New NALC Legal briefing L01-14 Local Government Transparency Code
for parish councils with a gross annual income or expenditure exceeding
£200,000
The Local Government Transparency Code was published by DCLG on 1st May 2014.
The new Code sets out the recommended minimum requirements for
the publication of information by parish councils if their annual income
or expenditure is over £200,000.
Part 2 recommends publication of
certain information quarterly (expenditure over £500) and other
information annually (grants, staff organisation charts, parking spaces,
salaries over £50,000) in a format that allows open re-use.
Part 3
recommends that the councils to which it applies go further than
the minimum requirements and publish monthly rather than quarterly or
ideally in real time.
NALC recommends that councils observe the code although it is not mandatory.
The legal briefing is on this website under the NALC briefings tab, then in the Legal Briefings section. It is important that parish councils affected by the new Code read it
in full. The Code and answers to frequently asked questions are
available here.
Three NALC Legal Topic Notes have been subject to small amendments
If you print off paper copies or keep electronic copies of Legal Topic Notes be aware that they are periodically updated. NALC members can access all the Legal Topic Notes via the NALC website. Your subscription letter has the Username and Password for access to the Members area of the NALC website.
LTN No
35 Contracts has been amended to reflect the revised EU
procurement thresholds for works, supplies and service contracts as of
January 2014.
LTN No 39 Copyright. There are minor changes to the text for
readability purposes and changes to the list of exemptions in the
appendix occasioned by changes to the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
1988.
LTN 64 Tombstones and memorials. There are minor changes to the text for
readability purposes.
Did you register to do your Cilca before the cost went up to £250? If you did then you are probably looking for some training to help you get started.
SLCC are running a training course in Buckinghamshire, based in Aylesbury. It is four separate days starting in June and finishing in October, cost £200+VAT for SLCC members.
The details are here
The 1st April 2014 heralded the beginning of a new career average pension scheme which all members of the Local Government Pension Scheme automatically joined.
Members can find out more on www.lgps2014.org. A raft of awaited Secretary of State Guidance was issued over recent weeks and can be viewed at the LGPS regulations website.
Information for pension funds and employers is regularly updated by the pensions team and HR, Payroll and Administrator guides can be found at www.lgpsregs.org.
Community Ownership and Management of Assets Capital Grants 2014
From 30 April till Thursday 26 June 2014 the Social Investment Bank will be accepting applications for capital grants from their Community Assets and Services Fund.
These grants are available for the purchase and refurbishment of assets. Applications that meet as least one of this year's themes will be given preference.
What are the themes for 2014?
- Community Assets – Under the Hammer! Capital grants to facilitate competitive bidding for land and buildings to make use of the Right to Bid. If you apply under this theme you will need to have registered the building or land as an asset of community value and be actively looking to use the Right to Bid;
- Community Share Matching: Capital grants to
match-fund monies solicited direct from communities through community
share issues where initiatives involve the acquisition, development or
refurbishment of land or buildings. Organisations applying under this
theme need to have launched or completed a share issue and should expect
to be able to provide evidence of a match for the amount requested by
December 2014. If you are applying under this theme you can be making
use of either Right to Bid, Asset Transfer or simply involved in a
straightforward asset acquisition;
- Empty Buildings and Derelict Land: Capital grants to support local communities to bring empty, abandoned,
derelict buildings and land back into community use / ownership. Such
sites may have been left empty for a variety of reasons such as through
absent or irresponsible ownership. Because they have been empty or
abandoned for a number of years many of these buildings cannot be listed
(as an Asset of Community Value under the Right to Bid). Generally we will consider EOIs relating to sites that have been out of use for more than two years.
More information here
A vacancy has occurred for a Clerk to Yattendon Parish Council. This is a salaried position and if anyone is interested in learning more about what the position of Clerk entails please contact the existing clerk, Doreen Davies, who will be happy to give you more details.
Doreen Davies
Church Lane Cottage,
1 Church Lane,
Yattendon
Thatcham,
Berks. RG18 OUN
01635 202284
kenmee@btinternet.com
or the Chairman:
Dr Gordon Robertson
01635 201311
garobertson@tiscali.co.uk
Shinfield Parish Council is looking for a self-motivated and friendly person to replace our Parish Clerk.
Applicants should have strong organisational and management skills and enjoy working with the public.
Must be competent in the use of Microsoft Office, training for other necessary skills will be provided.
Hours: 37 per week, based at the Parish Office, Shinfield - some evening work will be expected (attendance at meetings)
Pay range – £30,000 to £35,000 dependent on experience
Applicants should contact Jacqui Barnes (Clerk) for further information and to request an application form. Completed applications must be received by Noon on 23 May 2014
Shinfield Parish Council, Parish Hall, School Green,
Shinfield, Berkshire RG2 9EH
Tel: (0118) 988 8221 or email clerk@shinfieldparish.gov.uk
