As we all start to re-emerge and get about our lovely county I suspect one of the significant impacts felt will be on our High Streets. These were starting to look different in 2020 as the first lockdown took grip and of course since then there have been many stories in local and national media about the demise of well established brands.
We all know that funding during the pandemic has not trickled down to parish and town council level in the way many had hoped. There are though some opportunities coming about and I wanted to alert our members with High Streets to the following article from NALC about theWelcome Back Fund. Applications need to be routed via your unitary authority and with that in mind I've asked the question this week if there isa single point of contact at both Dorset Council and BCP. I'll update as I get more information.
For those keen to read some more on this fund here are the official MHCLG department pages:Welcome Back Fund .Gov.UK
We continue to get a steady trickle of emails on virtual meetings and from media coverage I hear we are likely to find out more news towards the end of next week if not sooner. Please don't let this alter or change any plans you have.
Regards,
Neil
Please forward this update to elected members so they can also keep up-to-date and have an appreciation of what's happening in the sector.
INFORMATION | GUIDANCE | ADVICE
Don't forget to check out the links to Dorset organisations in the Other News section at the bottom of this newsletter, they are updated regularly.
1. Your help is required to help to create a more accessible countryside
The Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Local Access Forum are requesting your help to make Dorset more accessible. Please read their message to both Dorset local councils and BCP local councilshere.
It's not too late to take part in the 2021 Census. Find further details on how you can take part and the help available can be foundhere.
3. Valuation Office Agency request for car park information to Town and Parish Councils
The UK Valuation Office Agency will shortly be requesting car park information from organisations which are responsible for operating them in line with the VOA's statutory duty to review rateable values for the 2023 revaluation. They would like to provide town and parish councils with a simpler way of providing car park information digitally and prevent the need to complete individual Statutory hard copy forms. If you occupy, own or operate multiple public car parks please email the VOA here.
4. Does your council have a beach? Be a part of the new NALC National Network: Coastal Communities
NALC will be holding our first National Network: Coastal Communities on 27th April 2021. Participants will help shape the network, which will act as a supportive network to learn, share information, intelligence and good practice, and be a sounding board on national policy. If your local council has a beach and want to get involved, register your free place today.
5. Firewise UK presents its first webinar. Wildfire - A rising threat in the UK
Firewise UK would like to invite you to join their free webinar on 28th April 2021 3pm – 4pm.
With over 100 wildfires in Dorset alone last year there will be discussion on wildfires in the UK and what can be done to increase resilience in our communities who are most at risk from this increasing threat.
Speakers include Lucien Deaton from the US based National Fire Protection Association who will share global approaches to community wildfire resilience and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service Station Commander and wildfire tactical adviser Andy Elliott who will be sharing his extensive knowledge of the threat of wildfire. You will also hear from a Dorset Firewise group who experienced evacuation due to a wildfire in 2011 and how Firewise has enabled them to come together as a community to lower their risk. Join Firewise UK for what looks set to be a very interesting and informative webinar. Click here to register for the event and for further information on the event click here.
7. Joint Panel on Accountability and Governance (JPAG) advice on COVID spending
JPAG has issuedadditional adviceon treating certain COVID-related items in the 2020/21 AGAR, notably furlough monies and closure grants.
8. No Virtual Meetings Beyond 7th May 2021
Next steps - Your councils will need to make preparations for the return to face-to-face meetings:
~ If you wish to conduct meetings virtually do so before 7th May 2021, bringing forward meetings like your Annual Council Meeting will avoid any delays to critical council business. The same can be said for your Annual Parish (Community/Electors) Meeting. Use a slimmed down agenda to ensure you elect key roles, get your AGAR signed and if appropriate an updated scheme of delegation to cover the next few weeks until 21st June 2021. A number of example Schemes of Delegates can be found here.
~ Use the guidance available on the NALC Coronavirus pages to plan and risk assess what you can do between 7th and 21st June - it is extremely limited and of course may be subject to change.
~ We know a number of councils are already discussing return to work plans for colleagues. This very useful guidance which will help you and your council to prepare for the return of staff to the workplace.
9. Annual Parish Meetings
The following advice has been received from NALC on this topic:
~ The Legal requirement is that they are held between 1st March and 1st June each year.
