LALC eNews 23rd February 2024

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 should be circulated to all councillors. This eNews can also be found on the LALC website under News.

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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 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.

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Current vacancies

Position

Closing date

Edenham Parish Council

Clerk/RFO

No closing date

Addlethorpe Parish Council

Clerk/RFO

11th September 2023

Baston Parish Council

Clerk/RFO

30th November 2023

Stubton Parish Council

Clerk/RFO

18th November 2023

Bicker Parish Council

Clerk/RFO

31st January 2024

Skidbrooke-cum-Saltfleet Parish Council

Clerk/RFO

15th February 2024

Barkston & Syston Parish Council

Clerk/RFO

16th February 2024

North Kelsey Parish Council

Clerk/RFO

12th February 2024

Gedney Hill Parish Council

Clerk/RFO

29th February 2024

Stamford Town Council

Chief Executive Officer (Clerk/RFO)

16th February 2024

Stamford Town Council

Communications & Engagement Officer

16th February 2024

Hemswell Cliff Parish Council

Clerk/RFO

23rd February 2024

Friskney Parish Council

Cemetery Caretaker

29th February 2024

Immingham Town Council

Assistant Town Clerk

16th February 2024

Farnsfield Parish Council (Nottinghamshire)

Locum Clerk/RFO

12th April 2024


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, costing £60, which ensures that your advert also appears on Lincolnshire County Council’s website, Facebook, and LinkedIn (in addition to the LALC website and eNews). 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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Upcoming training – places still available

End Of Year & Audit Processes Briefing – 27th February, 13:00 – 16:00, Welbourn Village Hall

See the latest Training Bulletin for course details. Book your place via the portal (login required).

We have had a cancellation for the Play Areas – Routine Inspectors Course on 13th March (9:30 – 16:00) at Washingborough. There is one place available on a first come, first served basis. Please book via the portal (login required) and select either the exam or non-exam option. 

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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).

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Local councils can now apply for a free portrait of His Majesty The King

NALC and the Cabinet Office can confirm that local (parish and town) councils can now apply for a free portrait of His Majesty The King.

The accession of His Majesty The King marked a new chapter in the national story. A new Reign means new national symbols, such as the face on stamps, coins, and banknotes, gradually changing from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III. 

Portraits of past Monarchs also hang in public buildings across the United Kingdom, from local council offices and town halls to 10 Downing Street. They are a visible reminder of the institutions that unite our United Kingdom.

To celebrate the new reign of His Majesty The King, the Cabinet Office announced a government-funded voluntary scheme throughout the United Kingdom to allow public authorities to apply for a free, framed portrait.

The scheme was launched on 14 November 2023 and is now open for applications from parish, town, and community councils.

If your council falls within the scope of this voluntary scheme, you can view the image and apply for one free framed portrait per council:

https://tpc-portraitscheme.cubiquityonline.com/login?returnUrl=https%3a%2f%2ftpc-portraitscheme.cubiquityonline.com%2f

Once your registration has been accepted, you can place an order and provide delivery details. The closing date for applications is 28 March 2024. 

Please refer to the FAQs for specific questions about the portrait and the scheme:

https://tpc-portraitscheme.cubiquityonline.com/t/FAQs

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Parish Council Liaison Meeting – parishes in the Boston Borough Council area

The next Parish Council Liaison meeting will take place on Wednesday 17th April, 2024, commencing at 7 p.m. in the Committee Room at the Municipal Buildings West Street, Boston. 

Two representatives from each Parish Council are invited to attend.  Once you know the names of the people attending could you please let me know?

On arrival at the offices, please go to the entrance at the rear of the Buildings in the car park where you will be greeted and escorted to the Committee Room or contact Nichola Holderness on 07570 792951 who will escort you to the room. 

Please do let me know if you would like anything specific on the Agenda for discussion, which will be circulated nearer the time.

Karen Stengel

Health & Wellbeing Partnerships Officer - Boston Borough Council

Karen.stengel@boston.gov.uk

07539289247

http://www.boston.gov.uk| www.selcp.co.uk

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LALC portal – updating organisation details

There is an issue at the moment which prevents clerks updating your organisation details. This is currently being looked at by Junari. In the meantime, please let us know of any changes required to the organisation record and we’ll update it for you.

