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 should be circulated to all councillors. This eNews can also be found on the LALC website under News.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
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.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Vacancy advertising
|
Position |
Closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk |
16th August 2024 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
30th July 2024 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
31st August 2024 |
|
|
Operations Manager |
23rd August 2024 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Assistant Parish Clerk |
6th September 2024 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
16th September 2024 |
|
|
RFO |
13th September 2024 |
|
|
Clerk/RFO |
No closing date |
|
|
Clerk |
10th September 2024 |
|
|
Facilities Cleaner |
22nd September 2024 |
|
|
Estates Maintenance Operative |
4th October 2024 |
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: https://www.nalc.gov.uk/news
To see the latest SLCC news: https://www.slcc.co.uk/news-publications/
(No login is required).
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Save the date – Clerks Networking and SLCC Lincs branch AGM
26th November, Welbourn Village Hall, full day.
Featuring Joe Rusell from Complete Communities – “Beyond Ideas: Tips for writing engaging plans and strategies”.
This session focusses on finding ways to make public sector documents engaging and readable for residents and businesses.
Further speakers and partner attendees to be announced soon.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Save the date - ‘Health & Safety Awareness and Risk Assessments for Councils’
When: 29th October, full day
Where: Kirton in Lindsey Town Hall
This event is suitable for clerks and councillors and is being run in conjunction with our colleagues at ERNLLCA (East Riding and Northern Lincolnshire Local Councils Association), and will be delivered by Worknest, our H&S partner.
The session will consist of a half day on ‘Health & Safety Awareness’ followed by half day group workshops where delegates will produce their own Risk Assessments.
Full details will be announced soon.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
New CiLCA dates for 2025 announced
Wednesday 29 January – Introduction to CILCA and LO1, LALC Office, 1pm – 4pm
Wednesday 26th February Day 1 – Zoom, 10am – 1pm
Wednesday 26th March Day 2 – Zoom, 10am – 1pm
Wednesday 23rd April Day 3 – Zoom, 10am – 1pm
Wednesday 4th June Day 4 – Zoom, 10am – 1pm
Places can be booked via the portal (login required).
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Recent LALC Planning events
During the face-to-face Planning and Neighbourhood Planning training events held on 4th September with planning expert, Andrew Towlerton, questions were asked as to whether the Government intended to continue Neighbourhood Plans. The latest news is that the Government is supportive of local planning and design codes where communities have worked on what they want to see develop in their local areas so there is value in continuing to keep your local plans up to date.
NALC confirmed on 30th August that the formerly named Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has extended the programme, aiming to empower communities to shape their local development and growth.
Eligible groups can apply for grants of up to £10,000. These funds can be used to cover various costs associated with neighbourhood planning, including community engagement activities, consultancy fees, and evidence gathering.
Additionally, technical support package is available for groups facing more complex planning challenges.
It is important to note that all grant funds must be utilised by 31 March 2025. Local councils are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this vital funding before the application window closes.
Further information is available at https://neighbourhoodplanning.org/
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
LALC Extraordinary General Meeting – 12th September
The LALC EGM takes place via Zoom at 6:30pm on Thursday 12th September. The agenda and previous minutes have been issued to all councils.
The EGM will also feature Andrew Towlerton (of Andrew Towlerton Associates and SLCC's National Planning Advisor) who will deliver a short 30-minute presentation (with Q&A) on the government's proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
The new Government’s National Planning Policy Framework and other planning changes consultation closes 11.45pm on 24th September.
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83438112664?pwd=MWY5dVMvd3JsSjBPOCt5MFl0cEhTUT09
Meeting ID 834 3811 2664
Passcode 906456
Could attendees please ensure that their council’s name is clearly identified – this makes it easier for us to determine whether we have achieved the requisite number of councils represented for the meeting to be quorate.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Employment law briefing – 10th October
September 2024 sees the introduction of new statutory obligations for Councils to prevent sexual harassment of their employees. Furthermore, October will see the introduction of new entitlements for locums and other staff working on fixed term contracts, to request that the contract be extended for a longer period or made permanent.
