of specific interest to your council. If you are bringing several colleagues from the same council, you may want to share out which Talking Tables you’d like to visit, to ensure you get the most out of the topics on offer.
This is a new style of conference for LALC, and we hope you find the day interesting and informative.
See you there.
Cost is £45 per head plus VAT.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Worknest FREE webinar: Addressing Workplace Conflict and Grievances
Workplace conflict is inevitable – but are you equipped to deal with it before it becomes a grievance, whistleblowing claim, or Tribunal case? From personality clashes and workstyle differences to more serious disputes, workplace conflict is one of the most common – and costly – issues employers face.
In this free 60-minute webinar on 12th June at 2pm, WorkNest’s Employment Law and HR experts, will guide you through four real-life scenarios, showing how situations can escalate — and how to resolve issues early to protect your organisation.
Register here: https://worknest.com/training/addressing-workplace-conflict-and-grievances-partners/?v=LALC
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Latest LCC Town and Parish Council Update
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
An Assessment of Mental Health & Wellbeing of Local Council Clerks
Katherine Doughty, Town Clerk at Farringdon Town Council (Oxfordshire), is conducting a survey for her research project on ‘An Assessment of Mental Health & Wellbeing of Local Council Clerks in England’ which supports her BA Degree in Community Governance. It seeks to understand whether reports by Clerk colleagues and social media sites are representative of Clerks’ mental ill-health across the sector, that might suggest it is at risk of losing talented staff. She is also looking to understand whether there are key themes or issues that Clerks are experiencing which could suggest further research for finding solutions/improvements.
Please note that all information gathered is confidential and no one will be identified in the published results.
Katherine is keen for as many clerks as possible to complete her survey, by 5.00pm on Monday 16 June 2025: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2JK653Y
With many thanks in advance.
Katherine Doughty Fda, FSLCC
Town Clerk
Tel: 01367 240281 / Mob: 07711 424484
Web: faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk
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The Value of Networking for Town and Parish Clerks in England
Celia Price FSLCC, Clerk to Lancing Parish Council (West Sussex), is exploring how professional networking affects the effectiveness, well-being and confidence of town and parish clerks across England. Whether you are actively involved in networking or not, your insights are invaluable in helping understand current practices, challenges and opportunities.
All responses will remain confidential and anonymous.
Access the survey: https://tinyurl.com/yfykvev7
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
SLCC: The Government Proposes Further Reforms of the Planning System in England
The government has published a consultation on proposals aimed at reforming site size thresholds in the planning system in England, particularly for housing developments.
In very broad terms, the proposals would create a three-tiered structure for the determination of planning applications:
Minor – anything which does not fall within either medium or major definitions (i.e. sites under ten dwellings or less than 0.5ha if no number is known)
Medium – where the number of dwellings to be provided is between ten and 49, and the site is less than 1 hectare (and if there is no known number of dwellings, the site is between 0.5 and 1 hectares)
Major – where the number of dwellings to be provided is 50 or more or the site is more than 1 hectare
In practice, the proposals will have limited impact on major planning applications, which will be treated much the same as present. They would see, however, significant changes to medium and, to a lesser extent, minor planning applications, which will see requirements ‘removed’ and ‘streamlined’.
For medium sized planning applications, this would include simplifying regulations such as Biodiversity Net Gain and Section 106 agreements and requiring that such applications be delegated to planning officers for a decision. Only in very special circumstances would they be determined by a local authority planning committee.
SLCC intends to respond to the consultation. If you would like to contribute to our response, please send your comments by email to Andrew Towlerton, SLCC National Planning Advisor, at Andrew.Towlerton@slcc.co.uk by close of play Monday 4 July 2025.
More information on the consultation: https://tinyurl.com/yp55pa8n
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Age Without Limits Day - 11 June
Age Without Limits Day, is fast approaching on Wednesday 11 June, a day for us all come together across the country and take action to end ageism - as individuals, with friends and family, in our communities and in our workplaces. However much time you have, and whatever your interests, you can get involved in a way that means something to you.
