Dear Colleagues
CLERKS – PLEASE CIRCULATE TO COUNCILLORS
My apologies for the interruption in our weekly View, illness and workload interrupted normal play!
The world however, does not wait for a poorly County Officer, so here you are, a couple of weeks in one View! Lots of attachments here including the June update from OSS too.
HIGHLIGHTS
HMRC – Vat 126 Guidance
Guide to Employment Law Changes and Considering Flexible Working Requests
MHCLG / NALC Updates and Resources
BC – One Uniform Data migration
Counter Terrorism Policing – keeping your summer events safe
Vacancies – Home and Away
Courses
Consultations – BC, MK and National
HMRC VAT 126 Guidance
HMRC has recently produced a VAT126 guidance document, which brings together links to relevant GOV.UK guidance, answers to common queries, and reminders to help organisations complete VAT126 claims accurately to avoid unnecessary delays in processing. The guidance covers topics such as VAT registration requirements, making VAT126 claims online, documentary evidence requirements, invoice information needed for claims, non-business activities and VAT recovery rules, and common issues that can lead to delays or rejected claims.
Read more here.
Need a road map for Employment Law Changes?
From Worknest – I know we have covered this before, but it’s worth repeating. The presentation slides from my last County Officer meeting have been circulated under separate cover which you may find useful!
From CHRGS – Whilst Local Councils are not required to agree to every flexible working request, they must be able to demonstrate that requests have been considered carefully, fairly and with appropriate medical evidence in mind. Councils are encouraged to ensure policies are consistently applied, occupational health advice is properly considered, and potential adjustments are explored before formal action is taken.
It is important to ensure your long term and short term sickness absence policies are fit for purpose and are followed. Ensure Councillors making a decision in an appointed committee on any HR matter that may involve dismissal, take appropriate HR advice before doing so.
NALC Updates and Resources
- NALC have updated Their advice note on the powers of a parish meeting in a parish without a separate parish council to bring statutory references up to date in the finance section, as well as to improve general readability
- NALC and our communications and compliance partners, Breakthrough Communications, have written a useful article about the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. The article outlines guidance on how parish and town councils must handle data protection complaints, along with a chart that helps councils navigate what they need to do to ensure they meet the new legislation.
- A poster regarding the analogue to digital switchover has been circulated under separate cover.
One Uniform data migration – portal downtime
By way of a reminder, I have attached an email previously circulated to all clerks showing the anticipated downtime of the BC One Uniform planning portal.
Keeping your summer events safe!
Counter Terrorism Policing has launched its annual Summer Vigilance campaign, which encourages the public to stay alert while they enjoy a summer of events with family and friends. With recent changes to the UK’s threat level, it’s more important than ever that event organisers and businesses up-and-down the country do their part to keep customers and the public safe this summer. The campaign includes a toolkit which includes assets, messaging, and guidance, which event organisers and businesses can use to help keep the public safe this summer.
Vacancies – Home and Away
Ashley Green Parish Council – Parish Clerk & RFO – BMKALC
(Advertised via BMKALC)
For National Vacancies check out Jobs on the NALC website and the SLCC.
We are keen to hear from Clerks or key officers who may be able to provide local locum support. We often receive calls for support over meetings and for maternity cover. These positions may range from a couple of hours to full time maternity support. If you are interested, please give me a call to discuss.
Courses Next Week
A quiet patch for us, whilst Lorraine busies herself on some exciting deliveries post the summer recess, remember those we don’t seem to enjoy them anymore! We have a shiny new training course for whole council training and we are zooming in on planning, standards and AI. Also make sure you have the AGM date, 14th September, in your diaries!
Don’t forget to look at The Parkinson Partnership and also Breakthrough Communications for courses suitable for Councillors and Officers.
Current Consultations
Buckinghamshire Council
Help shape council plans to revitalise Buckinghamshire’s high streets
Milton Keynes City Council
There are currently no open consultations advertised.
Nationally
| National Allotment Society Launches First Nationwide Audit of UK Plots in 30 years The National Allotment Society (NAS), the national membership organisation for allotment holders, is undertaking a survey of local authorities to establish a clear and up-to-date national picture of allotment provision, demand, and management. The survey – the first of its kind in 30 years – will provide vital, evidence-based data to enable local authorities, planners, and policymakers to shape planning and provision to meet future demand for growing space. Since the last NAS audit in 1996, the UK has seen significant changes in population, urban development, and land availability. For more information and the survey link. |
Consultation on permitted development rights: schools, assets of community value, defence and conservation launched 10 June,
MHCLG launched a new consultation proposing a package of amendments to permitted development rights (PDRs). The consultation contains proposed changes to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, as amended. It covers the following areas:
| Extending the existing temporary permitted development right for schools affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) Removing assets of community value from the demolition permitted development right Changes to the permitted development right that allows development by the Crown on closed defence sites New permitted development flexibilities to enable the development of conservation measures within Environmental Delivery Plans |
The consultation closes on 5 August. If you have any questions, please contact: pdrconsultation2026@communities.gov.uk
Reminder: Planning Committees and the National Scheme of Delegation of Planning Functions: Government response and statutory guidance for local planning authorities in England
On 1 June, MHCLG published the government response providing a summary of the responses received to the statutory consultation on the draft regulations and guidance related to the reform of planning committees. It also sets out the government’s response on each of the consultation proposals.
Alongside this government response, the government is laying the draft regulations for Parliamentary scrutiny and publishing the accompanying statutory guidance. The intention is that the final regulations will be made in July and come into force on 31 October 2026.
The statutory guidance aims to help support local planning authorities in England in implementing the national scheme of delegation for planning functions.
WHAT’S ON
BC Parish Liaison 16th July 2026
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A final plea! Going through my mailbox which had backed up whilst I was off, I realise that many requests for support come direct to me and can be easily missed. It is much easier for us to track them if you use the advice form on the website. Login, go to Member Area / advice and benefits, choose the kind of information you want and fill in the further information form. We can then ensure we have received your request, forwarded it where necessary to an outside provider and record that we have provided you with an answer!
We wish you all a relaxing break this weekend and look forward to speaking with you next week. Great to have the whole team back in the office!
Kind regards,
Mel, Lorraine and Jess