 The summer recess is over and we head into autumn refreshed and ready to go! Firstly, Norfolk PTS would like to introduce you to a new member of the team, Richard Bishop. Richard came into local government in 1984 as Parish Clerk to Blakeney Parish Council, he moved on to become Town Clerk in Swaffham in 2001 until retiring in 2023. He was also Parish Clerk in his home village of Hindringham for two years from 2015. He became one of the first Norfolk Clerks to obtain the University of Gloucestershire Local Policy Degree in 2000 and was voted Norfolk’s first Clerk of the Year back in 2006. He was Chair of Norfolk SLCC for 7 years, serving for over 25 years on the Branch Executive. He was a mentor on the ‘Working for your Council’ course, a pre-cursor for the CiLCA and served on the original assessment panel for the Quality Councils Scheme, the predecessor of the Awards Scheme. Richard is now a past member of SLCC, but very much rejuvenated, still having the desire to help and support Clerks, passing on his 40 years of experience. Being a Clerk is a lifelong learning experience, and his philosophy is that there is always someone out there who has been there, done it and got the t-shirt, Clerks should never feel isolated or alone. A lifelong Norwich City supporter, and with four granddaughters, he keeps busy in retirement. New savings accounts for Town and Parish Councils: A safe and efficient solution for surplus funds Hinckley & Rugby Building Society has launched new savings accounts designed specifically for Town and Parish Councils, offering a secure and efficient solution for managing surplus funds. These accounts address common challenges councils face, such as simplifying the account opening process, providing flexible withdrawal protocols and easing the management of authorised signatories. They also offer a broader selection of savings options with competitive interest rates, all without any account fees, ensuring councils can maximize returns while minimizing administrative burdens. Councils across the UK can now access these accounts. Visit their website here Hinckley & Rugby’s website or contact their customer services team directly at 0800 434 6343, or email customerservice@hrbs.co.uk to find out more. Pension Credit – Members of your community may be eligible! The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) have launched a Pension Credit Week of Action, which aims to spread awareness and increase claims for Pension Credit, which will also help to identify those eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment. Everyone is being asked to join forces to help encourage more people to apply. This benefit could be worth on average £3,900 per year. For more information have a look at this Pension Credit Toolkit. Grant worth considering from Eddiestobart.com This company supports community led sustainable projects and initiatives lead by non-profit organisations, community and educational groups by protecting and enhancing the environment. Applications need to be of a green, ecological and sustainable nature, which benefits the environment. There is a short preliminary application form to complete in order for your project to be assessed, before progressing to the next stage for more information click on this link. Interesting queries this month… Is there a legal requirement to have .gov.uk e-mails for councillors? It is not a legal requirement for councils to have a .gov.uk domain for e-mails, but the latest version of the Practitioners Guide 2024 contains stronger language around the merits of having them and is very much encouraging councils to take this step. The .gov.uk domain is regarded as secure when sending sensitive information. If there was a Freedom of Information request for example, Councillors may be reluctant to give access to their private e-mail accounts. Wherever possible we, as Clerks, redact any personal information that is not necessary before sending on information to councillors, this then limits the risk of a breach of personal data. Clerk has received a Code of Conduct Complaint against the Chair of the council, what should they do? Refer the complainant to the Monitoring Officer at your District Council, do not deal with the complaint yourself, the council is unable to investigate such matters. The Monitoring Officer will make contact and help guide you through the process. The Essential Update Seminar Don’t miss out – our seminars are the perfect opportunity to update yourself on topics relevant to parish and town councils and network with clerks and councillors. The day includes sessions led by the Norfolk PTS team and invited speakers, as well as break-out sessions during the afternoon. 18 October, Queen’s Hills Community Centre £56 subscribers | £70 non-subscribers (Including lunch and refreshments)Would you like to win a place at our Essential Update Seminar? All you need to do is go to our social media page on either Facebook or Instagram (see link below), like and comment on the post about the upcoming seminar on the 18 October and follow us on either of our social media platforms. The winner will be selected week commencing 7 October. If you have already booked a place and win, we will refund you. Good luck! Upcoming Clerks’ Networking events – all free for subscribers Wednesday 18 September – Sugerbeat, Swainsthorpe, 10am – 12pm NEW LOCATION – Wednesday 25 September – Starbucks, New Road Acle, 10am – 12pm Larger Councils – Wednesday 25 September – Costessey Centre – 2pm – 4pm ONLINE – Thursday 26 September – Online with Julie, 7pm – 8:30pm Friday 27 September – Pensthorpe Cafe, near Fakenham, 10:30 – 12:30pm Tuesday 1 October – Breckland Lodge, Attleborough, 10am – 12pm Wednesday 2 October – Market Cross Cafe, Swaffham, 10:30am – 12pm Wednesday 2 October – Downham Home & Garden Store, Downham Market, 1:30 – 3:00pm Chairs Networking – please encourage your Chairs to join us Friday 4 October – Online with Sarah – 10am – 11:30am Training opportunities For all our training opportunities please have a look at our website. Please forward this newsletter to your councillors so that they are kept up to date with the latest news and training opportunities. Laura, Richard, Julie, and Sara The Norfolk PTS Team |
