Local Nature Recovery Strategy Launch, SLCC Bucks AGM, Protect UK Resources, NALC & LGA Government Funded Recruitment Campaign, New Staffing Considerations, ICO Model Publication Scheme, Tax Base Data, National Planning Policy Framework
Dear Colleagues
We’ve had a steady week here in BMKALC and we are seeing a slowing down in the inbox. Our training programme for this year is now complete. However, it’s also a time for lots of meetings including the SLCC Bucks branch AGM and lunch, dashing around to catch up with people we have promising to visit for a while and of course the launch of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy on Friday!
The SLCC Bucks AGM was hosted by Haddenham this year and we were treated to presentations from the Woodland Trust and Bucks Council focussing on forests, ancient woodlands and trees in general. It also gives me an opportunity to highlight the value that belonging to your local SLCC brings to your role. Clerking can be an isolating experience and knowing your neighbours and supporting each other is key to breaking out of that isolation. Remember that SLCC membership fees are carried by councils, providing their clerks with access to advice notes, templates, an advice library, further training, and a bookshop. They can also assist member councils with locum support. We work closely together at our local level to consider training gaps, and where extra support is needed and are looking forward to our first joint event on the 20th of April 2026 for our local Clerks Seminar.
NALC had National Assembly on Tuesday and the Chief Exec’s bulletin to councils contains summaries of appointments, I wanted to highlight that Protect UK has published some new resources, including a summary of Martyn’s Law and a myth-buster leaflet which will be of use to our Councils.
NALC partnered with the Local Government Association to launch a landmark government-funded national recruitment campaign to attract fresh talent into parish and town councils. As districts and boroughs roll up into unitaries there is a lot of disquiet, some redundancy and some very experienced officers to scoop up. As part of the campaign, they have a comprehensive recruitment toolkit. You can download the toolkit from the NALC website. There is also a new advice note on staffing considerations following a community governance review and an updated disciplinary policy, which includes a flow chart and new wording to add clarity at Paragraph 25.
Attendees at our Conference will recall the update from MKCC on new council home investment and I was pleased to receive notice that 100+ families are moving into their new homes in Bletchley. It’s exciting to see this direct investment and commitment by a Principle Authority in homes for families.
| More than 100 families move into new homes on the Lakes EstateWe’ve reached a milestone in our biggest ever regeneration programme, as 100 council tenants have now moved into their new homes on The Lakes Estate in Bletchley.Local residents and members of the Lakes Estate Renewal Forum joined councillors and our project team for the latest handover at Melfort Drive, where tenants are settling into their new homes. These homes are modern, energy efficient and designed to give families high quality housing where they can thrive.The first phase of the regeneration will deliver around 200 new homes along with a new health centre, community spaces and an improved park. Construction began last year and is expected to be completed early next year. This project has been shaped by years of collaboration with the local community, who played a central role in designing the plans approved in 2022.We have invested almost £70 million in this project with support from Homes England, and we are committed to continuing to work with residents to make the Lakes Estate a vibrant and welcoming place for everyone. |
The slight slowdown allows me to focus on a couple of topics affecting several members. The first of which is the ICO Model Publication Scheme. Some of you are using the incorrect version and this will be checked by your internal auditors! The correct version can be found at the website here; https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/foi/publication-schemes-a-guide/definition-documents/.
Unfortunately, there are old versions elsewhere on the web (including on the ICO website…) and people are downloading and using them. Some councils are treating the ICO Model Scheme as a template which they can amend. You are not allowed to do this without ICO approval, see Section 20 b) circulated to all Clerks under separate cover. You must adopt the Model unchanged unless you have specific approval from the ICO (which you will not get!). Thank you, Kevin Rose, for highlighting this to me.
I wanted to spend a moment on Tax Base data. It’s something that experienced heads will be familiar with, but now with an increased focus on determining what the council needs to collect to deliver its services effectively, many councils worry less about the monetary value of the Band D contribution. Indeed, when submitting your precept, you now put in the lump sum figure, and the spreadsheet delivers the contribution bands.
This week owing to a typing error many BC clerks were left waiting for their Tax Base data. Some had meetings scheduled where budgets and precepts were to be decided. Whilst this wasn’t a material impediment to the passing of a budget, many councillors are uncomfortable at approving the budget without this detail.
So, what is the Tax Base? This is the number of houses in your parish that fall into a Band D Council Tax rate. This changes as new houses are built, or demolished, or in receipt of council support or rated as single occupancy households. The more houses there are, the smaller their share of the precept, when house numbers drop the individual contribution rises. Simply put your Band D Rate is equal to your precept divided by the number of Band D properties in your parish.
Catching up with new property developments can take time, and rates aren’t collected until houses are occupied so new developments an take a while before they are recognised by BC and MKCC, a matter we have previously raised in support of member councils.
In summary though, I urge you all to consider the services which your parishes need when considering your budget. All the money raised from a precept is spent in your parish, making a difference to your parishioners’ lives. If you are a councillor who flinches that the Council’s employment costs hover at anywhere between 50 and 60%, remember that you need employees to deliver the services which you resolve to have. Remember also, that the statutory requirement on councils continues to rise, Martyn’s Law, changes in employment responsibilities, statutory training on certain employment matters, insurance, transparency and compliance improvements, are just a few examples which, even with one employee, all have to be delivered.
On a further joyful note…. I remind you that we now only have two weeks to wait for the updated National Planning Policy Framework to be published. It was the same time last year, a special gift for those with a quiet moment between Christmas and New Year.
Perhaps next year we should do an Advent Calendar, with a template or policy behind every window….Jess?
We’re off to do the last-minute shopping and decorating, we wish you a restful weekend and look forward to speaking with you next week.
Kind regards
Mel, Lorraine and JessLocal Nature