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Proposed changes to national planning rules for brownfield sites

The government has announced proposed changes to national planning rules for brownfield sites and has opened a consultation for views.

The changes include proposals that will “make clear that when considering planning applications, local planning authorities should give significant weight to the benefits of delivering as many homes as possible, especially where this involves land which is previously developed”.

This consultation will begin on 13 February 2024 and close at 11.45pm on 26 March 2024.

Consultation: http://tinyurl.com/c438rbc4

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Consultation on changes to various permitted development rights

The government has announced a consultation on changes to Permitted Development Rights, which, amongst other things, would allow for the alteration, extension and, to a lesser extent, the construction of certain buildings without requiring planning permission as well as relax restrictions on the siting and size of electric vehicle charging points and air source heat pumps.

This consultation will last for 8 weeks from 13 February 2024 to 9 April 2024.

Consultation: http://tinyurl.com/2bm33s65

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Biodiversity Net Gain requirements

In England, the new Biodiversity Net Gain requirements in the planning process came into effect this week.

Biodiversity net gain is a way of creating and improving biodiversity by requiring development to have a positive impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity.

In England, biodiversity net gain is required under a statutory framework introduced by Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (inserted by the Environment Act 2021). This statutory framework is referred to as ‘biodiversity net gain’ in Planning Practice Guidance to distinguish it from other or more general biodiversity gains.

Find out more: http://tinyurl.com/8ypfd8sz

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£3 billion affordable housing boost to deliver 20,000 new homes

The government has announced further financial support for the provision of affordable homes.

20,000 new affordable homes will be built across the country due to a £3 billion increase in a government-backed loan fund which opened 12 February 2024.

The Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme 2020 provides low-cost, flexible and long-term loans to help fund investment in new and existing affordable homes across England, including those for social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership.

As part of the scheme, providers will be able to apply for loans to help make homes fit for the future. These energy upgrades, such as solar panels, could potentially save tenants hundreds of pounds on their energy.

More information: http://tinyurl.com/cvat8mc4

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Local government finance settlement 2024-2025

The final local government finance settlement 2024 to 2025 was approved by the House of Commons following a debate in Parliament on 5 February 2024. The settlement confirms the exclusion of local councils from referendum principles for another year. In the NALC response to the consultation on the provisional settlement last month, we had advocated for either a permanent exemption for local councils from referendum principles or exemption as part of a three-year deal. This request for a multiyear deal was echoed during the debate by shadow local government minister Jim McMahon MP, who called out the government for not putting forward a sustained multi-year finance settlement. Also, during the debate, the MP for Loughborough, Jane Hunt MP, thanked councils including local councils in her constituency for all the work they are doing. 

The full collection of documents relating to the finance settlement can be found here:

http://tinyurl.com/2x6auy32

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SLCC issue updates to Operation London Bridge notes

SLCC have issued an update to their Operation London Bridge advisory documents.  Please note that this is an interim update until such time new guidance has been received from the Civic Protocol Advisor.

SLCC Login required.

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D-Day 80 – Official Flag of Peace

An official D-Day 80 Flag of Peace has now been announced. The flag is available in various sizes, with the largest being 9’ x 4’6” and smallest at 3’ x 2’. You can choose either a traditional rope and toggle fitting or an eyelet fitting.


Further details: https://newtonnewtonflags.com/product/the-d-day-80-flag-of-peace/

Each order will be dispatched with a Certificate of Grateful Recognition for taking part in D-Day on 6th June 2024. It is recommended that the flag is flown from 9:00am on 6th June and it can be left flying for one week if desired.

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Reminder – NALC Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS) consultation

As part of continued improvements to the scheme and a commitment to raising standards in local councils, NACL are seeking views on improving the criteria and guidance for the scheme. The current criteria covers areas such as good governance, electoral mandate, training, community engagement and leadership. We want clerks, councillors, county associations, other interested parties, and those already involved with the scheme, to put forward ideas and suggestions by taking part in the consultation. Your views will then help inform our improvements moving forward. 