To enable councils to respond to these new entitlements, as well as bring them up to date with new employment laws that are planned for 2025, Chris Moses will be conducting a 1 hour Zoom meeting to provide members with the information they need to know.
When: Thursday 10th October 2024, 10:00 – 11:00
Please note that this training will use a Zoom link provided by Chris and not the usual LALC Zoom link. The link will be sent out in advance of the training.
Please book via the LALC portal in the usual way.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Webinar: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace - complying with the new statutory duty
From 26 October 2024, a new statutory duty will require employers to prevent sexual harassment at work, based on the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s guidance. With this deadline approaching, it’s essential for employers to understand and comply with these requirements to safeguard employees and avoid liability.
Watch this free 60-minute on-demand recording from WorkNest to learn how to prepare for this upcoming change.
Watch on-demand:
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
COUNCIL NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2024
Council’s New Duty to Prevent Sexual Harassment
From October 2024 new legislation (s40A Equality Act 2010) places greater responsibilities and legal requirements on Councils, along with all Employers, to take proactive steps to prevent Sexual Harassment at work.
Councils will need to take steps to demonstrate that they are preventing the problem. This doesn’t simply mean having an up-to-date Policy and Procedure, but actively taking steps to reduce the risk of harassment. However, the starting point needs to be for the Full Council, or a Committee with delegated responsibility for HR affairs, to ensure that the Council’s procedures are fit for purpose.
Current guidance on the ACAS Website (Preventing sexual harassment - Sexual harassment - Acas) sets out the following requirements for the Councils’ Anti-Harassment policies and procedure to follow:
1. The policy should provide a range of options for reporting sexual harassment, depending on who the person who has been subject to harassment feels comfortable with.
2. The policy should provide a range of informal options for dealing with sexual harassment.
3. The policy should contain a formal complaints procedure for the Employee to use if they wish.
4. The formal procedure should allow Union representation.
5. The procedure should be clear about when disciplinary action might be needed.
6. The procedure should have one investigation to investigate the complaint and any subsequent disciplinary action.
7. The policy should contain details of help and support available to the person who made the complaint.
8. Someone who's been sexually harassed will be given paid time off to get help with any resulting physical or mental health problems.
In addition, specific guidance notes have been developed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission for all Employers. In terms of how they apply to Town and Parish Councils, the following need to be taken into consideration:
• The Full Council, or a Committee with delegated responsibility, will need to review existing procedures, including defining what constitutes harassment, steps to take should the problem arise, protection the Council will provide to those reporting it, and sanctions against offenders. As a result, a Policy and Procedure that is specific to the needs of the Council should be drafted.
• Staff should be consulted on the draft policy and procedure, to get their suggested adjustments, as well as commitment to the document. If the Council has a collective bargaining arrangement with one or more Union, they too should be consulted as part of the process of updating procedures.
• The procedure should be issued to Councillors, staff and displayed in public areas.
• All Councillors and staff should either attend a briefing session regarding how the new/updated policy and procedure works, or be required to read the document and sign it to confirm that they understand and will comply with it.
• This will need to be repeated on an annual basis to ensure that the training doesn’t become outdated. Provision of annual training would enable a Council to demonstrate that it has taken reasonable steps to prevent the problem. This can provide the Council with a valuable defence if it has to defend a claim of Sexual Harassment at the Employment Tribunal.
• The Policy and Procedure should include a simple and user-friendly reporting process should problems occur, as well as set out what action will be taken against offenders. For example, Employees who are found to have committed acts of Sexual Harassment would be accused of Gross Misconduct.
• Elected Members who are accused of Sexual Harassment may have breached the Integrity Standard of the Code of Conduct. In these circumstances the Council could report the problem to the District Monitoring Officer, asking for the matter to be addressed promptly and without undue delay.
