Annual Assembly of Standards Committees

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Annual Assembly of Standards Committees
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Parish council toolkit

• Councillor Shirley Flint, North Kesteven District
  Council (chair)
• David Greig, Parish Liaison Officer, Taunton
  Deane Borough Council
• Phil McCourt, Head of Legal Services, Milton
  Keynes Borough Council

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The team
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Why?

• As a governance tool for parish clerks and
  councils
• As a reference source for monitoring officers on
  parish council arrangements
• and others in principal councils and beyond

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Why really?

• Better governance arrangements in parishes should
  mean less work for the monitoring officer and
  partner organisations
• Frequently asked questions
• Frequent or common problems
• Free

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Changing role

• Parish councils are an established and valued
  form of
• neighbourhood democracy and management. They are
  not
• only important in rural areas but increasingly
  have a role to
• play in urban areas. We propose to build on the
  existing
• parish structure, so as to improve its capacity
  to deliver
• better services and represent the communities
  interests
• White Paper - Strong and Prosperous Communities
• Leading to Local Government and Public
  Involvement in Health Act 2007

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Whats in the toolkit?

• The basics
• Aim is to signpost rather than provide detailed
  information on every topic
• Also contains list of other useful source
  material

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Contents

• 1. The parish council
• What can it do, who does what in local government
• 2. The parish clerk and other employees
• Roles, responsibilities and employment
• 3. Ensuring effective governance
• Agendas and minutes, standing orders, appointment
  of committees and delegations, the annual
  meeting, protocols, whistle blowing, complaints

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Contents

• 4. Public engagement and managing information
• Freedom of information, data protection, health
  and safety, defamation
• 5. A guide to the role and responsibilities of
  parish councillors
• Roles and responsibilities, what to do in the
  chair, Code of Conduct, appointments to outside
  bodies, probity and planning

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Contents

• 6. Elections
• 7. Formation of new parish and town councils
• Abolition and alteration, forming a new parish
• 8. Useful source material
• Pointers to the essential source material

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Parish and principal council relationship

• Develop an early warning system
• Parish/community liaison service
• Principal council to assist with governance
  checklist
• Share and impart skills and knowledge
• Urge councils to train clerks

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Parish and principal council relationship

• Make use of standards committee links and
  monitoring officer to promote high standards of
  ethical behaviour
• Early assistance from NALC/SLCC, principal
  council and standards committee
• Develop mediation skills and service
  (www.mediationuk.org.uk)

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Worth it for the standards committee and
council?

• Common problems in parishes Ignorance and
  interests
• Prevention is better (and much cheaper) than cure
• Reflection of reputation, service and community
  impact

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Worth it for the standards committee and
council?

• LGPIHA means
• Greater number of community and urban parish
  councils
• parish councils in London Boroughs
• Swapping area/neighbourhood committees for
  parish councils
• Wider powers for quality parish councils
• Greater delegation of functions

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The Quality parish council

• Representative of and actively engages all parts
  of its community providing vision, identity and a
  sense of belonging
• Effectively and properly managed
• Articulates the needs and wishes of its community
• Upholds high standards of conduct
• White Paper - Strong and Prosperous Communities

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The Quality parish council

• Committed to working in partnership with
  principal local authorities, other public service
  agencies and voluntary groups
• Delivers local service on behalf of principal
  local authorities where this represents the best
  deal for the local community
• White Paper - Strong and Prosperous Communities

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Governance checklist for parish councils

• Strategy and business planning arrangements
• Budget and financial monitoring arrangements
• Process for reviewing banking arrangements
• Relationships, partnering and involvement with
  other bodies
• Chairs responsibilities

• Delegations
• Charity management
• Asset management
• Resignation, election and co-option arrangements
• Information management (including data protection
  and handling of requests)

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Further information

• National Association of
• Local Councils (NALC)
• www.nalc.gov.uk
• Association of Larger Local
• Councils (ALLC)
• www.allc.gov.uk
• Society of Local Council
• Clerks (SLCC)
• www.slcc.co.uk

• Standards for England (SfE)
• www.standardsforengland.gov.uk
• Association of Council
• Secretaries and Solicitors
• (ACSeS)
• www.acses.org.uk

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Parish council toolkit

• Councillor Shirley Flint, North Kesteven District
  Council (chair)
• David Greig, Parish Liaison Officer, Taunton
  Deane Borough Council
• Phil McCourt, Head of Legal Services, Milton
  Keynes Borough Council

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Annual Assembly of Standards Committees