A View From Our Window – The change in temperature …

The change in temperature has reminded us that winter is here and with it will come challenges for all with keeping warm.  Do have a look what support is available in your locality and share it with your residents via your websites and noticeboards.  Many without internet have no idea that so much support is out there.  Bucks Council and Milton Keynes City Council have lots of information that could be passed on Help with the cost of living (Helping Hand) | Buckinghamshire Council  Cost of living support | Milton Keynes City Council (milton-keynes.gov.uk)

This week Mel has been taking a well-earned break from BMKALC and we look forward to seeing her back next week refreshed and ready for all the Christmas get togethers.

• Milton Keynes 13^th December MK Clerks Festive Coffee and Connections – 13th December 2022 from 13:30 – BMKALC (bucksalc.gov.uk)

• Bucks 15^th December BC Clerks Festive Coffee and Connections – 15th December 2022 from 13:30 – BMKALC (bucksalc.gov.uk)

Lorraine has been busy putting together a range of training courses for our Free January event available to all member councils.  I have been busy writing content for some new courses.  Do have a look and see what is on offer Chairing Skills and a live Q&A session are just two of the courses on offer.  FREE JANUARY! Our members only month-long free training and information sessions event is now open for booking here!

Several Clerks have signed up for the CiLCA course that will begin in April 2023, and Mel is looking forward to running that.  Social media and planning trainings were successfully hosted this week with the planning training sold out.

Looking further into next year NALC have issued some guidance (see in blue below) regarding elections and the coronation of HM King Charles III in relation to meeting dates, issuing of summons, acceptance of office etc.

Further to our guidance in the October 2022 legal bulletin, we now know that Monday 8 May will be an additional bank holiday to mark the coronation of HM King Charles III. The 2023 local election date is Thursday 4 May and councillors would ordinarily take office on Monday 8 May. Our view is that councillors will now take office on Tuesday 9 May making the relevant 14-day meeting period for the purposes of paragraph 7 (2) of Schedule 12 to the Local Government Act 1972 Wednesday 10-Thursday 25 May inclusive.

This an area where we are aware there have been different interpretations of the computation of days and we have not counted Sundays in our 14-day calculation.

We are aware that councils may have questions about pre-election publicity because of any Coronation related events pre-election. Our advice is essentially limited to councils ensuring that publicity is in the name of the council rather than any individuals. We will update our briefing L01-22 linking to the LGA’s guidance when the LGA update the guidance, which currently refers to the 2022 local elections.

Have a lovely weekend, we look forward to seeing many of you next week. 

Helen, Lorraine & Mel