Subscriptions, Planning Forum & the National Alert!
Dear Colleagues
Should I mention the weather or just that my once yellow Labrador is now on three cold water showers a day and still a complete disgrace? At least the second dog is already brown and so I can pretend that he’s clean.
By now you will all have had the subs invoices for the 2023 – 24 subscription year. A sharp eyed clerk has noted a finger error in this, so I take this opportunity to affirm your subs invoices are definitely only for 1 year!
This week Helen welcomed a new cohort of councillors to our sector. We look forward to them joining various councils in the coming weeks. We also got a step further in our quest for a new member service which, after I have briefed our Management then Executive Board, I hope to be able to share with you.
Next week we have within BC, the Planning Forum on Thursday pm. I note there is a close encounter on that day with the SLCC meeting, I’m sorry that we were unable to avoid that. The Planning Forum is BC led and they do not have access to SLCC’s calendar, the forum is generally aimed at councillors although clerks are welcome, so I do anticipate a good representation from our BC T’s and P’s. Note also, I have sent out cancellation notices and a new date for the In Person BC Parish Liaison on the 28th of June 2023. The venue will be the Mezzanine Rooms in Walton Street. We also have our CCTV compliance training which had to be moved at short notice owing to circumstances beyond our control. As more and more of us employ the use of CCTV to manage our buildings and other assets, it is critical to ensure that we are in full legal compliance.
You may already be aware that the government has launched a national alert service and they are testing the system on Sunday 23rd April at 3pm. The alert will appear on mobile devices for 20 seconds and you will hear a loud, siren-like sound for up to 10 seconds, you can see and hear it here UK Emergency Alerts – YouTube. This may be frightening to residents who are vulnerable and unaware of the alerts. If you know of someone who you feel may be adversely affected, they can opt out of the test. For further information please visit the How emergency alerts work – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for instructions on how to opt
Just a quick reminder that NALC will be responding to the DLUHC consultation on the new Infrastructure Levy here. All responses should (per the briefing) please be sent to chris.borg@nalc.gov.uk by latest 17:00 on 19 May 2023.
Questions still on VAT, charities and the roles of trustees have dominated the headlines this week, par for the course at year end. Your Annual Meetings of the Parish Council will be on your minds now, held in May and if you are having an election this year then within 14 days of the election, remember that whilst the only business to be undertaken required by law, is that of appointing a Chair of Council, this is also the opportunity to review your committees and key governance documents.
I shall be away for a few days next week with Helen and Lorraine holding and managing the fort! We wish you all a great weekend and look forward to speaking with you soon.
Kind regards
Mel, Helen and Lorraine
