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AUTHOR: DAVID HALL, DIRECTOR AT CLOUDY IT
At the end of April, the High Court ruled against a bid by Hertfordshire County Council, LLG and ADSO to force the government into retaining the remote-meeting arrangements introduced in the first lockdown. For many councils, the instruction to return to face-to-face meetings directly after the May elections is a blow, particularly as public engagement has rocketed with virtual sessions. The government, meanwhile, does not intend to resume real-life sittings before 21 June.
Responding to today’s Queen’s Speech, Cllr Sue Baxter, chair of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), said:
AUTHOR: GRAHAM STODDART-STONES, FOUNDER AND MANAGER OF THE PARISH ONLINE USER GROUP
What is Parish Online? Parish Online is recommended by NALC as a tool to help local councils manage their businesses. Over 1,400 councils already use Parish Online and, if you haven’t already done so, I suggest that you evaluate Parish Online by taking out a free trial. Parish Online is an affordable web-based, map-based information management system which allows councils to access OS mapping, address data and a host of other national datasets. Councils can use these maps as a reference to build their own asset layers (for things like allotments, streetlights and playground equipment). Councils can also use Parish Online to develop their own plans (for instance Neighbourhood Plans, Emergency Plans and Tree Planting Plans).
AUTHOR: ELEANOR GREENE, SECRETARY TO THE PARISH INTERNAL AUDITORS FORUM
At this time of year, every clerk is focused on getting their internal audit done and convening a full council meeting at which the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) will be signed. Still, with the right advice, an internal audit is a year-round, positive process.
Responding to today’s judgement in the High Court on holding remote meetings, Cllr Sue Baxter, chair of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), said:
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has pressed the trade association for banks (UK Finance) and its member banks to improve their services to local councils.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced on Saturday 24th April the launch of two new key neighbourhood planning funds.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has responded to the government consultations for locally-led re-organisation in Cumbria, Somerset and North Yorkshire.
AUTHOR: DARREN BRIDDOCK, DATA PROTECTION LEAD AT BREAKTHROUGH COMMUNICATIONS
Almost all local (parish and town) councils now have an official website, as well as official email accounts. An increasing number of councils also provide official email accounts for their councillors as well as for their clerk and other officers. When choosing a domain name for the council's website and emails, many local council websites are appropriately making use of the exclusive GOV.UK domain (for example, ourparishcouncil.gov.uk), with email addresses being linked to that domain as well.
“It is with great sadness that the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has learned of the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
“I know that those in the local (parish and town) council sector would join me in extending their condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and members of the Royal Family.”
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has launched a new publication on local (parish and town) councils and the Tree Charter.
AUTHOR: DAVID HALL, DIRECTOR AT CLOUDY IT
With just weeks to go before the May local elections, councils are taking stock of the last 12 months. The biggest change has been the shift to remote working, and among the biggest winners has been local democracy, with online council meetings enjoying far greater participation from both councillors and public than was typical with traditional, face-to-face meetings.
The Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) 2021 was launched earlier this year to reflect legislation changes. From April 2021, learners will be registered for the updated qualification.
AUTHOR: PETER KEELING, VOTING INFORMATION MANAGER AT THE DEMOCRACY CLUB
Democracy Club is a Community Interest Company which builds online voter information tools for UK elections. We run the UK’s national polling station finder at WhereDoIVote.co.uk (in conjunction with The Electoral Commission), and a database of UK elections and candidates at WhoCanIVoteFor.co.uk. We’re a small team, supported by hundreds of volunteers. We work openly, and all our data is free to access.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has pressed the government to promote democracy when implementing reforms for better quality housing.
The government is strongly encouraging principal authorities to work with local (parish and town) councils and pass on funding from the £56m Welcome Back Fund.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is calling on local (parish and town) councils to complete its new survey on young people. The survey will explore what local councils are currently doing to support young people in our communities.
Following our Rebuilding Communities online event series over the last year, we're excited to share news on our upcoming events calendar. From April 2021, we will continue to run our online events, covering the hottest topics from the sector with expert panellists to share valuable insights and practical tips to help build stronger communities.
