Good morning, everyone and welcome to May!
April flew by in blur, lots of meetings, lots of training, lots of clerks and what a lot to do! I think we can safely say that the first Bucks SLCC and BMKALC event was a great success. Not everyone can make the National Events nor spend two days away from their desk, so this was the next best thing. I can’t quite suggest to Lorraine that we do it again next year, she’s still in recovery!
That said, seeing all of you puts momentum into us. So, this week, we’ve enjoyed BC Clerks Forums, the start of CiLCA 2026 and catching up on the threads which were neglected last week. Today I whisk your BMKALC Executive Board away to think constructively about the future.
Now for something very rare, a nudge toward some small grant funding which you can access! Easyfundraising.co.uk contacted us. In partnership with Tesco, they are offering good causes the chance to receive one of several £1,000 unrestricted funding pots. Town and village councils are eligible good causes. Now I haven’t explored it directly myself, but it must be worth a moment of your time because I can’t remember the last time someone sent us info about grants for T’s and P’s. There was a time way back when, when Carole and I would receive a list of different funds that were available. Anyway, further details attached herewith.
Also, a direct invitation from Emily Darlington MP for MK Central.
I am writing to warmly invite you, your staff, members, volunteers, pupils, congregation, colleagues, families and wider network to join me for a community picnic on Saturday 27 June 2026, from 12.00pm to 4.00pm, at the Campbell Park Amphitheatre, Milton Keynes.
The picnic is inspired by The Great Get Together, the UK-wide celebration of community, connection and the things that bring us together. It was created in memory of Jo Cox MP and is rooted in her powerful belief that we have more in common than that which divides us. In that spirit, I would like this event to be an opportunity for people from across Milton Keynes to come together in friendship, unity and community.
The aim of the afternoon is simple: to bring together local businesses, schools, colleges, faith groups, voluntary organisations, charities, public bodies, parish councils, residents’ groups, community organisations and families from across Milton Keynes, so that everyone feels welcome and represented.
This will be a community picnic, so I encourage everyone attending to bring their own food and, if they are able to, to bring a little extra to share with others. I hope this will help people meet new neighbours, start conversations, get to know others in the community, and learn more about the fantastic local groups and organisations that make Milton Keynes such a strong, welcoming and vibrant place.
The afternoon will be family-friendly and open to all. It will be a chance not only to enjoy time together in Campbell Park, but also to meet others from across Milton Keynes, make new connections, build relationships across the community, and celebrate the people and groups who do so much for our city. I also hope it will be a useful opportunity for residents and local organisations to meet my team and me in an informal setting, particularly if you have any queries, questions or issues you would like to raise with us.
I would be delighted if your organisation could attend and, where appropriate, share this invitation with your staff, members, service users, parents, congregations, residents or wider networks. Your presence would help make the event a genuine reflection of the people, groups and organisations that contribute so much to our local community.
I realise it might be a long hall from Farnham Royal for a picnic in Milton Keynes, although I know you’d have a warm welcome. However we in Bucks can pick up a few tips and perhaps plan to do something similar and if you are already doing something please let me know and I will mention it to our wider world.
NALC reports that external auditors are receiving queries about Box 11 on the 2025/26 Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) from councils that are not sole managing trustees. If your parish or town council is not a sole managing trustee, you must tick YES at Box 11 on the Accounting Statements (see Paragraph 2.32 of the Practitioners’ Guide 2025). Leaving Box 11 blank may result in a qualified audit opinion. Please note that queries relating to the AGAR should, in the first instance, be raised to your county association and not the external auditor.
Finally, here’s a fun note to ponder, BBC’s The Repair Shop on the Road is looking to work with parish and town councils to uncover and restore treasured community items with local stories to tell. Councils are invited to nominate historic objects, artefacts from community spaces, or items that reflect local heritage and identity, with the chance for them to be repaired and featured by the programme’s expert team. You can find out more about how to get involved on the NALC website.
We wish you a very happy Bank Holiday weekend, I think we are all promised some sunshine at some time. We hope it finds you and yours, relaxed and well.
Kind regards
Mel, Lorraine and Jess