8 January 2024

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

Planning

MSDC District Plan briefing and update

Mid Sussex District Council has approved the latest stage of its draft District Plan, which was agreed by Council on December 13. The Regulation 19 submission draft, along with supporting materials will now move to public consultation.

To support our District Plan campaign, we have created a promotional video and an animation video: www.midsussex.gov.uk/districtplan to make it easier to understand the process of plan-making and how it will benefit the District’s future.    Please share the information with your networks so we can ensure we are reaching as many people as possible. We have also shared this information with our Members.  The Mid Sussex District Plan consultation will run from 12th January 2024 to the end of February 2024.

Please see slides below in relation to the recent District Plan briefing forwarded by Judy Holmes, Deputy Chief Executive.

Link to the Evidence Library

This includes information on the Site Selection papers which include the Site Selection Methodology and conclusions reached. The library will be updated ahead of the start of the consultation on 12 January 2024 and will continue to be updated as and when new evidence is submitted and published.

Winter information from WSCC Highways

When road surfaces reach freezing temperatures, our gritting teams are mobilised to treat key routes. We treat in the region of 42% of our network in advance of forecasts of freezing weather.   This winter we started with 9000 tonnes of salt which is split across the 3 depots – Drayton, Clapham and Jobs Depot. These cover the Western, Central and Eastern parts of the County. 

Approximately 1500 tonnes of salt have been used so far (this is accurate as of 18/12/2023). Over 400 grit bins have been filled and we have provided more than 30 x 1 tonne hippo bags. 

We urge those using salt from grit bins to use sparingly and effectively, so that they have enough for the remainder of the winter season. For further information follow the link below. 

WSCC Highways – winter service

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner News

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner News

MSDC Infrastructure Funding Statement

You may be aware that all local planning authorities are required by regulations to publish an annual Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS). The IFS report provides an overview of development contributions secured, received, allocated and spent during a given financial year. This ensures transparency for communities.

The full report for 2022/2023 is attached for your information ahead of formal publication later this week on our monitoring webpage. For the reported year, the Council collected just under £2 million of developer contributions and spent over £750,000 on infrastructure projects.

The data required by the government, if published without supporting information, can be quite dry and could be meaningless for our residents. Therefore, a ‘user-friendly’ report has been prepared which is supported by simple charts that are easy to grasp and makes clear to communities what infrastructure has been delivered by the development taken in their area.

The Council will continue to report as an when significant infrastructure investment happen across the district. Do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

Kind regards,

Estelle Maisonnial

Senior Planning Policy Officer

Planning Policy and Housing Enabling

Rural Services Network Survey

Information from Kerry Booth Chief Executive at Rural Services Network.

As you know, the Rural Services Network campaigns for a fairer distribution of national resources to rural areas.  Successive governments have underfunded rural councils with urban areas receiving 38% per head more in government funded spending power than their rural counterparts. Recent public sector funding cuts have further impacted on rural services.

As a member of the Rural Market Town Group, we would value your feedback on how public services have fared over the last three years in your town or parish.  These insights will inform our work to secure a better future for public services in rural areas and to ensure that rural communities, such as yours, are represented on a national level.

Please do share your experiences by completing the short online survey here: 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RMTG_publicservices

Please note that this survey will close on Friday February 2^nd, 2024.

We will share a summary of findings with all our RMTG members.  If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Best wishes

Kerry Booth

RURAL SERVICES NETWORK

East Court Ashplats Steering Committee Minutes

Metrobus Service Information

Information from West Hoathly Parish Council.

West Hoathly Parish Council passed a motion at the Parish Council meeting held on the 27^th November 2023 to try and improve the 84 Metrobus Service. Cllr Paul Brown proposed the motion and has asked me to share the details with neighbouring parishes. Please find attached the agreed motion. If you or your members have any feedback or comments, please do let me know.

Kind Regards

Leanne Andrews West Hoathly Parish Clerk

Gatcom News Bulletin

NALC Newsletter

NALC and SLCC senior teams meet 

The NALC and Society of Local Council Clerks’ (SLCC) senior leadership teams met in London this week to discuss issues of strategic significance to the sector, including workforce development, audit and finance of local (parish and town) councils, and our respective work programmes for 2024. Both organisations were pleased to mark the publication of a new model contract of employment for local councils. The documents provide a model that councils can issue to new employees. It does not replace the contracts of existing employees. If you would like more information on how your council can be a good employer, do check out our updated Good Councillors Guide to Being a Good Employer.

NALC leadership complete as committees elect chairs and vice chairs 

I’m delighted to report that NALC’s leadership line-up for the next two years is now complete following the election of chairs and vice chairs to our committees. Over the last two weeks, our four committees held a governance meeting to elect their chair and vice-chair, have an induction covering roles and responsibilities and committee processes, and agree on the date of their in-person meeting for 2024. Committee chairs and vice chairs for 2024/25 are:

• Finance and Scrutiny Committee: chair, Cllr Peter Davey (NALC vice-chair, finance) and vice-chair, Cllr Alan Neal (Lancashire Association of Local Councils)
• Policy Committee: chair, Cllr Peter Allison (West Yorkshire Association of Local Councils) and vice-chair, Cllr Richard Page (Gloucestershire Association of Local Councils)
• Larger Councils Committee: chair, Cllr Iain Hamilton (Merseyside Association of Local Councils) and vice-chair, Cllr Mike Drew (Yate Town Council)
• Smaller Councils Committee: chair, Cllr Marcus Allen (Herefordshire Association of Local Councils) and vice-chair, Vanessa Lowe (Alcester Town Council)

