Sensible risk in local government

Published 9th April 2014 by SLCC


The Health and Safety Executive has updated its general guidance for local government. Whilst many of the features relate to services provided by principal councils there is some really helpful advice on topics such as erecting Christmas lights, assessing burial ground memorials, and organising events, which will be of particular interest, as well as some very useful general principles.

It is also possible to subscribe to regular local government updates.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/services/localgovernment/sensible-risk/index.htm?ebul=locgov&cr=1/apr14

Berkshire Community Foundation Flood Damage Grants

If your voluntary or community group is working directly to assist in flood relief or recovery efforts you may be eligible to apply for a Foundation Grant. Small charities or social enterprises such as community shops may also apply if their day to day activity has been affected by the flooding.

What for? 

• If any groups have worked with people impacted by the flooding or have suffered any damage to property etc then please get in touch with Berkshire Community Foundation (see email contact below). 
• Grants are made between £1,000 and £10,000 to groups who have been affected by the flooding.

These may include:-

• Groups who have incurred unbudgeted costs supporting those who have been affected by the flooding during February and March 2014
• Groups who have sustained damage to either property or assets that cannot be recovered through insurance
• Groups closely linked to communities who are undertaking activities that support those who have been affected by flooding.

Consideration will be given for the funding of plans for future resilience. Groups are requested to seek the endorsement of their local Parish Council or Ward Member. 

Priority will be given to groups who have close local connections and where the activities are driven by those who have been affected.


How Much?
Between £1,000 and £10,000


More Information
Please email grants@berkshirecf.org for further details


Bruce Wright Funding Matters
email brucewright7@btopenworld.com
phone 01626 867 604

Third Neighbourhood Plan designation for Wokingham Borough

Sarah Hollamby, Head of Development Policy and Planning, (third from left) receives the joint Arborfield and Newland and Barkham Parish Councils' Neighbourhood Plan area application from Pam Stubbs, chairman of Barkham Parish Council.

Arborfield and Newland and Barkham Parish Councils have submitted a Neighbourhood Area application  to Wokingham Borough which shows that they intend to work together to prepare a Neighbourhood Development Plan for the entire area of both parishes. As part of the application, the parish councils have submitted a proposed boundary for the Neighbourhood Development Plan area and a supporting statement.

Shinfield  Parish Council have made substantial progress with their plan. 

In West Berkshire Stratfield Mortimer Parish Council has also applied to have their parish designated for a Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Employment Allowance £2,000 does not apply to parish councils

Did your council receive a letter from David Cameron earlier this month about the new Employment Allowance? It offers the potential to reduce your National Insurance Contributions.

Unfortunately, this does not apply to parish councils; the following link makes the position clear that parish councils are excluded employers –

https://www.gov.uk/employment-allowance-up-to-2000-off-your-class-1-nics

Parish councils are not charities or businesses so are not elegible unless HMRC wish to revise their guidance.

Heritage Memorial Trail for Wokingham

 According to the GetReading website a Heritage Memorial Trail uncovering heroic tales and ancestry in the borough is being planned to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of First World War.

Town and parish councils are joining together to highlight the borough’s many memorials, with organisers waiting on a bid for thousands of pounds of extra funding to produce exhibition stands and digital stories of the fallen.

Do you live in an interesting home?

BBC One are looking for people who live in interesting homes in across Berkshire and would be happy to try a home swap holiday for a new TV series.

Do you live in an interesting home you’d be happy to swap with someone elsewhere in the UK for a short break?

It could be anything from a charming cottage, an interesting conversion, to a modern open plan apartment!

IF SO THEN GET IN TOUCH NOW!

For an application form please email homeswapholidays@bbc.co.uk  with your contact details

Book your place using this link

NALC Legal Topic Notes 31 and 79 updated

NALC Legal Topic Note 31 (sec 137)  has been updated to reflect the revised amount for 2014-2015 which is £7.20.

Legal Topic Note 79 on Pensions has been revised - paragraphs 6, 9 and 10 have been amended to reflect revised earnings thresholds.

