Documents
LTN-54 Protection of Ownerless Common Land and Village Greens
Legal Topic Note 54-July 2017
Some Village Greens and common land in England and Wales have no known owners. Local Authorities (including local councils) have the power to protect such land.
This note will look at the relevant law, which is mainly set out in section 43 of the Commons Act 2006 and in sections 38 of the 2006 Act.
Sat, 01 Jul 2017
PR9-17 Fixed Penalty Notices- NALC Consultation Response
NALC's Policy Consultation Response to Government regarding Fixed Penalty Notices (PR9-17)
Fri, 30 Jun 2017
Members Allowances Report
Please note that applying the relevant percentage increases since 2012 (when these were last updated) the figures for 2017/18 (from 1.4.17) would be:
Member Allowance £196.96
Chairman Allowance £290.93
It should also be remembered that whilst the council may offer the allowance, members have to decide whether they wish to claim the payment which is subject to PAYE and would be taken into account for any means tested benefits as it is treated as salary. In addition, Co-Opted members are unable to receive the Members Allowance.
Thu, 22 Jun 2017
Good Councillor's Guide to Neighbourhood Planning
The new Guide from NALC to Neighbourhood Planning
Tue, 23 May 2017
Local Authority Accounts: A guide to your rights
As a local resident people have legal rights to inspect, ask questions about and challenge items in your council's accounts.
The National Audit Office has recently published this new guide on these rights, which are enshrined in law.
Fri, 12 May 2017
L03-17 Reform of Data Protection Legislation
A new legal briefing on the Reform of data protection legislation and introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation is now available on our website documents section.
On May 25th 2018, Data Protection law is set to change. The 2016 EU Directive known as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will on this date take effect and essentially replace the 1988 Act.
Fri, 12 May 2017
Citizens Advice Survey
Citizens Advice Cornwall are carrying out a survey into the provision of services and public transport options in rural areas as an update to their report on the subject in 2010.
Surveys should be completed by July 3rd 2017 and returned to wailim.wong@citizensadvicecornwall.org.uk .
Fri, 12 May 2017
Freedom of Information- Handling Requests
The ICO have put together this useful flow chart demonstrating how you can handle requests from the public under the Freedom of Information Act.
Wed, 10 May 2017
Register of Interests form
The latest version of the Members' Register of Interests form.
All members of principal and local councils have a legal duty under the Localism Act 2011 to register pecuniary interests in the register maintained by the Monitoring Officer for their area. The types of interests that must be registered are prescribed in regulations. Currently those regulations are The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012.
Tue, 09 May 2017
Housing White Paper Consultation Response PR05-17
NALC's response to DCLG Regarding their Housing White Paper consultation request
Fri, 05 May 2017
Business Rate Retention Consultation Response PR07-17
NALC's response to DCLG Regarding the Business Rate Retention consultation.
Fri, 05 May 2017
LTN-28 Basic Charity Law
LTN-28 Basic Charity Law- April 2017
Legal Topic Note detailing the principal roles played by local councils in the trusteeship of charities.
Tue, 02 May 2017
Guidance Notes for the Transparency Fund Application Form 2017-18
Guidance notes to accompany the Transparency Fund application form (2017-18).
All completed forms should be returned to enquiries@cornwallalc.org.uk
Fri, 28 Apr 2017
Parkrun - NALC Consultation PC4-17
The DCLG has published a consultation on conserving the free use of public parks. The government is proposing to introduce legislation which would put it beyond doubt that local authorities, including parish councils, cannot charge parkrun or junior parkrun for the use of public parks.
NALC believes that the decision as to whether to levy such charges for use of such recreation facilities should be made by parish councils themselves.
It has asked for members' views which should be submitted to Jessica Lancod-Frost@nalc.gov.uk by 1700 hrs on Wednesday 28th June 2017 .
The government consultation paper itself can be found here: Running free- Government Consultation Paper
Tue, 25 Apr 2017
NALC Employment Briefing E01-17 - 'Green Book'
NALC has issued this employment briefing on the position regarding the 'Green Book' – the National Terms and Conditions for local government employees, which was updated in 2016.
In terms of the nature of the changes made, the LGA announced on 14 December 2016 that while the Green Book had been "updated" it had not significantly changed
Fri, 07 Apr 2017
Purdah - a short guide to publicity during the pre-election period
A short guide to the rules on 'purdah' produced by the Local Government Association
Tue, 04 Apr 2017
Governance & Accountability for Smaller Authorities in England - A Practitioner's Guide
This Guide is issued by the Joint Panel on Accounting Guidance (JPAG), and jointly published by the Society of Local Council Clerks, the National Association of Local Councils and the Association of Drainage Authorities
JPAG has approved some minor amendments to the wording of the guide. The content is not greatly changed, but a minor error affecting Parish Meetings has been corrected and some of the explanations in Part 5 have been made clearer.
The 2017 edition of the Guide applies to the statutory reporting of the financial year 2017/18. However, JPAG has authorised the early adoption of the Guide for 2016/17 on a voluntary basis. The decision whether to do so will rest with individual smaller authorities.
Fri, 31 Mar 2017
A Future for Trees
NALC's Project Communications Officer explains the Charter for Trees, Woods and People, which is being launched later this year and how local councils can get involved.
Fri, 31 Mar 2017