Updated legal guidance and December legal bulletin 

We have issued legal briefing L02-23 to take into account the Government’s amendment to the Local Government Act 1894 in the form of a new section 19A (as inserted by section 82 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023), which will come into force on 26 December (England only). NALC is recommending councils follow the Government’s position, which will mean that councils are not prohibited from using powers, other than in the 1894 Act, for spending money on works to property relating to affairs of the church or held for an ecclesiastical charity. LTN 31E (local council general powers) has been reissued to remove references to the prohibitions that will not apply further to section 19A coming into force. And legal briefing L01-18 has been withdrawn. We have also reissued LTN 87 (procurement) to take account of the new procurement thresholds. Our final legal bulletin for county officers has just been sent out. December’s update looks at whether councils could have a policy requesting repayment of money spent on councillor training for councillors leaving within a set period after the election (our view is no), the Electoral Commission guidance on digital imprints, updates on recent work plus visits undertaken by our solicitors in the member services team.

Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 

This week’s Provisional Local Finance Settlement 2024 to 2025 confirmed the government’s policy statement covered in my bulletin two weeks ago. In short, the government is not proposing to extend council tax referendum principles to local councils next year. This is very welcome as this is an issue NALC continues to advocate strongly for. While the government says the settlement makes available over £64 billion for local authorities in England, an increase of almost £4 billion or 6.5% in cash terms in Core Spending Power on 2023-24, a statement by our colleagues at the Local Government Association warns it is not enough to meet severe cost and demand pressures and their councils face a funding gap of £4 billion over the next two years. The settlement is subject to consultation, which NALC will respond to in January.

December’s online event on funding 

NALC hosted its final online event of the year, “Winning Strategies for the Funding Game,” on 15 December 2023, which saw 180 attendees hear from expert speakers about various funding opportunities available to local councils, examples of how local councils used grants, and tips on securing funding. The specialist panel featured Stuart McLeod from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NHLF)and Andy Reeves from Central Swindon North Parish Council. Stuart provided a summary of NHLF sources local councils could apply for. Andy spoke about steps his council took, such as hiring a funding officer, that helped them succeed in securing over £1 million in grants over the last 5 years. They both urged maturity in funding applications, emphasising the need for a comprehensive business plan, realism about impact, and the cultivation of strong relationships with funders. Do check out our upcoming events in 2024 which cover levelling up, social media and community transport, with more events to be added shortly!

Civility and Respect Newsletter 

The latest edition of the Civility and Respect Newsletter is out now! The newsletter highlights some of the key work that is being undertaken in Phase 2 of the project. It also includes information about how to register for free webinars that will be available in the New Year for those wanting to know more about tackling toxic behaviour in the workplace, personal safety and stalking awareness.

Local Council Award Scheme results 

Congratulations to the latest local councils accredited under the Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS). LCAS celebrates the best of local councils, helps them develop their potential, and recognises that they are well run and meet the required standards. The latest councils to be accredited are:

• Quality Gold Award: Alvechurch Parish Council, Bollington Town Council, Moulton Parish Council, and Saffron Walden Town Council
• Quality Award: Angmering Parish Council, Bishampton & Throckmorton Parish Council, Halewood Town Council, Harling Parish Council, and Seaton Town Council
• Foundation Award: Ashton Hayes & Horton-cum-Peel Parish Council, Chipping Norton Town Council, Great Waltham Parish Council, Hayle Town Council, Hullbridge Parish Council, Liss Parish Council, Loftus Town Council, Mildenhall High Town Council, Ponsanooth Parish Council, Shavington-cum-Gresty Parish Council, Sherborne Town Council, Sprotbrough & Cusworth Parish Council, and Startforth Parish Council

Well done to everyone involved. You can find out more about the scheme and how to apply on the NALC website.

On the blog: Making Music 

This week’s blog is from Barbara Eifler, chief executive of Making Music. She writes about Make Music Day UK, which takes place on 21 June every year. Anyone can create, host or perform in a music event on 21 June and be part of the world’s biggest DIY grassroots music festival. There are only three requirements: it must be a music event, take place on 21 June, and be free for the audience or participants to access. Holding a Make Music Day event by your local council can bring more people to your area and benefit your residents, individuals, or businesses. Read the blog to find out more!

White Ribbon Day recap 

On 25 November 2023, NALC celebrated White Ribbon Day to help end violence against women and girls. After becoming a newly accredited White Ribbon organisation in August 2023, NALC celebrated the day and the following 16 days of action through a variety of activities. These included a group video which I was delighted to see featured in the White Ribbon UK summary mailing, a social media campaign across our social channels, a blog on NALC’s attendance at this year’s White Ribbon conference and another blog on 10 ways to end violence against women. Other activities include a presentation on White Ribbon at National Assembly by Cllr Mark Edwardson from Congleton Town Council, and various NALC staff attended the Suzy Lamplugh Trust bystander training to learn what to do if you experience or witness harassment. We’d still love to hear about what county associations and councils did to mark White Ribbon Day, please drop us a line to policycomms@nalc.gov.uk.

Local Net Zero 2030 roundtable 

On 13 December NALC organised an online roundtable for members of our National Network: Climate Emergency whose local council has adopted a policy to achieve net zero by 2030. The session was facilitated by Cllr Ed Gemmell from Hazlemere Parish Council who is also chief executive of Scientists Warning Europe. The session was attended by representatives from around 12 local councils and one county association of local councils and featured short talks from Ed himself and Andrew Maliphant, SLCC’s climate and sustainability advisor, and sharing of ideas and good practice on how to reach this challenging target. A further roundtable may be organised at some point in 2024.