LCAS Consultation 2024 survey: http://tinyurl.com/3dfk2ve9

Closing date: Friday 29 March. 

Further information on the scheme, including the guide, can be found on the scheme webpage, or if you have any queries, contact Lisa Etchell, projects officer at LocalCouncilAwardScheme@nalc.gov.uk.

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NALC publishes a briefing on council email addresses and password security

The briefing is designed to help local (parish and town) councils better understand how to protect emails, password security and the benefits of having a gov.uk domain name.

NALC recommends that councils adopt a gov.uk domain name to improve professionalism within the sector and better manage information within the council. The briefing highlights the main advantages of this approach for councillors, clerks, and the public.

The briefing has been published as a response to requests for more information on how best to manage domain names. It comes at a time when many organisations, whether small or large, are more at risk of security breaches, which this briefing helps to address.

NALC is working closely with the government's Parish Council Domains Helper Service to promote the benefits of gov.uk domain names and to understand better how adopting gov.uk domain names can be made more straightforward.

The briefing also includes good practices in managing passwords and email security, which will help stop potential data breaches and ensure that emails are kept confidential and only accessed by the appropriate person.

Read the briefing: https://www.nalc.gov.uk/library/publications/4034-briefing-on-council-email-addresses/file

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Upcoming NALC event: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of social media in the local council sector

28 February 2024 — 12.00 – 13.15

Social media can be a powerful tool for local (parish and town) councils to engage with their communities, but it can also be a source of conflict and negativity. This event will explore the benefits and drawbacks of social media use in the sector and provide guidance on how to use it effectively and responsibly.

Join us for a candid discussion on the dos and don’ts of social media in the local council sector. We'll explore case studies and best practices and provide actionable advice on creating a social media policy that promotes civility and respect. Whether you're a seasoned social media user or just getting started, this event is a must-attend for anyone who wants to use social media to build stronger communities.

Speakers: Louise Bareham (Faversham Town Council), Nicky Old (Local Government Association) and Daniel Purchese (Breakthrough Communications).

Book here: http://tinyurl.com/6kuv2x74

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Free Desks Available

Serco are currently moving properties and will soon have around 60 – 100 desks surplus to requirements as they transition into a new property. They would like to give these to community groups and charities at cost free.

These would need collection from Thomas Parker House offices on Silver Street in Lincoln. These will need to be moved by yourselves and Serco can arrange access for collection and parking.

The length is 120cm, width at the long end is 100cm and 80cm at the shorter end. They stand 74cm tall.

Interested? Contact Chris Simm, Social Value Lead at Serco, on christopher.simm@serco.com to make arrangements.

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Nominations needed to attend Royal Garden Parties

Nominations are now being taken for deserved individuals to attend one of the annual Royal Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace, which this year take place on 8th and 21st May. Nominations will need to be in for this year by the end of February but are open throughout the year for upcoming parties in 2025.

Nominees must not have attended a garden party before and must be over the age of 18 and would be invited to take one guest to accompany them.

This is the time to capture the County’s unsung heroes and we have at least 10 spaces available for this year and all nominations would need to be submitted by the end of the month.

Nominations need to consist of the contact details of the person (Name, Address, Telephone Number, Email) and a short paragraph giving the reason for the nomination. 

Download the application form here: http://tinyurl.com/vku5277w

Completed forms should be returned to Rachel Wallis, Civic & Lord-Lieutenant’s Officer at lieutenancy@lincolnshire.gov.uk

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The campaign for this year’s The Big Lunch (1-2 June) has begun! 

The Big Lunch – which many local councils have been supporting for several years – helps create safer neighbourhoods and addresses social isolation. By bringing people together over shared meals, this initiative plays a crucial role in strengthening social bonds, promoting a sense of belonging, and enhancing civic pride within local communities. 1 in 5 of the UK population took part last year and local councils are once encouraged to get involved. 

