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Guidance on Compacts Please login to view: This guidance document, jointly developed by Compact Voice and NALC, is designed to provide information about the purpose and benefits of local Compacts to local (town and parish) councils.
Dealing with the problems of late night drinking: Dealing with the problems of late night drinking The Home Office has put out a consultation about two measures in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 that will be implemented through regulations: early morning restriction orders ('EMROs') and the late night levy ('the levy'). This consultation seeks views on certain aspects of EMROs and the late night levy, including the process of adopting an EMRO and/or the levy; categories of business which will be exempt from any EMRO; categories of business which individual licensing authorities may choose to exempt from, or afford a reduction in relation to, the late night levy; and the kinds of services a licensing authority may fund with the 30 per cent of net levy receipts it may retain from the net levy revenue.
Policy consultation on allocation of accommodation: The Localism Act makes fundamental changes to the social housing system. The Government has drafted guidance on the allocation of accommodation for local housing authorities. The guidance makes clear that the Government expects social homes to go to people who genuinely need them. It encourages councils to adopt a modern measure of overcrowding – so families in crowded housing will find it easier to move into suitably sized homes; and it encourages housing authorities to prioritise tenants who want to downsize. To seek broader views and input from the sector on the draft guidance, the Government (specifically Communities and Local Government) are engaging in a formal consultation on it. Several housing authorities are already starting to introduce a new flexible approach to allocations This guidance steers others to follow suit. It also seeks to help authorities reward those who contribute in other ways, such as people who are looking to adopt or foster a child in need of a stable, loving family. The consultation documents can be downloaded from the following link on the Communities and Local Government web-site http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/allocationofaccommodation . This Communities and Local Government consultation on the Allocation of Accommodation ends in late March and the National Association will be formally responding in due course. Since many local councils will have strong views on the draft guidance, the Association wants to give them the chance to inform its own formal response. County Associations and member local councils are strongly encouraged to submit their own responses to the consultation. In order to help shape our own submission we would welcome your responses by Noon on Wednesday 21 March, 2012 to chris.borg@nalc.gov.uk . The National Association always accepts and includes responses from individual clerks and councillors (there is no expectation that responses must simply come from councils as bodies corporate). We also understand the difficulty in responding during the month of August, but we have to operate within both consultation timings and the deadlines of Central Government Departments.
PAYE arrangements for clerks Please login to view: NALC have issued more advice for councils on when and how to register with HMRC as an employer
DCLG Discussion paper on flying flags: Secretary of State, Eric Pickles has unveiled plans to change planning regulations to make it easier for people to fly flags.
Letter from NALC re Jubilee Beacons: A letter from Cllr Michael Chater, Chairman of NALC encouraging councils to register your beacon.
Repeal of gratuities Please login to view: NALC previously advised that in 2012 the Government would revoke the present regulations which give local councils the discretion to pay a retirement and other gratuities. These provisions are contained in Part VI of the Local Government (Discretionary Payments) Regulations 1996 SI 1680 (“the 1996 Regulations”). The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) had not confirmed when in 2012 the 1996 Regulations would be revoked; the date was subject to the department’s other work and the parliamentary timetable. NALC confirm the Local Government (Discretionary Payments) (Injury Allowances) Regulations 2011, SI 2954 (“the 2011 Regulations”), which will revoke Part VI of the 1996 Regulations, was laid before parliament on 14 December 2011 and is due to come into force on 16 January 2012. The effect of the 2011 Regulations means that after 16 January 2012, councils will no longer have the discretion to pay a gratuity. However, CLG’s view (with which NALC is in agreement) is that local councils may still fulfil any extant contractual obligations which relate to the payment of gratuities. More guidance in respect of the 1996 Regulations is available in Legal Topic Note 34 - Retirement Gratuities.
CPRE/NALC's ‘Planning Champions' initiative: As part of the DCLG's Supporting Communities and Neighbourhoods in Planning initiative, CPRE in partnership with NALC are seeking to recruit a network of volunteer ‘Planning Champions' around England.
Government Rural Policy Statement: The Government will be producing a Rural Policy Statement. It will underline the government's commitment to rural people and places and set out policy priorities for the rest of this parliament.
NALC responses to national consultations: Five responses by NALC to a variety of Government consultations.