Find out more: https://tinyurl.com/4zdmraec
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
SLCC: Government Consultation on Reforming Planning Committees
The government has announced that it is consulting on proposed changes to modernise local authority planning committees in England. This includes proposals to:
Introduce a new national delegation scheme – setting out which planning functions should be delegated to planning officers for a decision, and which should go instead to a planning committee or sub committee
Introduce a statutory maximum size for the number of members on a planning committee – with a maximum of 11 proposed
Introduce mandatory planning training for councillors of planning committees
Tighten ‘special measures’ powers available to the government for local planning authorities who they consider have had too many planning applications overturned at appeal
More information about the consultation: https://tinyurl.com/3ud6n55z
Government has also announced that it has delayed the date from which biodiversity net gain (BNG) will apply to nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) in England by six months: https://tinyurl.com/4zrvn8k6
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
SLCC: Government to Consult on Revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Later This Year
In the government’s recently issued ‘Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding Up Build Out’, which forms part of a series of working papers on different aspects of planning reform, it was revealed that they ‘welcome views…ahead of further detail on the policy as part of the consultation on National Decision Making Policies and a revised National Planning Policy Framework later this year’.
The NPPF is the key planning document in England as it ‘sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these should be applied’. The NPPF was last updated in December 2024.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Latest Police neighbourhood newsletters
Read them here: https://tinyurl.com/5d4p6ny3
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COUNCIL NEWS
JUNE 2025
Planned Tighter Controls on Changing Employment Contracts.
The forthcoming Employment Rights Bill introduces a new law that makes it automatically unfair to dismiss an Employee for refusing a change to their Employment Contract. This may come into force as early as this October.
Currently, Councils can consult with their workforce to amend and change Contracts of Employment in response to changing circumstances or new challenges. To be able to do this the Council needs a genuine business need, and to have conducted consultation with their workforce. If the Council can demonstrate that there is a pressing need to change, and that a reasonable process of dialogue has been conducted with Employees, changes can be introduced.
The new legislation outlaws this.
If a Council wants to amend a contract clause and the Employee says no, they can’t be dismissed. For example, if demand for a Community Centre or Village Hall significantly drops, or increases, and the Council wants to change the hours in response, it won’t be able to enforce the new working hours onto its workforce.
Even if new Employment legislation demands that Employment Contracts need to be updated, and an Employee refuses to accept the change, dismissal isn’t an option, and the Employee remains on the old contract.
How do you stop the Public Harassing your Employees?
Recent legislation places responsibility for harassment of Employees by members of the public firmly on the shoulders of the Council.
For Councils whose workers are in regular contact with the public this is a serious concern. They have little control over how the public behave, and compensation for successful claims for harassment at an Employment Tribunal can be very high. However, those Councils who take “Reasonable Steps” to protect their staff can defend themselves against such claims.
Tribunals have struck out claims against Councils who can prove they have taken such steps. In Leeds City Council & Hodder v Leader the Council was able to demonstrate that:
It had appropriate policies and procedures in place.
Staff and their Union Representatives were consulted during the drafting of these procedures.
Staff and managers were regularly trained in these procedures.
Resources were made available to support Employees making allegations of harassment.
All staff were aware of what unacceptable conduct was, and the consequences of acting in this manner.
Because of this the Court dismissed the Council from the claim.
To be able to use this defence Councils need to demonstrate that:
1. They have up to date policies and procedures that:
• Explain what harassment is.
• Set out how the Council will respond to complaints of harassment.
• State who to report allegations to.
• Describe what action will be taken against those responsible.
2. Ensure that all staff are engaged and consulted in the production of these policies and procedures.
3. Ensure all staff receive training and updates on an annual basis regarding the implementation of these policies and procedures.
4. Ensure managers are regularly trained in responding to allegations of harassment and supporting Employees who make such complaints.
5. Have clear, simple and accessible Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures to respond to allegations.
In the case of Leeds City Council, they have resources which many smaller Town and Parish Councils don’t have, such as Employee Assistance Programmes and professional counselling. However, that doesn’t exclude smaller Councils from using a Reasonable Steps defence. The key is to take steps that are appropriate to the size and resource capability of the organisation.