All Councillors and Employees of the Council should be fully aware of the Policy and Procedure and understand how it can be implemented.
It is important to ensure that procedures, and the way that they are implemented, are appropriate to the size of the Council and its resources. There is no point in developing elaborate procedures that are simply unworkable. There are no particular criteria or minimum standards for Councils when implementing their anti-harassment procedures. They must be practical and, most importantly, are workable for the size of the Council and its workforce.
From October 2024 Councils could face a surcharge of 25% on top of any compensation awarded to an Employee who successfully makes a claim of Sexual Harassment at an Employment Tribunal, if a Council cannot demonstrate how they have complied with the new rules.
However, those Council’s that have taken all ‘reasonable steps’ to implement workable procedures will have a defence against claims at the Tribunal for Sexual Harassment, under s109 of the Equality Act 2010.
The Government Drops the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023.
We reported in October 2023 that the above legislation would come into effect in September 2024. However in a last minute decision, the new legislation has been dropped.
The purpose of the Act was to create a more secure work environment for people on Zero Hours contracts, as well as Fixed Term contracts of 12 months or less. It was expected to enable locums and casual staff to request:
1. Regular hours.
2. Regular days.
3. If they are engaged on a fixed term contract of 12 months or less, they can request that the contract be extended for a longer period or made permanent.
In a statement from the Department of Business and Trade the Govt plans to combine this legislation into a forthcoming Employment Bill, which will include a whole raft of new entitlements. It appears that, rather than muddy the waters by having two separate legal mechanisms for requesting predictable working hours, the government has decided to ignore the one it inherited and move forward with new legislation.
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
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Would you be interested in IOSHH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) Safety training?
LALC are currently gathering expressions of interest for this in-person 1-day certified “Safety for Executives & Directors (SED)” training, delivered by our partners, Worknest. There will be a maximum of 20 places available, on a first come, first served basis.
If there are sufficient levels of interest, we would be looking to arrange this training for some time between February – July 2025.
The approximate cost will be £100 - £125.
Please register your expression of interest by booking on the new event via the portal.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Office for Place mini conference on urban design and placemaking
The Office for Place will be holding an online mini conference on 18 September from 10am-12pm. Called Places at Pace, the conference will look at how urban design and placemaking can contribute to economic and social outcomes, champion the benefits of raising place quality, and how the different organisations involved in the planning system can effectively work together to deliver better homes and places. Sessions at the event will cover good placemaking, the benefits of design codes, creating sustainable neighbourhoods, the opportunities of digital and data, and the role of the Office for Place and local government.
This event is free to attend and open to all.
Anyone interested in attending can register here: https://tinyurl.com/bp6ur4y5
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
NALC announces new website launch date
NALC is excited to announce the official launch date of our new and improved website! On 7 October 2024, we will unveil a fresh online experience designed with local (parish and town) councils and county associations in mind.
This new platform is faster, more intuitive, and has features tailored to meet your needs. From streamlined navigation to enhanced resources, our new website is built to offer you seamless access to everything you need. Whether browsing on your desktop, phone, or tablet, you'll love the new look and feel.
What to expect:
• Improved user experience — Tailored experiences allow users to manage their preferences, creating a more engaging and relevant interaction.
• Modern design — A sleek and user-friendly interface that considers accessibility needs and is DDA compliant.
• Enhanced content — Access to the latest information, updates and resources.
• Better search function — Users can quickly find specific content without browsing multiple pages, making it more efficient.
• Navigation — Intuitive structure so users can easily predict where to find information.
• Mobile-friendly — Responsive and optimised for browsing on any device.
Local councils, councillors, clerks, and council staff can create their website accounts on 7 October 2024, giving them exclusive access to member benefits such as advice notes, publications, support information, and campaign resources. The countdown has begun, so mark your calendars and prepare for this exciting journey!
