Documents
Bespoke training for councils
GAPTC is able to provide training for your council, on an agreed date, for the Being a Better Councillor (full day) and Councillor Induction (half day) courses. This document sets out the costs.
Tue, 15 Dec 2015
Job adverts for new Clerk/RFO - guidance
What to include in the advertisement for a new Clerk/RFO
Mon, 14 Dec 2015
Dogs, control of LTN17
The legislation around the control of dogs and an overview of Public Spaces Protection Orders.
Sun, 01 Nov 2015
GRCC - our partners
Our Partners – the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC)
GAPTC and GRCC both work to support the parish and town council sector.
GAPTC provides legal advice to support the work of councils and runs training courses for clerks and councillors to help them in their role.
GRCC complement the work of GAPTC as they support people across Gloucestershire to develop and shape their communities in a variety of ways:
- Affordable housing – local housing needs surveys and location of suitable sites
- Community buildings – professional support service to volunteers who manage community buildings
- Parish Plans – support and material guidance at every stage of development
- Community Emergency Plans – Support in developing plans tailored to the needs of the community
- Funding advice – Advice and support for community projects
- Neighbourhood Development Plans – Support and guidance through each step of the process
- Social Enterprise Networks – Networks which support organisations to bring services, such as community shops
Sun, 04 Oct 2015
Community Right to Nominate and Bid for Assets of Community Value LTN85
The Localism Act 2011 gives parish councils the right to nominate an asset of community value to be added to a list maintained by their principal authority. If any listed assets comes up for sale, parish councils will be given a window of opportunity to express an interest in purchasing the asset and another window of opportunity to bid to purchase it. An asset of community value may include, for example, a community centre, village shop, tennis courts or a pub.
Wed, 02 Sep 2015
Borrowing application form
Form to be completed to apply for borrowing approval, which has to be submitted through GAPTC
Tue, 01 Sep 2015
Borrowing application information
Checklist of information to be provided by parish/town councils for any borrowing
Tue, 01 Sep 2015
Public Contracts Regulations
The impact on a council's adopted standing orders and financial regulations
Mon, 03 Aug 2015
Village Greens - Play and Sports Equipment LTN56
The law relating to the provision of facilities on village greens.
Sun, 02 Aug 2015
Occupiers' Liability LTN42
Duties pursuant to the Occupiers' Liability Acts 1957 and 1984
Sun, 05 Jul 2015
Community Governance Reviews LTN73
How reviews can lead to the creation, abolition, alteration or grouping of parish councils.
Thu, 02 Jul 2015
Honours
How to nominate individuals for New Year and Birthday Honours.
An Honour is a unique form of national recognition. It is a distinctive way of acknowledging someone's impact on UK life, whether they fundraise for a local cause or volunteer at the local school; promote the economy or support one of the Government's particular priorities. There is considerable competition for Honours: each nomination faces rigorous evaluation and decisions are based on the information contained on the nomination form. It is very important that your nomination gives the Government Department and the Independent Sector Committees which make the final decisions the information they need to consider the case fully and in context.
Wed, 01 Jul 2015
Contracts LTN35
A very brief overview of the law relating to contracts and its application to local councils. This note describes how contracts are created, different types of contractual obligations and the consequences of breaching them.
Wed, 01 Jul 2015
Health and Safety Revised LTN23
Local Councils are made up of over 80,000 councillors and employ over 25,000 staff and have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of its employees and others. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 on employers and employees to protect health and safety. This note sets out some basic principles and highlights principles that councils may need to investigate further.
Wed, 01 Jul 2015
Legal Proceedings LTN15
This legal topic note identifies the main types of legal proceedings.
Wed, 01 Jul 2015
Acceptance of Office form - model
Form to be used for new councillors at the meeting they become a councillor, or as soon as possible afterwards.
Wed, 01 Jul 2015
Employment contract - model
Suggested wording for employment contract for Clerk/RFO which can be adapted to suit your council.
Wed, 01 Jul 2015
Job description - model
Suggested wording for job description for role of Clerk/RFO
Wed, 01 Jul 2015
Fly-Grazing
Information on the Control of Horses Act 2015. The Act aims to clamp down on people who illegally abandon horses. It introduces changes to the law to deter people from illegally grazing or simply abandoning horses on public and private land, which is known as 'fly-grazing'.
The law mean horse owners who fly-graze their animals without permission can now be dealt with more quickly and effectively. The new Act means owners now have only four days to claim their animals. It extends the options for dealing with abandoned horses, which now include private sale, gifting and rehoming, which should mean they can be dealt with more quickly which is more efficient, cheaper for landowners and local authorities and kinder to the horses
Mon, 01 Jun 2015
Co-option briefing
Good practice when co-opting including the public notice of casual vacancies, eligibility and voting at council meetings.
Thu, 07 May 2015
Litter, Control of Litter Revised LTN16
This legal topic note sets out the law and procedures in relation to keeping public places free of litter.
Fri, 01 May 2015
Transparency Code (over £200,000)
Information on the Transparency Code for councils with a turnover of over £200,000
Wed, 01 Apr 2015
Prayers
Information on the law ensuring that local councils have the right to hold prayers
Wed, 01 Apr 2015
Unauthorised Encampments
Government guidance on dealing with unauthorised encampments
Wed, 01 Apr 2015