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
Whilst every care has been taken in compiling these notes, Personnel Advice and Solutions Ltd cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. These notes are intended to provide general information. Guidance for specific legal problems should be sought separately.
FURTHER FACT SHEETS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE: www.personneladviceandsolutions.co.uk
IMPORTANT: The information in this factsheet is for guidance only. Personnel Advice & Solutions Ltd cannot accept responsibility for the use of the information. It is not an authoritative statement of the law. You should always seek professional advice on a specific legal matter. Individual Personnel issues must always be addressed on their own merit.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Gathering interest in two-day RPII Operational Play Inspection training
Each year we arrange a one-day RPII Routine Play Inspection course (exam and non-exam options), which trains delegates in visual play equipment inspections. We have had enquiries about the two-day RPII Operational Play Inspection course, which leads to a certificate in operational play equipment inspections.
At this point we are identifying the costs of putting on such a course. For it to be viable we will need to have sufficient numbers and so we would like to gauge the possible level of interest. If you would be interested if we were able to arrange this course, please let us know. (Please note that there is no guarantee it will be viable for us to run this course).
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Nominations now open for NALC Star Council Awards 2025/26
The prestigious awards spotlight the remarkable people and councils making a real difference in their communities. Whether you're a parish or town council, councillor, county association or clerk, this is your chance to be recognised for your dedication, innovation, and impact.
For 2025/26, we're inviting entries across six inspiring categories:
Council of the Year
Councillor of the Year
Young Councillor of the Year
Climate Response of the Year
County Association of the Year
Clerk of the Year
The nomination period ends on 5 September 2025. The winners will be announced at NALC’s Parliamentary Reception in the House of Lords on 24 February 2026.
Thank you to our generous sponsors, Clear Councils Insurance, Blachere Illumination, CCLA, Cloudy IT, Civic.ly, Unity Trust Bank, and Utility Aid, for their invaluable support in making the awards possible.
Submit a nomination: https://tinyurl.com/bdydx8dr
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SLCC: Local Government Reorganisation – Statement 3 June 2025
The Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon, made a Written Ministerial Statement on Tuesday 3 June updating Parliament on the latest steps on Local Government Reorganisation.
The statement can be read in full here:
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-06-03/hcws676
The Ministerial Statement outlines the government’s ongoing commitment to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) across twenty-one ‘two-tier’ areas in England. The aim is to establish strong, sustainable unitary councils that are better equipped to lead communities, deliver services, and support devolution.
Key points for parish and town councils
Shift of power: The government is decentralising authority from Whitehall to local areas, empowering councils to lead on local priorities.
Proposal development contributions: Principal councils in each area will receive a base of £135,000 plus 20p per resident to support the development of final proposals. This funding is to be shared among up to three councils per area.
Shared evidence base: Councils are expected to collaborate and share data to underpin proposals. This includes financial sustainability, service delivery, and community outcomes.
Neighbourhood area committees: These are promoted as a key mechanism for community engagement, led by ward councillors and potentially including parish/town councillors and community representatives.
Community voice: LGR should enhance, not diminish, local engagement. Councils are encouraged to embed community participation into governance structures.
Planning and development: Councils must continue progressing local plans for housing and development, despite the demands of reorganisation.
Flexibility in structure: While a population of 500,000+ is a guiding principle for new unitaries, flexibility is allowed based on local context and rationale.
Support and guidance: The government, alongside the Local Government Association (LGA), is providing technical, financial, and advisory support to councils.