To access all the up to date NALC Legal Topic Notes use your Username and Password, as supplied, to member councils to access the NALC website (Members Area)

Pay Award: Employers offer “meagre” 1% increase

Published 21st March 2014 by SLCC

All council staff under “Green Book” terms and conditions have been offered a 1% pay increase. 

The increase would take affect from 1 April 2014, with those on salaries under £14,880 (full time equivalent) receiving a slightly higher increase. The National Employers said the deal was fair for staff and taxpayers considering the ‘financial pressures’ faced by local government. 

Cllr Sian Timoney, chair of the Employers’ Side, said: ‘There is a broad consensus among councils that there should be a pay offer to staff this year. At a time when local government is tackling the biggest cuts in living memory, this offer balances our commitment to increase the pay of our hardworking employees with the responsibility we have to address the significant financial pressures we face. We believe that this is a fair deal for employees, given the limits of what we can afford, and a fair deal for the taxpayers and residents who use and pay for the vital services which local government provides.’

However, UNISON called the offer “meagre” and is to consult its local government members over industrial action. 

It says around 50,000 of the lowest paid local government workers will receive a rise that is slightly above inflation, while the remainder of the workforce - around 90% - will receive just 1%. For these workers, Unison says the offer represents a real terms cut in basic pay of almost 20% since the Coalition came to power, following three consecutive years of pay freezes followed by below inflation rises in 2013 and 2014.

New Local Audit Arrangements

 Published 3rd April 2014 by SLCC

The Government has announced that the Local Government Association (LGA) and Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) will take on some of the roles currently held by the Audit Commission when it is abolished next year. 

An independent company overseen by the LGA will take on transitional responsibilities for the Audit Commission contracts ahead of new rules requiring the local appointment of auditors (including those for local councils) which come into force in 2017. CIPFA, in an ongoing role, will develop the Audit Commission's counter-fraud measures in a new national Counter Fraud Centre. 

More information can be found here

Heritage Lottery fund

English Heritage ran a training session in Maidenhead on 28th March to help groups that are doing a Neighbourhood Development Plan.

The aim of the session was to help groups with the heritage aspects of their Neighbourhood Development Plan. The morning concentrated on character assessments and how to do them with a practical session in the streets of Maidenhead. The afternoon concerned local heritage listing and a presentation from the Heritage Lottery Fund on the grant funding available.

Consultation on making it easier to set up a parish council

Communities are being urged by the Government and the National Association of Local Councils to get their voices heard and run local services through neighbourhood democracy.

New measures announced by the Government will make it easier for people to set up a local parish council – the most local form of government in England.

The Department for Community and Local Government has released a further consultation paper setting out the Government’s proposals to make it easier to set up local (parish and town) councils. The proposed measures are intended to reduce the burdens which result from the current processes and aim to make it easier for local communities and campaigners to take the first steps towards setting up a local (town or parish) council. There are three key proposed amendments:

• To lower the threshold of signatures required to make a valid petition
• To reduce the amount of time the Local Authority can take to complete a Community Governance Review (CGR)
• To allow Neighbourhood Forums to trigger a Community Governance Review. 

Despite welcoming the spirit of these measures, NALC continued to voice strong concern over the lack of appeal mechanism when a principal council turns down a request by local people for a local council. 

Questions that councils may wish to respond to include:

1. Do you think the proposal to reduce the threshold of electorate signatures required to trigger a CGR will help to reduce the burdens with the current process?

2. Do you think the proposal to shorten the time-limit to complete a CGR will reduce the burden on campaigners seeking to establish a new town or parish council?

3. Do you think that Neighbourhood Forums which have had a neighbourhood plan passed by referendum should be able to trigger a review?

The formal consultation documents, including the full set of questions, can be downloaded here
 
NALC would appreciate any responses by 8th May to Victoria.pymm@nalc.gov.uk
 

Community Shares

If your community is interested in the community ownership of assets such as a shop or pub you will find Community Shares a valuable website to investigate.

Community Shares has just launched its revamped website; you will find information and advice there. Dedicated support is also offered to groups interested in pursuing community ownership through share ownership.