Please forward this email to elected members for news on training offers and key messages for the sector.
If you are reading this and wish to subscribe to the weekly e-news just click here:
A heads up on some key bits of information either with you already or just about to land:
CLERKS' CONFERENCE - SAVE THE DATE | It's finally happening and it will be on Wednesday 14th September 2022 at Kingston Maurward from 10am onwards. We have an exciting day planned and some great content coming together, which will be informative and interactive. Thanks to all those responding to the pre-event survey, if you haven't responded please do so and we can then get the registration process underway - reminder coming out by email.
SHARED PROSPERITY FUND | There is an extremely tight turnaround times on this fund and submissions to it are co-ordinated by the unitary councils. Dorset Council are inviting parishes and towns that have submitted feedback already and others interested to an update at 11:30am to 13:00pm on 15th July 2022. If you intend to join the meeting online email: lloyd.savage@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and ask for the joining details. Read more below in our next section.
COST OF LIVING RESOURCES | Resources and communication materials have been made available for all towns and parishes in the Dorset Council area. These will be issued by direct email to Clerks. These can be used to signpost help and support for residents in your communities.
COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE REVIEW (CGR) - Dorset Council Area | After the conclusion of the second wave of consultations the next key date is the publication of the meeting papers around 6th July 2022. Dorset Council's meeting on 14th July 2022 is the key date for decision making. Item 10 contains the report for the meeting. READ REPORT
NEW LEGISLATION | LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISQUALIIFCATION ACT 2022 | This act disqualifies individuals subject to certain sexual offence legal orders from standing for election or holding office in local authorities. Clerks will receive a briefing note from DAPTC to assist them and any elected members that may have queries on this topic. The Electoral Commission also have information on the topic. READ HERE
OPERATION LONDON BRIDGE | Many Clerks have been in touch about the plans to mark the death of a senior member of the Royal Family. We now have some resources we can share with clerks that have been brought up to date. These will be issued on Monday 11th July 2022.
2021 CENSUS | The census data from last year has now been published and is available to interrogate to your hearts content. OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS WEBSITE
DAPTC AGM | We've written to all Clerks to seek any motions for the 2022 AGM in November and the timeline and submission form can be found on our AGM WEBPAGE
Monday 1st August is our next webinar with Dorset Council who will give an update on the Lets Talk Libraries consultation FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER
INFORMATION | GUIDANCE | ADVICE
** NEW ** 1. Letter from David Sidwick, Dorset's Police & Crime Commissioner
** NEW ** 2. Register your defibrillators with The Circuit
Many parish councils and meetings have now installed defibrillators in your buildings, within the community or will know of and even have supported local organisations which have. Now it's the time to make sure your defibrillators are registered with The Circuit. The Circuit is the national defibrillators network which connects defibrillators to NHS ambulance services across the UK so that in those crucial moments after a cardiac arrest, they can be accessed quickly to help save lives. The moment someone has a cardiac arrest, the clock starts ticking and every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces their chances of survival. However, many defibrillators are never used because emergency services don't know where they are or how to access them.
** NEW ** 3. Cost of Living help for your communities
Dorset Council is working with its partners to signpost people to the right place to meet their circumstances. Cost of living Help is a new webpage on the Dorset Council website which puts advice and support on money, access to food, housing, support for children, mental health and wellbeing and employment, all in one place.
** NEW ** 4. Final chance to apply to the Op Relentless Community Fund
Applications to the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioners Op Relentless Community Fund need to be in before the deadline of Monday 11th July 2022.
The fund was set up in 2021 to support Dorset based community groups and charities with initiatives and projects aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) by taking appropriate action for their local area.
Grants are being made available to organisations for projects and initiatives that reduce ASB and/or increase public feeling of safety in areas disproportionately affected by ASB. Applications from £100 up to £5,000 are welcomed, the projects must address ASB and have a local focus. The Op Relentless fund is aimed at bringing forward practical solutions to Dorset’s problems.
** NEW ** 5. Dorset Shared Prosperity Fund Meeting - Friday 15th July 11:30-13:00
Dorset Council thanks all those who provided them with feedback via their survey for the Dorset Shared Prosperity Fund priorities. As part of the ongoing engagement to help shape the Dorset SPF proposals, Dorset Council invites you to a Microsoft Teams meeting on Friday 15th July, 11:30-13:00. The meeting will provide a summary of the feedback from the first consultation, and give a presentation from the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership on the data that will shape the Dorset Shared Prosperity Fund investment plan.
Dorset Council would value your contributions towards a discussion on what this might mean for the DorsetSPF programme content and your views as to whether the challenges and opportunities identified by the data resonate with you and your organisation. There are very pressing government deadlines for this work and Dorset Council will set out the next steps and future opportunities for involvement in the SPF programme.
To join this meeting, please use the link below to access Microsoft Teams at 11:30 on 15th July. If possible, could you please confirm you intend to attend by contacting Lloyd Savage at lloyd.savage@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
If you are unable to make the meeting, the presentation will be shared, and the opportunity to comment further will be available.
6. Updates from the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service
The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service have provided us with a YouTube link to share with you which gives an update on its work and activity. The updates are issued about every 4 months.
The June 2022 DWFRS public video provides an update on their work since December 2021. The video features incidents they attended including a significant house fire in Warminster in February and the Canford Heath fire in April. It also covers proactive prevention and protection work undertaken as well as an update on their annual award ceremony and HMI inspection. More information about DWFRS and the work they do can be found on www.dwfire.org.uk
The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service have also produced an article where they share some of the messaging they have on BBQ’s around the #BringAPicnicNotABBQ message throughout Dorset.
7. Request for your time to complete a questionaire
Student Jane Mills is currently studying for the qualification in Community Governance through De Montfort University and the SLCC. Jane is writing a dissertation entitle 'Is Workplace Bullying undermining staffing in Town and Paris Councils' and she's created a questionnaire for Clerks to complete to help with her research. If you can spare the time and would like to help Jane please complete her questionnaire.
Dementia-friendly Councils - Survey
NALC has published a new survey on dementia-friendly councils.
In 2020, NALC launched a survey to identify the work that local councils are doing to assist those most vulnerable in their communities and gain insight into potential barriers to this progress. Following this, NALC published the Dementia-Friendly Communities guide, demonstrating the positive impact of building dementia-friendly communities and providing our local councils with the tools to help them develop their own.
The latest survey aims to gather feedback on the usage and effectiveness of this publication. All responses will help support local councils in ensuring that people living with dementia and their families continue to be included in all aspects of community life.
Giving local councils more of a say on housing - 27th July 2022 12pm - 1.15pm Click herefor more information on this event.
** NEW ** Working between the Tiers - 28th September 2022 12pm - 1.15pm Click herefor more information
NALC to hold it's first-ever hybrid conference - Empowering Communities
NALC will hold its first-ever hybrid conference later this year. Empowering Communities takes place on 7 November 2022 between 10am and 4pm at America Square Conference Centre in London.
In person Ticket - up to £130 for NALC member
Virtual Ticket - up to £70 for NALC member
