Documents
Maternity, Adoption and Paternity Policy
'All women, regardless of their length of service, are entitled to 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave (OML) and 26 weeks additional maternity leave (AML) providing a right to one year's maternity leave in total.
Maternity leave shall commence no earlier than 11 weeks before the EWC, or from the time of childbirth if that is earlier. From the beginning of the fourth week before the EWC a woman's maternity leave is triggered if she is absent because of her pregnancy e.g. due to a pregnancy-related illness or fatigue.'
Sat, 01 Sep 2012
Working Hours and Overtime Policy
'The Working Time Regulations 1998 (as amended) outline that employees should not work more than 48 hours per week on average. An individual employee may agree to work more than 48 hours a week. If so, he or she should sign the opt-out agreement found in Appendix 1, which they can cancel at any time. The employee must give 1 months notice to cancel the opt out agreement.
Employees cannot be fairly dismissed or subjected to detriment for refusing to sign an opt-out.
The Town/Parish Clerk will keep a record of who has agreed to work longer hours.'
Sat, 01 Sep 2012
Equal Opportunities Policy
'... Town/Parish Council's intention is to be an effective Equal Opportunities organisation. This means it will do everything in its power to ensure that everyone has equal access, and is treated with respect, in relation to employment opportunities, to its services and to all its activities.'
This model document is for a town/ parish council to use as the basis for their equal opportunities policy
Sat, 01 Sep 2012
Absence Management Policy
The Council is committed to providing effective, high quality service to all its customers and to optimising the contribution of all employees. As part of this aim it is essential that throughout the organisation all employees are committed to maximising attendance.
The Council is concerned for the wellbeing of its employees and seeks to protect their health and safety by creating a safe working environment. In return the Council expects all employees to take reasonable care of their own health, seek medical help whenever appropriate and to attend work when fit to do so.
The Council recognises that genuine medical grounds will occasionally result in employee absence. It is the Council's policy to treat all such sickness absence in a fair, sensitive and consistent manner across all areas of the workforce.
Sat, 01 Sep 2012
Capability Procedure
This procedure should be used primarily for supporting, enhancing and improving the performance of employees.
In accordance with the Employment Rights Act 1996, Human Rights Act 1998 and the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary Procedures this procedure sets out a framework for resolving issues relating to poor performance. The procedure aims to ensure that consistent and fair treatment is given to individuals.
Sat, 01 Sep 2012
Annual Leave Policy
The annual leave year runs from 1st April to 31st March.
The minimum paid annual leave entitlement is twenty one days, plus two statutory days with a further four days after five years continuous service. Staff employed on a part-time basis will be entitled to leave on a pro-rata basis.
Sat, 01 Sep 2012
Guide to Awarding Dispensations
Parish Councils are now responsible for determining requests for a dispensation by a parish councillor under Section 33 of Localism Act 2011. This is because they are a"relevant authority" under section 27(6) (d) of the Act.
This guide explains:
a. the purpose and effect of dispensations
b. the procedure for requesting dispensations
c. the criteria which are applied in determining dispensation requests
d. the terms of dispensations
Thu, 14 Jun 2012
Dispensation Request Form
A model Dispensation Request form for Town and Parish councillors.
Fri, 01 Jun 2012
Charity Trustee-Councillor's Guide
This guide, jointly produced by the Local Government Association and the Charity Commission specifically addresses the situation where a local authority is the sole trustee of a charity.
Sun, 01 Jan 2012
Guidance on Filling a Council Vacancy
This Guidance Document details the process for filling a council vacancy.
'A vacancy on the council must first be advertised by Cornwall Council offering the public the opportunity to fill the vacancy by bye-election. At least 10 members of the public must demand a poll to require the parish/town council to fill the vacancy by public bye?election. If there is no demand for a bye-election, the parish/town council will be notified by the Electoral Officer of Cornwall Council that they are free to coopt to fill the vacancy which can then be done at a subsequent council meeting.'
Thu, 01 Sep 2011
Parish and Town Council Records
Parish and Town Council clerks create a wide range of records in order to fulfil the duties of their Councils. Some of these are of long?term historical interest and should be preserved permanently after their administrative usefulness has been served. Many, however, should be disposed of after a number of years. These guidelines have been drawn up in response to regular requests for advice and assistance over the years. They should also serve to help parish and town clerks manage their records, which is a basic element of being able to meet the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
The guidelines aim to help clerks to decide which records should be kept and which can be safely destroyed in the parish.
Thu, 01 Sep 2011
Retention, disposal and care of records
Parish and Town Council clerks create a wide range of records in order to fulfil the duties of their Councils. Some of these are of long-term historical interest and should be preserved permanently after their administrative usefulness has been served. Many, however, should be disposed of after a number of years.
These guidelines have been drawn up in response to regular requests for advice and assistance over the years. They should also serve to help parish and town clerks manage their records, which is a basic element of being able to meet the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
The guidelines aim to help clerks to decide which records should be kept and which can be safely destroyed in the parish.
Thu, 01 Sep 2011
Exhumation Application Form and Guidance Notes
Application for a licence for the removal of buried human remains in England and Wales
Tue, 01 Mar 2011
Transfer of Responsibility for a closed churchyard
Where a the Parochial Church Council serves notice to a local council of its intention to close the Churchyard and transfer responsibility, the local council may in turn (within three months of the request) transfer this responsibility to Cornwall Council by making a formal resolution at Council and serving notice on the Principal Authority.
This document provides a sample letter for you to use as required.
Fri, 01 Jan 2010
Managing the Safety of Burial Ground Memorials
The advice provided in this Ministry of Justice document is in response to the requests by burial ground managers for practical guidance to assist them in developing sensible, proportionate and sensitive arrangements for managing gravestones.
Thu, 01 Jan 2009
Model Publication Scheme: Template
'Information available from …………. Parish/Community Council under the model publication scheme'
This document provides a template for a Parish council to use to determine what documents they will make available, for whom, how and at what costs.
Thu, 11 Sep 2008
Predisposition, Predetermination and Bias
Both predetermination and bias have proved to be difficult and controversial issues for many members and monitoring officers. Although they are judgemade, common law issues, and not part of the Code of Conduct, the Standards Board for England has agreed to publish this occasional paper to help clarify the issues.
This easy to access document gives a simple overview as to the issues surrounding predisposition, predetermination and bias
Wed, 01 Aug 2007
Paradise Preserved
An introduction to the assessment, evaluation, conservation and management of historic cemeteries
Wed, 31 Jan 2007
A Plot Holders Guide
There are three key groups involved in the day to day running of allotments. They are: local authorities, allotment societies, and individual plot holders themselves.
In addition to these, the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) is responsible for overall policy onallotments. The Department's aim is to promote allotments, provide the necessary protection for them, and to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet demand. Over a quarter of a million people currently hold an allotment plot. If you are one of them, or are planning to join them.
This guide gives a good overview as to all involved in allotments and what questions a prospective allotment holder may have for you and your council.
Mon, 01 Jan 2001