From:                                   DALC <info@devonalc.org.uk>

Sent:                                    04 February 2014 16:36

To:                                        clerk@dartmoorforestpc.net

Subject:                                DALC Newsletter February 2014

 

TRAINING  CALENDAR

New Clerks Short Course
10th March, 10.00 - 12.30pm
South Brent. £25 + VAT

Preparing for Audit
20th March, 10.00 - 12.30pm Exeter. £25 + VAT

New Councillors Course
8th April, 6.30 - 9.00pm
Exeter. £25 + VAT

Chairmanship Course
29th April, 6.30 - 8.30pm
Exeter. £25 + VAT

Chairmanship Course
20th May, 6.30 - 8.30pm
South Brent. £25 + VAT

New Clerks Short Course
10th June, 10.00 - 12.30
Honiton. £25 + VAT

New Councillors Course
18th June, 6.30 - 9.00pm
South Brent. £25 + VAT

Chairmanship Course
26th June, 6.30 - 8.30pm
South Molton. £25 + VAT

New Clerks Short Course
11th Sept, 10.00 - 12.30
South Molton. £25 + VAT

New Councillors Course
16th Sept, 6.30 - 9.00
Exeter. £25 + VAT

Budgets and Precepts
21st October, 10.00 - 12.30
Exeter. £25 + VAT

More dates are listed on the website.  For more information or to book your place please visit www.devonalc.org.uk/training

 Local Councils EXPLAINED

We have a small stock of these fantastic books from NALC.  They cost just £49.99 (plus £5 p&p) and covers everything about the role of the local council and how they work.  It is jam packed with comprehensive and practical guidance and legal issues too.

There is commentary about:

  • Councillors interests
  • neighbourhood planning
  • contract negotiations
  • working with charities
  • predetermination
  • and more...

To order your copy email lesley@devonrcc.org.uk

 

DALC Logo

DALC Newsletter

February 2014

 

SWCLCA Regional Conference 2014

The South West Conference of Local Council Associations is organising a regional conference on 30th April at the Best Western Hotel Tiverton.

This conference will appeal to active councils across the region, small and large. It is a good opportunity to network with other active councils beyond your own county's borders to pick up how others tackle the issues concerning local councils at the moment.

The programme has been put together to cover some of these current topics such as:

  • how is Neighbourhood Planning really working in a community which was one of the first to go through the whole process
  • how is the inspirational Ilfracombe Our Place model working now it has been in place for a couple of years
  • and workshops where you can get to grips with the new Quality scheme, local council financial arrangements, the opportunities posed by the Sustainability Act and the imminent changes to pension arrangements.

This full day conference costs £65 + VAT per person. For more information see our website (you will need to log on to view) www.devonalc.org.uk/training

Role and responsibilities

Recently we have received quite a few queries about the respective roles and responsibilities of clerks and councillors. So I thought it might be useful to put down some of the main roles and responsibilities in this article.

The Clerk

  • Is an officer and normally an employee of the council
  • Is the Proper Officer of the council
  • Is often the Responsible Finance Officer for the Council (the RFO)
  • A council must have a Proper Officer and an RFO
  • As RFO, would maintain the financial systems of the council in good order, including preparation for audit and helping to prepare draft budgets.
  • Is responsible for good procedure eg taking the minutes, compiling the agenda, and signing it, maintaining a good filing system – the clerk is the Information Officer under the Freedom of Information Act so should be able to retrieve requested information.
  • Ensures the council had suitable insurance cover
  • Manages other staff and often acts as project manager
  • Acts as an adviser to the council
  • Is the public link with the council and the councils link with other bodies.

Councillors

  • Are known as members – part of the democratic system of local government
  • Are in office until the next ordinary elections
  • Are decision makers – by being present and voting or agreeing delegation of decision making to a committee, sub committee or officer of the council (or another authority)
  • Arranges for the proper management of the clerk and ensures good personnel practice often through a staffing committee.
  • Members are responsible for the good financial management of the council eg through adhering to good financial internal controls such as receiving regular financial monitoring reports from the RFO
  • Members cannot be employed by their own council but can act as clerk or RFO on an unpaid basis eg when the council is in the process of recruiting a new clerk/RFO
  • Members interact with their communities so they can bring issues back for discussion, or signpost parishioners to sources of advice or information.
  • Members can help the work of the council by carrying out research on particular topics as agreed by the council.

 

We were recently contacted by the following company who already works for some town councils in Devon. The following is passed on for information in case some of these services might be of interest to member councils:

Umbralink operates a free and no obligation consultancy and procurement service for business energy users ranging from SME to PLC, public and charitable supplies. We're one of the market leaders in understanding energy and promoting greater awareness of how the industry works. Through us, all of our clients receive discounted energy as we are a large purchaser and trader of utilities giving us access to bulk-purchase and wholesale prices not available to individual consumers. We receive our revenue from energy suppliers who pay us for the retention and acquisition of clients meaning we never charge for the services we offer. We work to unify contract end dates and avoid roll-overs and penalty charges in addition to promoting the supply of green energy and administrative support in claiming VAT and CCL exemptions.

Take a look at their Code of Practice and List of Services or call James Sheehy for more information on 01202 761737.

What next for Localism?

NALC's ground breaking and
forward thinking conference has been moved to Wed 26th March 2014 at the
Royal National Hotel, London.

But what hasn't changed is local government at all levels and public services
are facing unprecedented challenges to their funding and services.

And with a General Election rapidly approaching in 2015, this timely one day
conference explores the fundamental question of what next for localism? And in
particular, where next for parish and town councils?

Book now!

Devon Association of Local Councils, First Floor, 3 & 4 Cranmere Court, Lustleigh Close, Matford Business Park, Exeter, EX2 8PW
Tel: 01392 248919 ext *230   Email: lesley@devonrcc.org.uk   Web: www.devonalc.org.uk

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