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Civility & Respect newsletter
The latest Civility & Respect newsletter can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/bddubkrp
Key highlights:
• The Improvement and Development Board (IDB) now oversees Civility & Respect as one of its key improvement initiatives.
• An IDB Intervention Taskforce has been established. This will be working on recommendations to deal with ‘critical impact’ scenarios (defined as including resignations of multiple councillors and employees; repeated significant expense to settle employment disputes; career changing impact for employees; councils unable to recruit and replace officers or retain them; reputation risk for council within the region and potentially on a national scale).
• A Civility & Respect taskforce has established the following priorities:
o Review of the Civility & Respect pledge and how it could be improved/promoted
o Developing tools and measures for self-improvement
o Exploring how monitoring officers’ advice, guidance and decisions could be improved and made more consistent
• 1571 councils have now signed the Civility & Respect pledge.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
NALC gears up for 80th anniversary of VE-Day with county association officers
NALC met with county association officers, where plans for the upcoming 80th anniversary of VE-Day were a key focus.
The meeting featured a special briefing from Bruno Peek CVO OBE OPR, the distinguished pageant master renowned for his leadership in national commemorations. Mr Peek provided an in-depth overview of next year's VE-Day events, emphasising the importance of local (parish and town) councils in leading these significant commemorations.
Building on the success of this year's D-Day anniversary events, where many local councils played a pivotal role in organising community celebrations, Mr Peek urged councils to take the lead once again in 2025. He highlighted the unique opportunity for communities to come together and honour this historic milestone, reinforcing the importance of local engagement in national celebrations.
In addition to the VE-Day plans, the meeting also offered attendees a detailed update on the ongoing development of NALC's new website. The discussion centred on the strategic communications plan for the website's launch, with a particular focus on how county associations can support and enhance the rollout. Attendees were briefed on ways to leverage the new platform to better engage with councils and communities, ensuring a smooth transition and effective use of the new digital tools.
Find out more about VE-Day: https://www.veday80.org.uk/
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
SLCC & NALC Meeting – 23 August
SLCC and the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) senior officers including Adam Keppel-Green FSLCC, SLCC chair, and Keith Stevens, NALC chair, held their latest catch-up meeting on 23 August. We discussed working together to support councils, clerks and councillors and promoting the sector with government and principal authorities. A key focus would be developing the sector’s role in promoting community safety and cohesion. The new government has committed to introducing Martyn’s Law and we noted that good joint working was already in place with valuable input and expertise provided by Helen Ball FSLCC, SLCC Vice-Chair and Director. We also covered the joint Improvement and Development Board (IDB) workstreams, promoting the sector’s role in climate change and nature recovery, and plans for our joint stand at the forthcoming Local Government Association (LGA) conference.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
NALC blog: Are you covered if your home or business premises are damaged during a riot?
Author: Lee Cleaver, client account executive at Clear Councils Insurance
Rioting and civil unrest are relatively uncommon in this country. However, when violent disorder does occur, it can significantly affect communities, businesses, and individuals. Moreover, the insurance consequences of these events are substantial and can impact everything from property damage to business interruption.
What defines a riot?
A riot is usually defined as a violent disturbance by a crowd, often involving vandalism, looting, arson, and other forms of property damage.
Insurance definitions may vary, but unless stated otherwise, insurers will typically use the technical legal definition outlined in the Public Order Act 1986. According to this definition, at least 12 people need to be involved for the offence to be classified as a riot.
Read the full blog: https://tinyurl.com/5bucxfh
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
NALC and the LGA launch a joint online event on democracy in action
NALC and the Local Government Association (LGA) have added a new online event on democracy in action, which takes place on 13 November 2024. The event will explore promoting the idea of standing for election as a local (parish, town and community) and principal authority (district, county, borough or unitary) councillor at the May 2025 local council elections. A diverse panel of experts will share their insights, experience, and advice. Join us to ask questions and engage in discussions with representatives from areas which held local council elections in May 2024 and elsewhere to find out how you can change your place for good.
