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National Planning Policy Framework. Click here to view the response from SALC.
Planning Champions
As you will be aware, Government is working with NALC and CPRE in relation to its changes to the planning framework, including neighbourhood planning. SALC has been provided information on volunteering in this respect, click here The national bodies have indicated that they have 15 candidates so far for Planning Champions and are seeking a total of 30. For further information click here
To apply for this role as a Planning Champion click here
Better Broadband Conference
We are delighted to pass on an invitation to attend the Suffolk Better Broadband Conference, to be held on Friday 9th March 2012 at the Apex Conference Centre, Bury St Edmunds. The conference will mark the launch of the public consultation - the final step before commencing procurement for the Suffolk contract. The conference will include details and discussion regarding the proposals for Suffolk, as well as high profile speakers, showcases and demonstrations.
Details of the event, including how to register click here Please mention SALC when you register your interest.
SUFFOLK VILLAGE OF THE YEAR 2011
SALC organise Suffolk Village of the Year and are pleased to announce this years results click here
NEW SALC SERVICE - PAYROLL. For further information click here
Auditing the Accounts 2009/2010 Parish Councils
The Audit Commission has today published its Auditing the Accounts 2009/10 report, summarising the timeliness and quality of financial reporting by local (parish and town) councils.
The report - published for the first time - shows how well our local councils are doing on the timeliness and quality of their financial reporting. The overall message is positive, but there is still some progress for local councils to make, particularly in governance arrangements. To view the report please click on this link
Section 137 Expenditure limit 2011/2012
The Department for Communities and Local Government has confirmed that the appropriate sum for the purposes of section 137(4) (a) of the Local Government Act 1972 (“the 1972 Act”) for parish and town councils in England for 2011/ 2012 is £6.44.
PAYSCALES BRIEFING
NALC on LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY: 2011/2012
The Employers Side of the Local Government Services National Joint Council has informed the trade unions that, for the second successive year, it will not be in a position to make any pay offer. This is in response to the unions’ 2011/12 claim for at least £250 on all salary points. The Employers Side concluded that the protection of services, and consequent mitigation of job losses and redundancies, should take priority over any increase in pay.
Changes to Green Book in 2012/2013
Local authorities have been notified about proposals for next year’s negotiations as follows:
“The decision not to make a pay offer reflects the clear majority view expressed at the briefings but the Employers recognise that there is also significant support amongst councils for pursuing changes in the Green Book. We therefore intend to consult councils in the coming months on their priorities in this area with a view to proposing a package of changes as part of the 2012 pay negotiations”
Please click here to view the revised car allowances from January 2011.
New Services for Members
New Policies and Contract are available for download from the members area click here including recent briefings on Default Retirement Age and Paternity leave provisions
Legal Topic Notes are now available for download from the members area.click here
LAIS Up2Date service
We are delighted to launch the new SALC LAIS Up2Date service which provides a regular brief on key issues impacting on local councils and communities. You can view the information in the members area. Please contact the
SALC office should you wish to receive this information via email
LAIS Consultation Service
Choose how you access the SALC consultation information sheets by submiting our online form. To find out more
click here
Internal Audit
Internal audit is a key component of the system of internal control. An outside body or individual is appointed by the council as the internal auditor. It is not acceptable to appoint the council’s own clerk or own councillor as the internal auditor. Its purpose is to review whether the systems of financial control and other controls over the activities of the council are adequate, effective, and in line with current regulations.
Internal audit does not actively seek evidence of fraud, corruption, error or mistakes, but can assist the council in its responsibility for the prevention and detection of such occurrences. Managing the risk of fraud and corruption is the responsibility of the council.
A checklist to assist councils in carrying out the two principal aspects of the review of internal audit - compliance with standards and overall effectiveness, can be accessed by clicking here.
SALC is now offering an Internal Audit service exclusively to member Town and Parish Councils in Suffolk
For further information click here
QUALITY PARISH STATUS
The SALC Quality Council Accreditation Panel announced the awarding of Quality Council Status to Elmswell Parish Council . Congratulations on their achievements. Please click here to view the QPS guide.
Useful Documents and Guides for Local Councils
Suffolk Resilience has provided a useful Snow Code guide. Please visit the website www.suffolkresilience.com to view the information.
Highways Winter Service 2010/2011
This guide aims to provide a brief guide for councillors to the road salting and snow clearing operations carried out during the winter by Suffolk County Council; and by Ipswich Borough Council under the highways agency arrangement in Ipswich. They should help you to answer queries from members of the public and to point you to sources of further information should you need them.
Please click here to visit the members area to view the guide.
The Good Councillor's Guide, 3rd Edition
Help and support is on hand for new and not-so new local councillors in the form of 'The good councillor’s guide for local (parish and town) councillors'. The latest edition of the guide - published through the National Training Strategy for local councils - reflects changes in law and practice as well as the public sector landscape and era of localism.
The easy to read guide offers help and advice for local councillors to navigate their way through to being community leaders; providing a voice for local people; as well as making decisions for effective local service delivery.
