Derbyshire Association of Local Councils. To all Member Town and Parish Councils and Parish Meetings

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1 Derbyshire Association of Local Councils dalc Aldern House, Baslow Road,, Derbyshire DE45 1AE Tel: s: Circular No. 17/2015 To all Member Town and Parish Councils and Parish Meetings GENERAL CIRCULAR In this Circular: Smaller Authorities Transparency Fund General Briefing Note One Clerk/RFO Vacancy Dethick, Lea & Holloway PC 1. SMALLER AUTHORITIES TRANSPARENCY FUND GENERAL BRIEFING NOTE ONE NALC (the National Association of Local Councils) funded by the UK Government have issued the following update: This briefing provides an update on the establishment of a fund to help small bodies with a turnover less than 25,000, including parish councils, comply with new audit arrangements (if they have not done so already). Background The Smaller Authorities Transparency Code came into force on 01 April 2015 and requires the on-line publication of certain information which the Government requests, to provide taxpayers with a clear picture of the authority s activities, spending and governance, and will improve the ability of communities to hold local public bodies to account. NALC had lobbied for the DALC Circular 17/2015 Page 1 of 7

2 Code to be introduced from 2016 in order for necessary support to be put in place to help smaller parish councils to comply, and for adequate financial provision to be made to enable councils to meet the new burden. At the end of March 2015 we announced that the Department for Communities and Local Government had agreed 4.7m of funding for a new Transparency Fund, administered by NALC over a three-year period, delivered on a county basis by County Associations of Local Councils and targeting local needs. We are currently working with DCLG officials to put the programme in place. Code Timetable As set out above, we lobbied against the timetable for implementation of the Code, making the case to Ministers and officials that without the necessary support being in place and made available, most small Parish Councils would not be able to meet the new requirements. Officials from the Department of Communities and Local Government attended the March meeting of our National Council to provide an update on both the Code and Fund. They acknowledged the problem with the timetable and confirmed that the Department views compliance with the Code as an incremental process, being aware of the variation in capacity to meet compliance. This is an issue we will be raising with new ministers as a matter of some urgency. Compliance with the Code DCLG guidance. The Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities is mandatory. Guidance and support is available through NALC and their County Associations with funding of 4.7m over three years from DCLG. While all Smaller Authorities should comply with the Transparency Code, DCLG recognises that access to funding will be needed by some Smaller Authorities to fully meet the Transparency requirements. Once funding is available, all authorities should be working towards compliance with the Transparency Code. The efficacy of funding through NALC and the County Associations will need to be monitored and reported to DCLG. Neither NALC nor the County Associations will have the responsibility of monitoring compliance with the Transparency Code (only the efficiency and effect of the funding). Those Smaller Authorities not compliant with the Transparency Code have the responsibility of accessing the funding and advice necessary to become compliant which will be available through the County Associations, who will publicise this to all relevant authorities. DALC Circular 17/2015 Page 2 of 7

3 Indicative project dates As the programme develops the dates below will be confirmed directly with CALCs. First CALC Mobilisation Grants July Grant forms made available to CALCS 17 July 2015 Return baseline questionnaire to NALC 14 August 2015 First Grant forms accepted by NALC September 2015 First Grants delivered to CALCs October 2015 Governance Governance and project oversight arrangements for the Fund are being put in place in consultation with the DCLG. The Project Board for the Fund, which will meet monthly in the first instance, will comprise representatives from: The Department for Communities and Local Government; The National Association of Local Councils; The Society of Local Clerks; The Association of Drainage Authorities; A County Association NALC s Smaller Councils Committee will oversee our work on the fund internally and will receive a quarterly report on progress. An operational Project Team has been established comprising officers from NALC and SLCC and DCLG officials. An interim Programme Manager Peter Wrigley has been appointed to initiate the programme. Advice to Councils We recommend that in preparing for compliance councils take the following steps: Understand the guide to Transparency Engage with County Associations Identify the gap the council has to achieving compliance Access funding through your local CALC Consider reporting on Transparency to the council DALC will provide further information on this fund, including access to the grant forms, over the next few weeks. DALC Circular 17/2015 Page 3 of 7

