A view from our window

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 […]

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

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,

Dear Colleagues this week those councils in Bucks were invited to attend a presentation outlining the proposed NPPF planning changes and the impact locally.  Don’t forget that you only have until the Tuesday 24th September 2024 to make your observations on this consultation.  This is a Government set consultation and we have had no input or

Dear Colleagues Well, if you blinked you may have missed it, summer has been and gone, promises of a late visitation have yet to materialise and it’s time to start thinking about draught excluder and a properly aged and dried log delivery!  Lorraine and I managed a few days off in the midst of ongoing

Dear Colleagues There is an audible sigh in our sector as local councils either take a recess from meetings or at least wind them down for August.  Whilst many will choose this time to be away with family or to simply take a break, others of will be climbing into those housekeeping jobs which languish

Dear Colleagues I trust that this email will languish in your mailboxes until Monday and that you are making the most of the sunny snap!  I’m anxious to finish off my workload on my non-working day, so that I too can escape and make the most of a rare and lovely day! This week has

You may be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped into Autumn and I hear reports of even our most resilient of colleagues being drawn back to the central heating controls and here we are in mid July.  Still, schools are breaking up, suitcases are being hauled out of lofts and this weekend you will be unable

Dear Colleagues I cannot fail to acknowledge the big event which took place this week.  The General Election virtually silenced our email inbox which enabled me to crack on with a long list of administrative tasks for the Association.  Today we wake up to the establishing of a new government with fresh ambition and energy

Dear Colleagues It has been a busy week at BMKALC with four training courses, Councillor’s essentials session 2 and 3, Clerks Induction and CiLCA Unit 2 for Group 1.  You should all have been very busy finalising your AGAR’s.  The deadline is the end of June for submission and remember if you are not required