Proposals concerned with community-level governance
1. Neighbourhood area committees:
a. Proposed as the primary model for neighbourhood governance
b. Led by ward councillors, with potential inclusion of parish/town councillors and community organisation representatives
c. Intended to deepen localism and ensure community voices are heard in decision-making
2. Formal neighbourhood partnerships:
a. Encouraged as part of final proposals to demonstrate how councils will engage communities
b. Should be clearly outlined in submissions, including structure and membership
3. Community engagement expectations:
a. Councils must show how they have engaged with residents, especially where services may be disaggregated
b. Final proposals should reflect local views and demonstrate meaningful consultation
4. Support for new parish or town councils:
a. Areas considering the creation of new councils should assess funding implications carefully
b. While valued, parish/town councils are not substitutes for direct community engagement by principal authorities
5. Local identity and place-based governance:
a. Proposals should consider how new structures will preserve local identity and foster a sense of place
b. Efficiency savings must be balanced with maintaining strong local connections
6. Avoiding duplication:
a. Councils are advised to avoid creating new burdens or duplicating roles between unitary authorities and parish/town councils
See SLCC press release:
https://www.slcc.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/250604-Press-Release-LGR-Phase-Two.pdf
Both SLCC and NALC will be feeding back.
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Do you have a new Chair/Vice Chair?
Following the annual meetings of parish and town councils in May, you may now have a new Chair or Vice Chair in place. Please update your council’s records in the LALC portal. This will ensure that your Chair receives relevant mailings and will have the appropriate level of access to the portal. It also means that if your Vice Chair has to contact us in the event of the Chair’s absence, we know who we’re talking to.
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SLCC: The Government Consults on Changes to Biodiversity Net Gain
The government has published two related consultations proposing changes to the operation of biodiversity net gain (BNG) – both consultations close on 24 July 2025..
• The first looks at the implementation of BNG for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs). One of the main proposals is to delay its implementation for NSIPs for about six months until May 2026. Find out more: https://tinyurl.com/4b84949s
• The second consultation looks at the implementation of BNG for minor, medium and brownfield development and includes options aimed improving this. Find out more: https://tinyurl.com/mr3h6k2a
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SLCC: Local Government Reorganisation: Policy and Programme Updates
The government has updated its webpage containing a collection of news updates and supporting documents relating to the government’s ambitious programme of local government reorganisation in England: https://tinyurl.com/2k9jvyd9
Their latest updates include information on funding allocated to each of the 21 areas that have been invited to submit proposals for local government reorganisation, as well as a summary of the feedback provided to them on their interim plans.
Keep an eye out for future updates.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
NALC: Bus Services (No. 2) Bill debated
The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill was debated on 2 June 2025 at the Second Reading and has now been sent to a Public Bill Committee, which will scrutinise it. It is expected to be reported to the House of Commons by 8 July 2024. Transport Select Committee member Olly Glover MP stated that in April, the committee visited Ireland to understand the reasons for a significant increase in rural bus patronage, which increased fivefold between 2022 and 2024. This was achieved through increased public funding and by engaging communities, particularly the local equivalents of parish and town councils, in the design of routes. Several other MPs, including those we have briefed, directly highlighted our points on poor rural bus connectivity, reliance on buses in rural areas on buses by non-drivers, increased rural isolation and the need for a powerful injection of demand-responsive transport in isolated places.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
SLCC: Government Publishes Response to Local Government Pension Scheme (England and Wales): Fit for the Future Consultation
In July 2024, the government launched a landmark Pensions Review of workplace defined contribution pension schemes and the LGPS. In November 2024, they launched a consultation on proposals to reform the LGPS and ‘put it on a clearer, firmer trajectory to scale and consolidation.’
The consultation included proposals in three areas, namely reforming asset pooling, boosting investment in local areas and regions of the UK, and strengthening the governance of LGPS AAs and LGPS pools.
The government has now published its response to the consultation, setting out its final policy measures on pooling, local investment, fund governance, and pool governance.
Read their full response here: https://tinyurl.com/45tw337v
LALC are aware that some parish and town council staff may be in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
SLCC update planning guidance in their advice library
SLCC have reviewed and updated (where appropriate) all planning guidance notes in the SLCC Advice Library to ensure they reflect the latest national planning policy, guidance and requirements. Recent months have seen a lot of changes in government planning policy, especially in England.
Please note this information is only available to SLCC members.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