The Eden Project will be hosting a free webinar on 26 February 2023 at 1 pm, offering guidance on how councils can support the Big Lunch campaign and their communities. More information on the webinar and how to register can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/27ecured

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I Dig Trees – free trees available

Join I Dig Trees and be a part of something phenomenal.

Together, we’re taking positive action - planting millions of trees for climate, wildlife and communities!

But this movement has only just begun, and we need YOU to take part. Order your free trees from The Conservation Volunteers today and get planting in your community. Tackle climate change with our carbon-busting trees, plant a pocket forest - create havens for wildlife, and green up your local environment for generations to enjoy.

The right trees for the right places. Grown in the UK, our native tree packs have been carefully selected with communities and nature in mind. Trees to suit your needs, that provide maximum benefit for our cherished green spaces and the wildlife within. There’s a pack for you! Think about what might matter to your local community. More pollinators? Amenity woodland? A pocket forest in your neighbourhood? Have a look at the options below to find a solution and place your order.

Our trees are intended for everyone to benefit, so all trees supplied by I Dig Trees must be planted on publicly accessible land and not on private domestic property.

More information: https://www.tcv.org.uk/i-dig-trees-free-trees/

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PIALC qualification is officially endorsed

The Principles of Internal Auditing Local Councils (PIALC) qualification has received official endorsement from the national awarding body, Ascentis. This is an online sector specific learning tool designed to establish a more regulated and standardised process for internal auditing within local councils. 

The course is currently due to launch (via SLCC) in April.

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Parish UK website

LALC would like to reiterate previous advice given last year to treat this website with caution. This is not a gov.uk initiative, as it seems to purport to be. We strongly advise that all parishes should steer well clear of this website and organisation. 

Parish.UK was covered in a BBC Radio 4 program in May 2023 which raised a number of significant concerns about the website so the advice to all is to ignore it.

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Martyn's Law Steering Group  

The NALC/SLCC Martyn’s Law Steering Group held its latest online meeting on 9 February 2024 to progress sector activity regarding the Draft Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, otherwise known as Martyn’s Law. 

Some highlights include: 

  • The Steering Group reviewed the interim feedback from the rapid response sector survey, noting that there were still relatively low awareness levels of Martyn’s Law, that respondents so far had highlighted cost concerns and thought there should be a standard terrorism evaluation template form for local councils to complete.  

  • As the survey aims to inform NALC and SLCC’s responses to the Martyn’s Law standard tier consultation, the Steering Group agreed to extend the deadline to 23:45 on 29 February – please complete this short survey which should only take 5 minutes here: http://tinyurl.com/2u6utujx

  • It was agreed to meet again before the final Home Office standard tier consultation (http://tinyurl.com/23rmea4n) submission deadline for responses of 18 March 2024.   

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Funding to help VCSE organisations improve energy efficiency

On 7 December 2023, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport launched a £25.5 million funding package to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in England improve their energy efficiency. Eligible organisations are encouraged to apply for an independent energy assessment and capital grants to install energy efficiency measures. The scheme is open to frontline community organisations across England. Groundwork UK, which is delivering the scheme, is particularly keen to hear from small and medium organisations with significant concerns around energy which are directly supporting individuals and communities with critical needs, especially those related to the rising cost of living. 

Examples include: 

  • services that address poverty, including providing food, warmth, emergency supplies or personal grants. 

  • shelter, accommodation and housing for those most in need. 

  • advice for people experiencing financial, housing or legal challenges. 

  • services that address specific physical and mental health issues. 

  • education, training and employment services that improve employability. 

  • community hubs or centres, out of which a number of these services operate. 

Councils are encouraged to share this scheme with VCSE organisations in their area and organisations are encouraged to apply as soon as possible!

 More details about the scheme: http://tinyurl.com/4k8x3nyp

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Boston Heroes

Following the success of the last two year's #BostonHeroes Campaign, Boston Borough Council is calling on the community to nominate their local heroes for 2023/24.  This year's categories will be: 

  • Outstanding Achievement 

  • Group Champion 

  • Individual Champion 

  • Youth Champion

Nominate your local hero here: https://bit.ly/3UxeTNf

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