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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.