A view from our window

Democracy Club, Acceptance of Office and also Declaration of Interests Forms, WorkNest Mock Health and Safety Trial

Dear Colleagues, I’m not sure how many councillors this week’s View will reach, but I hope Clerks, you will forward it to both your outgoing Council and your new Council next week.  Lorraine and I would like to extend our thanks to those councillors who are retiring.  Your contribution to our local government sector will be […]

Democracy Club, Acceptance of Office and also Declaration of Interests Forms, WorkNest Mock Health and Safety Trial Read More »

Election Update, Pre-election Period, LGPS, BC Planning Portal, CiLCA Candidates, Local Council Initiatives/Good News

Dear Colleagues Yes, two for one this week! We are happy to be coming to the end of a period of technical challenges!  Imports that will not work, BC laptops that cannot access restricted sites and personal laptops that can, but can’t access BC printers.  You name it, we’ve faced it!  All this prompts me

Election Update, Pre-election Period, LGPS, BC Planning Portal, CiLCA Candidates, Local Council Initiatives/Good News Read More »

Elections Eligibility and Nomination Forms, Changes to BC Planning Portal, BC Charitable Collections Policy Changes, SAPPP 2025

Gosh, it’s chilly again, you might still be needing logs for cosy evenings! This week has seen a slight drop off in our inbox, possibly due to it being the pre-election period for our BC councils and BC itself.  A reminder to all, around the sensitivities of this time whilst normal operations continue. For questions relating

Elections Eligibility and Nomination Forms, Changes to BC Planning Portal, BC Charitable Collections Policy Changes, SAPPP 2025 Read More »

Pre-election, Internal Audit Checklist, Updated Model Finance Regulations, Clerks Seminar and Local Councils Explained

Dear Member Councils Brr!  Winter is clinging on, so keep the hats, coats and gloves handy for when you head out into the parishes to review all those jobs you have been putting off till Spring. I had a great meeting with our MK Parish Liaison Officer, Kay on Monday our BC Officer Gail is

Pre-election, Internal Audit Checklist, Updated Model Finance Regulations, Clerks Seminar and Local Councils Explained Read More »

Congratulations to NALC Star Council of the Year — Great Linford Parish Council, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes! BC Planning Portal Changes, May Elections 2025, Resolving Conflict through Mediation Knowledge Bites session

Dear Colleagues What a week!  We were delighted to attend the NALC Star Councils Award with Gt Linford Parish Council.  Combined, we had been nominated in three categories, Eirwen Tagg for Clerk of the Year, BMKALC for CALC of the Year and Great Linford Parish Council for Council of the Year.  We enjoyed a champagne

Congratulations to NALC Star Council of the Year — Great Linford Parish Council, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes! BC Planning Portal Changes, May Elections 2025, Resolving Conflict through Mediation Knowledge Bites session Read More »

NPPF Wycombe District impact, Planning Liaison 3rd March, Procurement Act 2023 comes into force, Buckinghamshire Elections and BMKALC Conference

Good afternoon everyone, It’s been a busy week once again in our office and judging from the inbox, in all of yours too.  Questions this week have related to finance – you can tell the year end is hurtling towards us and the VAT questions are flying in, to the meeting dates for your Annual

NPPF Wycombe District impact, Planning Liaison 3rd March, Procurement Act 2023 comes into force, Buckinghamshire Elections and BMKALC Conference Read More »

Parish Liaison, Free January, New GPN, BMKALC Place Shaping Conference June 16th, NALC Updates and Revised National Planning Policy Framework

Welcome to 2025 and what a bracing start it has been so far! It promises to be an exciting year.   Two thirds of our members face  elections alongside Bucks Council, a white paper on devolution for which we await with baited breath, the detail – the devil is after all, always in the detail! Possible

Parish Liaison, Free January, New GPN, BMKALC Place Shaping Conference June 16th, NALC Updates and Revised National Planning Policy Framework Read More »

ICO FOI Resources, Unmetered Services, BMKALC AGM Tickets, National Insurance

Dear Colleagues The Information Commissioners Office have published new FOI resources to help smaller public authorities with their obligations under the law. We’ve created a checklist to help with internal searches in response to requests, provided real-world examples to explain how to refuse vexatious requests and empowered the public to look for information prior to submitting a request. You will recall that

ICO FOI Resources, Unmetered Services, BMKALC AGM Tickets, National Insurance Read More »

NALC new website, Martyn’s Law Steering Group, Handling online abuse and intimidation, New positive duty to prevent sexual harassment, NALC Survey, Democracy In Action

Dear Colleagues The very fact that you haven’t heard from me in a couple of weeks demonstrates how busy we’ve been here in BMKALC, so lets bring you up to date. Firstly and with great relief I can confirm that NALC’s new website is live.  You will need to all create new accounts to access

NALC new website, Martyn’s Law Steering Group, Handling online abuse and intimidation, New positive duty to prevent sexual harassment, NALC Survey, Democracy In Action Read More »

Biodiversity Seminar, Chair of Council Reception, NPFF Consultation, Pro Pathways For Councillors – The Experienced Councillor training portfolio update

Dear Colleagues What a week, I’m hoping that the worst is past us and despite it becoming colder, it will also allow things to dry out.  It’s been two weeks since our last view which is testament to how busy we have all been.   We enjoyed an amazing BioDiversity Seminar and the feedback from you,

Biodiversity Seminar, Chair of Council Reception, NPFF Consultation, Pro Pathways For Councillors – The Experienced Councillor training portfolio update Read More »