Find out more: https://tinyurl.com/3j4kj37b
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
NALC blog: Has hyperlocalism’s time come?
Author: Jonathan Owen, chief executive, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC)
It is good to see some long overdue consideration of devolution beyond regions and mayors to the hyperlocal level.
An editorial in the Guardian newspaper recently expressed its view on hyperlocalism that communities needed more oomph. Reflecting on the 10th anniversary of the setting up of London’s only community council in Queen’s Park, it noted that the recent riots make the promotion of cohesion and inclusion at neighbourhood level all the more urgent. “Believers in democracy should take seriously the ambitions of those seeking to shift the levers of power over local services, closer to the communities that rely on them.”
A recent report by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) on the future of hyperlocal governance concluded “Hyperlocal governance has huge potential. It can give people a greater say in their areas, helping them determine and deliver what is needed in their neighbourhoods, and bring social benefits to communities as well.”
Read the full blog: https://tinyurl.com/2w9y5xt2
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
NALC updates HR templates
NALC has unveiled a newly updated suite of template HR policies. The templates form part of an extensive range of HR guidance and support, including how-to guides, a template contract of employment, The Good Councillor's Guide to Employment, and additional resources to support local (parish and town) councils all available through LALC. These materials are exclusive to LALC members and designed to help councils become better employers by guiding legal duties and best practices.
Significant updates include changes to the paternity leave policy and flexible work policy to reflect recent legislative changes. A new compassionate leave policy has been added, which gives councils the option to offer paid or unpaid leave in certain circumstances, such as bereavement. Councils are encouraged to adapt these templates based on their specific needs. Additionally, councils should ensure their policies align with their delegation or standing order schemes.
All LALC member councils can access the new and updated templates through the LALC portal in Document Templates under the ‘Employment’ category and search for ‘2024’ for the updated versions. The updated policies are Annual Leave Policy, Antibullying and Harassment Policy, Carers Policy, Disciplinary Policy, Emergency / Dependants Leave, Expenses Policy for Employees, Flexible Working Policy, Grievance Policy, Homeworking Policy, Information Technology Policy Guidelines, Lone Working Policy, Maternity Leave and Pay Policy, Paternity Leave and Pay Policy, Performance Improvement Policy and Procedure, Sickness Policy, Social Media Policy Guidelines, Training and Development for Staff Policy and Whistleblowing Policy.
NALC produced these templates in collaboration with employment law, HR, and health and safety services partner, WorkNest. Watch the video with NALC and WorkNest, which discusses these human resources templates and provides further information on what updates have taken place at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpBHdN21Xjg
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
NALC meeting with Home Office on Martyn’s Law
On 27 August 2024, representatives from NALC, along with colleagues from the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC), met with officials from the Home Office to provide a mutual progress update since the Draft Terrorism (Protection of Terrorism) Bill (Martyn’s Law) was included in the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024. Officials were not at liberty to provide too many details, as the latest version of the bill is being cleared pre-publication across departments. However, they hope that this is a cross-government priority and that the bill will be published in coming months and will keep in close touch with us on progress. Both NALC and SLCC agreed to continue promoting good practice in anti-terrorism activities local councils can make between now and when the bill comes into force. One of these is the ACT training course on the Protect UK website which has recently been updated, so even if people have taken the old course, a refresher is recommended. They have also created an ACT Education training package, which might be beneficial for those who have youth sessions. Also, the anti-terrorism good practice will feature in our emergency planning online event on 23 October 2024, and the SLCC will be promoting anti-terrorism good practice at their October conference.
ACT e-learning training: https://tinyurl.com/36927t9v
Emergency planning event 23/10/24: https://tinyurl.com/4u3htc2u
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Updates to Good Councillor’s Guide to Finance and Transparency
This guide is currently being updated by Howard Midworth, former chief executive of Smaller Authorities’ Audits Appointments (SAAA), and is expected to be published by the end of the year.