~ Legislation allowing them to be held virtually expires on 7th May 2021. Therefore, you can hold them before 7th May 2021 virtually.
~ If you hold them after 7th May 2021, then you need to comply with the government roadmap out of lockdown and social distancing regime up to 1st June 2021.
DAPTC advice to parish councils thinking of holding a Parish Meetings is as follows:
~ Would anyone challenge a council on not holding it in the legal window? In some locations they might, but others not. NALC Legal advice says it should be held in the legal window. There is less risk for an annual parish meeting as no formal decisions or expenditure should be agreed. It’s entirely different for decisions made at an Annual Council Meeting. These are likely to receive a challenge if important business is transacted unlawfully.
~ For individual councils - it is a case of making a judgement call as to the risk involved.
10. Do you have all the advice and guidance you need to complete the AGAR for your council?
The website of the external auditor PKF Littlejohn has some very useful documents including step-by-step guidance that you can follow to get your AGAR completed and submitted on time. Please go therewebsite here.
11. Updated Practitioners' Guide for 2021 issued by NALC
The 2021 edition of the guide applies to Annual Governance and Accountability Returns (AGAR) in respect of the financial years commencing on or after 1st April 2021. As there are no changes to the guidance, simply clarification of proper practices, it can be applied to the Annual Governance and Accountability Returns covering the period 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021.
Watch out for news of an online 'Councillor Seminar' in late October - let us know of any topics that you might like to see covered by emailing DAPTC here.
Watch out too for a Clerks Seminar in October 2021 - hopefully face-to-face at Kingston Maurward on the morning of Thursday 14th October between 9am and 1pm. Topics and content ideas gratefully received if you have any? Email DAPTC here.
29th April evening course - Introduction to Planning Discover what town planning is and what it covers, who is involved and what they want, where Parish & Town Councils fit in and find out about the Development Timetable. This is part one of a trio of planning course (the other two parts are being run in May).BOOK HERE
17th May - daytime or evening course - New Councillor Induction New Councillor Induction training for new elected / co-opted councillors is now being run regularly by DAPTC. The induction programme includes a combination of engagement activities, e-learning and a short webinar for the cost of £35/delegate.
The programme should give new-to-role councillors a good introduction to parish and town life.
Newly elected or co-opted councillors can choose the most convenient way to join us to help build their knowledge.
1. Councillor attends their first council meeting or committee.
2. Councillor attends online the'What We Do'drop in session with DAPTC that explains how we can support them going forward (this is optional and free) 3. Councillor enrols for the e-learning module'Introduction to Local Councils' 4. Councillor attends'New Councillor Induction'which offers a chance to ask questions and sense check impressions and understanding from 1, 2 & 3 above.
We hope the above programme helps clerks and chairs get their new councillors hitting the ground running. The cost per delegate is £35 which includes a 90 minutes webinar (4) and the e-learning module (3).
18th May - daytime course - DAPTC - What We Do
There is still time to book your place to join the DAPTC team for this FREE OF CHARGE session to help new and existing Clerks, elected members and prospective councillors understand how we support members in Dorset. Neil, Debbie and Lisa will be on hand to talk you through the resources available and an overview of the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils (DAPTC) and how we link up with National Association of Local Councils (NALC), Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP).BOOK HERE
Tuesday 29 June 10-11.30am Finance for Councillors
Wednesday 30 June 10-11.30am Finance for Councillors
Thursday 8 July 10-11.30am Finance for Councillors
Tuesday 13th July 10-11.30am Introduction to VAT for local councils
Wednesday 14 July 10-11.30am Internal Controls
Thursday 15th July 10-11.30am Finance for Councillors
Tuesday 20th July 10-11.30am Internal Controls
Wednesday 21st July 10-11.30am Finance for Councillors
Thursday 22nd July 10-11.30am Finance for Councillors
Please keep your booking confirmation email from The Parkinson Partnership in a safe place; it contains the Zoom code instructions you will need to join the course.
Don't forget - these Finance courses are run nationally for clerks and councillors across the country by our training partnerThe Parkinson Partnershipand so they fill up fast!
SLCC Qualifications
The Society of Local Council Clerks has recently launched their Qualifications booklet which details their offer of a learning pathway and provides more detail on each of the qualifications that can be obtained through SLCC.