4 2. DETHICK, LEA & HOLLOWAY PC CLERK/RFO VACANCY A vacancy has arisen for a Clerk/RFO for Dethick, Lea & Holloway Parish Council. The successful candidate will be responsible for keeping the council s clerical and financial records and will be required to work from home for which a home-working allowance will be paid. The successful applicant if not already familiar with local government law, procedures and finance, including payroll and audit will be expected to take Clerk Induction Training with DALC and it is preferred that they either have, or are prepared to work to achieve the Certificate in Local Council Administration. Training will be offered as appropriate and remuneration will be based on experience and qualifications, but within the NALC/SLCC Scale LC2, SCP ( pro rata). The post is for 10 hours per week (43.33 hours per calendar month). Attendance at the monthly Parish Council Meeting generally held on the first Wednesday of the month at 7.00pm and the Annual Parish Meeting held at 6.30pm prior to the Annual General Parish meeting in May and or any further meetings required. As Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer the successful applicant will be responsible for: The preparation of meeting agendas and taking accurate minutes of Parish Council Meetings Keeping accurate financial records, banking, invoices, payment of accounts and HMRC payments / wages etc. Taking action on resolutions passed by the Council Administering Parish Council events and projects Management and administration of the Councils employees Management of assets and insurances Administrating, maintaining and recording interments and memorials at the cemetery Setting the Council s budget, financial account preparation and liaison with auditors Maintaining and updating the Council s website Applicants may be required to travel to various meeting/training etc. and therefore a car and driving licence would be essential. DALC Circular 17/2015 Page 4 of 7

5 All letters of application with Curriculum Vitae to be sent by post or to Simon Oldham, Clerk to Dethick, Lea and Holloway Parish Council, c/o 20 Daleview Road, Sheffield, S8 0EJ, or by 5pm on 17 th July, 2015 please clearly mark the envelope Application. Interviews are provisionally scheduled to be held on Wednesday 29 th July. Sarita Presland July 2015 Chief Officer This document remains the copyright of Derbyshire Association of Local Councils and should not be reproduced in any form without prior permission from the Association. Value for money, quality & responsive service to Member Councils DALC Circular 17/2015 Page 5 of 7

6 TRAINING DIARY DATE SUBJECT CIRCULAR REF pm) (10.30am 1.00pm Councillor Induction Derbyshire Dales Councillor Induction High Peak Councillor Induction Bolsover VENUE 11/2015 DDDC Office, Matlock 11/2015 Buxton Pavillion 11/2015 The Arc, Clowne Chair Skills 11/2015 Stretton Village Hall Digital by Default 11/2015 DALC Office, CiLCA Session 2 11/2015 DALC Office, New Clerk Induction 11/2015 DALC Office, pm) Grave Matters A guide to managing cemeteries & closed churchyards 15/2015 Shirland Village Hall pm) Councillor Induction 11/2015 DALC Office, Allotment Training 15/2015 Hulland Ward Millennium Village Hall CiLCA Session 3 11/2015 DALC Office, pm) pm) Finance basics, budgets and precepts Employment of the Clerk & Council Staff 11/2015 Stretton Village Hall 15/2015 Boardroom, Aldern House, DALC Circular 17/2015 Page 6 of 7

7 Code of Conduct 11/2015 Draycott Parish Rooms CiLCA Session 4 11/2015 DALC Office, (11.00am 3.00pm + lunch) DALC Annual Meeting Chesterfield Football noon) & AGM Free Event The Dark Arts! (Minutes & Procedures) Club 15/2015 TBC pm) (10.30am CiLCA Session 1 11/2015 Stretton Village Hall Councillor Induction 11/2015 DALC Office, New Clerk Induction 11/2015 DALC Office, pm) (10.30am (11.00am 3.00pm + lunch) pm) Digital by Default 11/2015 DALC Office, CiLCA Session 2 11/2015 Stretton Village Hall CiLCA Session 3 11/2015 Stretton Village Hall New Clerk Induction 11/2015 DALC Office, CiLCA Session 4 11/2015 DALC Office, Councillor Induction 11/2015 DALC Office, DALC Circular 17/2015 Page 7 of 7