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
NALC blog: Great British Beach Clean
This week’s blog is from the Marine Conservation Society and encourages councils to join this year’s Great British Beach Clean from Friday 20 to Sunday 29 September 2024 and help make a difference! Last year, Marine Conservation Society volunteers removed over 17,000 kg of litter from across the UK and Channel Islands, revealing alarming levels of plastic pollution. This year, you can contribute to a vital global effort to combat plastic pollution where your participation will support crucial data collection and drive policy changes for a cleaner, better protected, and healthier ocean.
Read the blog: https://tinyurl.com/57c344e2
Lincolnshire beach cleans:
• Anderby Creek (21 September)
• Sandilands (21 September)
• Gibraltar Point (22 September)
• Skegness Aquarium (29 September)
• Skegness North/Winthorpe 29 September
• Skegness North beach 29 September
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
Upcoming NALC National Networks
The National Network for Women Councillors will take place on 11 September. Katie McSherry, project manager at ElectHer, will join the network to deliver a presentation on the assistance ElectHer can provide for women councillors. And the National Network for Super Councils, which includes the largest local councils with an annual precept of over £1 million or an annual turnover of over £1.5 million, will take place on 12 September. This session will discuss how local councils can generate income from sources other than precepts and hear from Phillip Clifford, senior advisor at the LGA, about the LGA’s Local Government White Paper.
Find out more about NALC’s national networks: https://tinyurl.com/58yb7m8k
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
UK Launches First ‘Play Safety Week’ Awareness Campaign
The leading global body for play equipment safety, the Register of Play Inspectors International (RPII) is launching the UK’s first Play Safety Week on Monday 9 September. Play Safety Week has been created to drive awareness and education in play safety at a time when many children will be returning back to school and using school equipment and also utilising play equipment on their walk and return from school.
Play is a fundamental part of children’s development and is crucial for physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. Through play, children learn essential life skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and communication, which are vital for success later in life. In today’s tech focussed world, play is even more important for children to switch off from the digital world and express themselves freely.
Read more: https://www.slcc.co.uk/uk-launches-first-play-safety-week-awareness-campaign-next-week/
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰
News Roundup
Here are a few stories to share from outside Lincolnshire that might warn, inspire and show that there is always much to learn from the 10,000 parish and town councils across England and Wales.
• Birchington Parish Council opposes 1600 new homes - https://tinyurl.com/y7e8j9m6
• Wonston Parish Council opposes 120 homes - https://tinyurl.com/2hve89y7
• Shenley Brook End and Tattenhoe Parish Council blades warning - https://tinyurl.com/ycky662d
• Rendlesham Parish Council offers free Wi-Fi for village - https://tinyurl.com/yc3te4xe
• Newport Town Council library takeover successful - https://tinyurl.com/4bf8wjyf
• Matlock Bath Parish Council calls on visitors to support travellers site closure - https://tinyurl.com/2zmd4zt8
• Warwickshire County Council refreshes local Council Charter - https://tinyurl.com/44s8pbu8
• Downham Town Council debates ASB and speeding - https://tinyurl.com/4cpmecfy
• Porlock Parish Council moves from toxicity to civility in under two years - https://tinyurl.com/3zd3psje
• Greasley Parish Council fights abolition plans - https://tinyurl.com/5dnnp2rf
• North Lincs Community Governance Review consultation underway - https://tinyurl.com/3r5wywuu
• Ryde Town Council launch community cookery classes - https://tinyurl.com/5n6awfvu
• Carbon Literacy Training in South Norfolk and Broadland - https://tinyurl.com/mz7dzmzj
• Community consultation on 20MPH speed limits - https://tinyurl.com/ye36a7u8
• Burnham and Highbridge Town Council issues cemetery tributes apology - https://tinyurl.com/2e49k9ht
• Newby and Scalby Parish Council could be disbanded following public poll - https://tinyurl.com/4yxee4bz
꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰ ꙰꙰