Now in it's 20th year - learners will be registered for the updated qualification from April 2021. CiLCA 2021 was updated earlier this year to reflect legislation changes. CiLCA is a level three qualification covering a broad range of knowledge, applicable for clerks, officers, and councillors working in local councils. We want to encourage all local councils to invest and support the professional development of their staff. Find out more in the recent news story from NALC.
The CiLCA Portfolio Guide 2021has been updated. Take a look at the guide for more information on how the qualification is now administered and what subjects are included in the qualification.
NALC's dedicated Coronavirus webpagenow includes updated information on the possibility of the return of face-to-face meetings, suggestions to help prepare, risk assessment considerations and some tips to help manage remote meetings.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has launched a new publication on local (parish and town) councils and the Tree Charter.
The publication, which features a number of case studies, captures the stories of local councils who were Charter Branches (local networks that signed up to the Tree Charter) and their actions from the Tree Charter as a resource of inspiration to other local councils. Read the Tree Charter case studies publication
NALC's Local Council Review (LCR) magazine wants to hear your view
For the next issue of the LCR magazine NALC would like you to answer three questions about your working relationships with sector and non-sector bodies. Please submit your response here by 7th May 2021.
NALC Survey on Young People
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is calling on local (parish and town) councils to complete its new survey on young people. The survey will explore what local councils are currently doing to support young people in our communities. Further information on the survey can be found here.
NALC Star Council Awards 2021
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has announced that it is once again running its awards programme this year as part of its work to recognise the local (parish and town) council sector’s achievements.
The Star Council Awards are the only awards in England to recognise and celebrate the local council sector’s brilliant contribution to its communities. Therefore, the awards are an excellent opportunity for councils, councillors, clerks, and county associations to showcase how they have made a real difference locally.
Following an unprecedented 2020, the theme for this year’s awards will be projects that have positively impacted communities in the context of COVID-19.
The five award categories are:
~ Clerk of the Year ~ County Association Project of the Year ~ Young Councillor of the Year ~ Councillor of the Year ~ Council of the Year
NALC will announce the winners at an online ceremony in September.
Last year’s campaign, ‘BBQs Burn More Than Bangers’, encouraged responsible use and disposal of disposable BBQs. This was shortlisted for a Keep Britain Tidy award and illustrated great partnership working with the Urban Heaths Partnership and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.
This year, Litter Free Dorset are asking businesses in high fire risk areas to remove disposable BBQs from their shelves. High fire risk areas are towns close to heathland, long meadow grassland and grassed sand dunes. This follows multiple incidents of disposable BBQ-related wildfire across Dorset last summer including the Wareham Forest Fire.
Litter Free Dorset are currently in conversation with larger supermarkets across Dorset, but are hoping to get in touch with independent shops and businesses as well. Please could you put us in contact with your local business groups? This could be your local BIDs, business chambers and/or directories.
Please see the Litter Free Dorset campaign webpage for further background.
New government gigabit voucher scheme launched this week
A new government gigabit voucher scheme to help residents and businesses in rural areas was launched on Thursday (8 April).
Small and medium sized businesses can claim up to £3,500 and residents can claim £1,500 per household. To be eligible you must be rural (as defined by the Office for National Statistics), you must receive speeds of less than 100mbps and your area and must not be included in any future commercial roll-out plans. The Dorset Council top-up fund from the previous voucher scheme has rolled over into the new scheme. This will mean, while the funding is available, that businesses in Dorset can claim up to £6,000 and residents up to £2,500.
Under this voucher scheme, residents and businesses that currently receive less than 50mbps will have to take a new service of at least 50, and for those that receive 50 and above, will need to take a service of at least 100mbps.
Get the latest news from Dorset Council, including leisure centre offers, waste and recycling, libraries and more. Sign up to their various newsletters here.
Community Engagement - Website Content & Navigation
We are looking for more volunteers to join our group to help us review the structure of our content and website navigation to ensure it is user-friendly, accessible and easy to understand. Do you think you could help?
To get involved and join the group, please complete our quick survey here.
Vaccination Rollout
More than 420,000 COVID vaccine doses have been given now in Dorset. This video produced by Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group shows the incredible effort across Dorset to achieve this. You can view the Dorset CCG Vaccinations page here for further here.
Through our partnership with Dorset CCG, the communications team have asked that we share the attached social media assets which can be used on your website and social media profiles.
