Documents
Electronic Summons
An overview of the legislation permitting the sending of summons by email to councillors to attend local council meetings.
Sun, 01 Feb 2015
Freedom of Information - changes
Guidance on changes that have been made to the 2000 Act by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.
The changes made by the 2012 Act do not place additional burdens on councils in respect of the types of information they are required to disclose. One of the purposes of the changes is to allow persons who have been provided with information under the 2000 Act to make more extensive use of the information they receive. The uses to which information disclosed by a council could be put are varied and include commercial and non-commercial purposes. The information could be used by anybody who considers it worthwhile to publish it. The changes also allow requesters to receive the information requested in a more useable (electronic) form where possible.
Sun, 01 Feb 2015
Auto-enrolment pensions
Powerpoint slides from briefing given in February 2015 coverning duties and enrolment
Sun, 01 Feb 2015
Planning - Plain English Guide to the Planning System
The guide explains how the system works.
Thu, 01 Jan 2015
Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities
Full information on the Code that is mandatory for all councils with a turnover of less than £25,000
Mon, 01 Dec 2014
CPD Scheme
Continuous Professional Development Scheme for Local Council Clerks. This document sets out a national points scheme and explains how it works.
CPD activities including studying for qualifications, attendance at conferences.training courses and reading relevant publications.
Mon, 01 Dec 2014
An approach to internal audit testing
Appendix 9 Governance and Accountability 2014. A useful document which outlines the various tests/internal controls required to ensure that a local council is compliant with proper practices.
Wed, 03 Sep 2014
Local Government Investments - DCLG Guidance
Appendix 8 Governance and Accountability 2014
Wed, 03 Sep 2014
The approach to the audit of local councils in England
Appendix 3 of Governance and Accountability 2014
Wed, 03 Sep 2014
Statement of Responsibilities of auditors and of audited small bodies
Appendix 2 of Governance and Accountability 2014
Wed, 03 Sep 2014
Meetings of parish meetings LTN06
Notes that apply to the meetings of a Parish Meeting
Mon, 01 Sep 2014
Powers of a parish meeting in a parish without a separate parish council LTN03
The legislation concerning the role of a Parish Meeting, in a parish where there is no Parish Council
Mon, 01 Sep 2014
Registered Land LTN46
Difference between registered and unregistered land; advantages of registering;over-riding interests; the three elements of the register
Tue, 05 Aug 2014
Predetermination - LTN81
Difference between having a closed mind and a disclosable interest; how to avoid predetermination; section 25 of the Localism Act 2011
Sat, 02 Aug 2014
Nuisance (Public and Statutory) LTN66
Definitions: Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Fri, 01 Aug 2014
Powers for councils to discharge their functions LTN01
Document concerning the discharge of the functions for a council and the delegation to a committee or sub-committee of those functions
Fri, 01 Aug 2014
Public Rights of Way - LTN77
An overview of the law relating to public rights of way.
Mon, 02 Jun 2014
Closed Churchyards and Disused Burial Grounds LTN65
Definition: process for closing: responsibility: maintenance.
This LTN covers the legislation concerning closed churchyards and disused burial grounds including the definition, the process for closing, responsibility for maintenance of a closed churchyard.
Sun, 01 Jun 2014
Energy Performance Requirements LTN76
Display energy certificates are required to be published by all public authorities to display information about their building's energy use. This applies if your parish/town council office is open to the public and has a total useful floor area of more than 250m2
Fri, 02 May 2014
Burial Grounds (Tombstones and Memorials) LTN64
The legal responsibilities of a local council with regard to its liabilities for tombstones and memorials on a burial ground that it occupies or owns, regardless of whether it is open or closed.
Thu, 01 May 2014
Governance and Accountability 2014
This version has been replaced by later versions, but it contains a lot of useful background which is not in the shorter, more user-friendly update.
Sun, 02 Mar 2014