AUTHOR: DAVID HALL, DIRECTOR AT CLOUDY IT
How time flies when we’re enjoying ourselves. It’s one year on from the first lockdown when, almost overnight, councils had to switch to virtual meetings. Video-conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Teams went from hitherto obscurity in local government circles to mainstays of the democratic process.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has launched The Good Councillor's guide to cyber security in partnership with Microshade VSM.
The government has confirmed it intends to publish its response to the Committee on Standards in Public Life's (COSIPL’s) review of Local Government Ethical Standards “shortly” and at the same time publish a consultation on the recommendations it has agreed to.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the government to maintain the current extended timescale for local (parish and town) councils to publish their audited accounts.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has announced that it is once again running its awards programme this year as part of its work to recognise the local (parish and town) council sector’s achievements.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has written an open letter to clerks about civility in public life ahead of the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) Practitioners’ Conference taking place between 23 - 25 February 2021.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is to publish a series of videos telling the stories of local (parish and town) councillors across England.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the government as a matter of urgency to bring forward changes to the current standards regime governing conduct in local government.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has completed its review and updated its Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS) criteria.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is aware of the recent news regarding Handforth Parish Council's Planning and Environment Committee meeting going viral.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on local democracy today backed The Policies of Belonging report by influential think tank Onward which calls for more parish power.
AUTHOR: CLLR LILLIAN BURNS, NALC NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND PART OF NALC'S CLIMATE CHANGE TASK AND FINISH GROUP
NALC’s recent climate change survey of local councils asked: "What carbon-reducing measures are you working on in the community?"
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will take to parliament online this year as part of its annual Lobby Day on 2 February 2021.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has notified the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) that the appropriate sum for the purpose of section 137(4)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 (the 1972 Act) for parish and town councils in England for 2021-22 is £8.41 per elector.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is urging the government to push the Non-Domestic Rates (Public Lavatories) Bill 2021-22 over the finish line and finally deliver on its 2018 budget pledge.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is supporting the call from the think-tank Onward to give every area a local (parish and town) council to bolster communities and community resilience.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has been invited to sit on and secretariat the Prime Minister’s Champion Group (PMCG) on dementia.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) offices will close on 24 December 2020 for Christmas and will reopen on 4 January 2020.
A new £100m National Leisure Recovery Fund has been launched by Sport England and is open to eligible local (parish and town) councils, following successful representations made to the government by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC).
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has announced that it will once again hold a Lobby Day, on 2 February 2021.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has today launched The Good Councillor's guide to community business, in partnership with the Plunkett Foundation and Power to Change.
As the secretariat for the Joint Panel on Accountability and Governance (JPAG), the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is seeking expressions of interest to review and re-write the section of the Practitioners’ Guide relating to internal audit.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has written an article for Air Quality News magazine on why climate change is a local issue and how local (parish and town) councils are at the forefront of fighting it.
AUTHOR: DANNY KRUGER MP FOR DEVIZES, WILTSHIRE
During the pandemic, we’ve seen a welcome upsurge in voluntarism and generosity across villages and towns up and down the nation. In Devizes, St James’ Church was especially quick to mobilise resources and get stuck in. Within just a week of asking congregants and other locals to help, 344 volunteers had been vetted and referenced. This marked the start of three busy months of leafleting, delivering essentials and checking on vulnerable members of the community.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) celebrated Tree Charter Day on 28 November, as part of National Tree Week.
AUTHOR: JO HAND, CO-FOUNDER, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITIES AT GIKI ZERO
Three-quarters of councils have now declared a climate emergency in the UK and a crucial next step is working through what this means in terms of councils’ operational and residents’ carbon footprints. Many councils will be considering, or already working towards Net Zero, and a key requirement to get there, is motivating residents to recognize the benefits of a low carbon transition.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is pleased to announce a new online event as part of our Rebuilding Communities series, Leaders talk: Local councils and the future of play, on 9 December 2020.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has used today’s World Toilet Day 2020 to urge the government to finally close the lid on the toilet tax through new legislation.
The Engagement Practitioners Network will be holding its Engage 2020 conference online from 16 to 27 November.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has today unveiled its Make A Change campaign for the May 2021 elections.
The Local Government Association (LGA) have announced their second #CouncilsCan Day on 10 November 2020, an online campaign to highlight the critical work of local government.