Plese click here to view the updated version
Being a Good Employer: A Guide for Parish and Town Councillors
This guide contains around 50 pages of tailored information and guidance on essential employment matters in a handy A5 booklet. To order your copy please contact the SALC office or visit the members area
Governance and Accountability for Local Councils
The Practitioners' Guide 2010 that provides the finacial framework for local councils has been released and an electronic copy can be located in the members area:
SALC offers a printing service for this guide presented in a spiral bind £12 or £15 (incl. P&P). To place an order please contact SALC office
Model Standing Orders
A publication on Standing Orders and Law and Procedure for Local Councils has now been published, this replaces Standing Orders and Chairmanship, last published in 2003. Please click here for further information. Part 2 of the publication details the model standing orders can be viewed by visiting the members area, click here
Level of Burial Fees (England)
There is a legal briefing which gives advice on the level of burial fees that town and parish councils may consider charging. To view this information please click here
Allotments
There is a new practice guide for the management of allotments entitled a “Place to Grow’. The guide has been written by Dr Richard Wiltshire, from the School of Social Science and Public Policy, Kings College London and has been produced jointly by LGA and CLG. To download a copy click here
Elections
Guidance has been issued by the Electoral Commission, “Managing a local government election in England and Wales’’ This information can be downloaded click here
New Bursary Scheme Launched
A new bursary scheme has been launched for clerks to smaller councils which will be in operation as from Monday 1st June to assist with training costs. Please click here
Local and National News
Norfolk & Suffolk Gypsy and Traveller Conference MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER which takes place in Diss on Friday 2 March 2012. For further information click here
FOR SALE
Stanton Village Hall have 130 plus of plastic chairs to given away, collection only. Please contact Jim Thorndyke by the end of February on 01359 250271 or email if interested
Bring the community together
Increase usage of village facilities
Convenient and quality local physical activity
Help keep your village alive
Fit Villages is funded by Suffolk County Council and the Suffolk Coastal LSP
Would you like to see a Zumba class in your village? Maybe pilates, tai chi or yoga? Nordic Walking perhaps? These are just a handful of the activities the Fit Villages project has delivered since April and we are looking for more villages to get involved!
All you need is a space to exercise in and some enthusiastic people! For further information, please click here or get in touch for an informal chat/ meet.
We are especially keen to work with villages in the Suffolk Coastal district but all villages are more than welcome to apply. Please note that the deadline for projects to start before our initial funding deadline (Apr 1) will be 27th January.
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Community Sentences
Do you know of any community group who would be interested in a free presentation about community sentences? Would they like to meet a Magistrate and Probation Officer.
The project is a national development in partnership with the Probation Board Association and the Magistrate Association. However it is implemented at a local/county level and consists of a presentation to a group of people from 8 to 30 (we can be more if requested). It is an interactive presentation by a local Magistrate and Probation Officer. It takes about an hour and is Free. It follows a case study through court explaining what happens and what community sentence packages are available.
The aim of the project is -
“Magistrates and probation working together with local communities to improve public confidence in sentencing and raise awareness of the effectiveness of community sentences”
It also gives you an opportunity to meet and ask any questions to a local Magistrate and Probation Officer.
There is a web site which you may find useful www.lccs.org.uk .
If your organisation or you know of any groups who would like a presentation please let me by emailing me at careygodfrey@gmx.co.uk or telephone 01473 688922. I would also be very happy to meet with you so I can explain more.
Rising to the Challenge
Sports organisations and groups in Suffolk are being invited to bid for funding to provide sporting opportunities for teenagers and young adults.
Part of Sport England’s London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games mass participation legacy, the Sportivate programme aims to capture the excitement of London 2012 to provide attractive sporting opportunities for teenagers and young adults in a sport of their choice
Participants will enjoy six weeks of coaching at a local venue – and they’ll get guidance on the places and people they can continue to play with when the six weeks are up. For further information vist www.risingtothechallenge.org
St Edmundsbury Rural Action Plan
St Edmundsbury Borough Council launches its Rural Action Plan to cover the period April 2011 to March 2014. The plan contains lots of projects to benefit the rural community of St Edmundsbury. For further information please visit:
www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/ruralactionplan or email rural@stedsbc.gov.uk
Sustainable Communities Act: ensuring a strong process for the future benefit of Parish and Town Councils
Thousands of people across the country have engaged in the Sustainable Communities Act, by submitting hundreds of ideas for government action and assistance to help reverse community decline and promote local sustainability. This has resulted in the 200 shortlisted proposals now before the Government. For further information click here
Please visit Creating the Greenest County website for local events taking place near you
http://www.greensuffolk.org/events
In the interests of sustainability (and saving money), we would encourage everyone to try and lift share to this event - which you could organise via the SGBN discussion board:
or www.suffolkcarshare.com
Charity Commission Toolkit & Guidance for Local Authorities
The Toolkit is a free online reference manual developed by the Charity Commission in liaison with the Local Government Association, the National Association for Voluntary & Community Action and the Commission for the Compact Click here to download a copy
Does your community have a village shop?
As part of Making Local Food Work, a 5 year Big Lottery funded programme, they are offering village shops in England a free support package to help improve and stock more local food. To find out more about the Making Local Food Work programme please visit the website – www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk .
Advice on setting up a community cafe
Coming together over a cup of tea and a piece of cake is a great way to help neighbours stay in touch and foster a sense of community. There are grants available for villages which would like to set up a community cafe. Please click here for more information
The Plunkett FoundationThe Plunkett Foundation is undertaking a survey of Parish Councils across England and Wales to find out what the level of awareness is within rural communities of community-ownership approaches to rural challenges. Community-owned village shops are one example of this approach but there are many more. To find out more click
here
Online HGV Incident Report Tool click here
To report incidents of HVGs using inappropriate minor roads or other related issues, please use the link above. Your report will be submitted to the Traffic Management Team at Suffolk County Council.
© Suffolk Association of Local Councils