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 to eligibility of candidates or queries to do with nomination forms, I refer your candidates to the Electoral Commission in the first and Electoral Services in the second. Standing for nomination as a Parish or Town Councillor is, strictly speaking, a private matter and not council business. We’d be in a sorry state without our councillors; however council funds should not be spent supporting individual candidates in their endeavours. Sorry to keep banging this drum, my inbox reflects that this still a concern.
Elsewhere this week, I had delivered a review on the progress made so far on the Senior Officer Job Evaluation Scheme to the NALC Development Board, enjoyed a demonstration of a CRM system for CALCs, attended a mock Health and Safety Trial, scary stuff, and Lorraine delivered with Breakthrough Communications, week 3 of the three part AI course. In-between times we have been working hard to update all of our digital assets ready for the new financial year.
There has been a great deal of concern around the changes to the BC Planning Portal. For all of you who have undertaken your Data Protection Training, you will be aware that you can only process data if you have a lawful reason. When people send us information, they expect us to manage it in a lawful manner. It is the same for Bucks Council and on review, it appears there is no lawful reason for Bucks to publish the comments that members of the public make on the portal. Likewise, there is no law that says they must do so. Continuing this practice places the Council at risk of breaching data privacy and revealing personal information.
I have spoken with the planning Service Director Eric Owens, and Deputy Chief Executive for Legal and Democratic Services, Lisa Marie Williams this week on this subject. Legally they cannot see a way for the current system to continue, however we will continue to explore alternative avenues. If there is a particularly trying application reach out to me or Gail and we will work with you to access relevant information.
On another note, we are also seeking clarification on the BC Charitable Collections Policy, which was updated in April 2024, without consultation. This may have an impact on the Mayoral charities that our larger councils operate and support.
On the Waste Management front which affects both PA areas, we continue to wait clarification from NALC as to whether the small sites operated by T’s and P’s will be caught up. We are uncertain if the 10 employees relate to the facility or the employer.
Big shout out to the team at MKCC for their work on Dementia Friendly communities which came up in conversation today with Matthew Harmsworth who will speaking at our conference in June on how we can incorporate neuro diversity into our place shaping. I’m looking forward to seeing you there as we discuss creating places for people and not just piling up bricks and mortar.
Today NALC published SAPPP 2025.
The updated Practitioners’ Guide is now on the NALC website and can be downloaded from here using your login details.: https://www.nalc.gov.uk/resource/practitioners-guide-2025.html
There is also a news story which you’re welcome to share: https://www.nalc.gov.uk/resource/nalc-publishes-the-2025-edition-of-the-practitioners-guide.html.
I’m sure there was more to tell you, it’s been a very busy week. I trust this will all be enough to keep you busy for now. We wish you a relaxing and happy weekend and look forward to speaking with you next week!
Kind regards
Mel & Lorraine