Index of updates from 1st April 2024

Following a recent networking event with clerks, a suggestion was made that SALC record updates such as changes to procurement thresholds, s.137 limit, salaries, legal topic note changes and create an index to allow clerks to easily reference this when doing annual reviews and policies and procedures.  

    Salary awards 2025-26

    NALC have received an update on the 2025-26 pay claim for local government services (Green Book) employees from the National Joint Council (NJC). Click on this link to view our NEWS blog.

    JPAG Practitioner's Guide 2024

    The Joint Panel on Accountability and Governance (JPAG) held its latest meeting last week. The panel is responsible for the Practitioners' Guide, which is published to help smaller authorities (those with a turnover of less than £6.5 million) prepare the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR). Each year, JPAG reviews the Practitioners' Guide, and this year is asking clerks and responsible finance officers to complete a short survey to given feedback on the guide and make any suggestions for improvements. These suggestions will help JPAG review the Guide for 2025.  The deadline for the survey is 30th September.

    Click on this link to complete the short survey. 
     
    Use this link to access the guide relating to financial year 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025.  Use this link to access a summary of the changes.  

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    SALC website/member portal updates

    There is a new topic on Powers and Duties, published within the Knowledge Bank, The Model Council, on the SALC Member Portal.

    New information page on Suffolk Highways now published - click on this link to view this new page.

    Guidance on managing payroll page now published - click on this link to view this new page. This includes guidance on best practice and payroll blogs managed by our Payroll Officer. It also includes a section of FAQ's.

    .GOV.UK domains, publication of an information page  - link to page. 

    Guidance on Planning information page now published - link to page  This includes a recording and slides of the recent Biodiversity Net Gain event delivered by Suffolk and Norfolk Wildlife Trust.  A model policy for Biodiversity is now available on the SALC Member Portal, Document Templates.

    SALC training offer

    Code of Conduct stand alone workshop - dates to be published shortly

    Planning training - four webinars (will be available to buy on-demand after the live event)  - Click on this link to view the dates and content of each webinar, including booking your place(s).

    Model Financial Regulations

    NALC have pre-released the model Financial Regulations on 7th May 2024 to  County Associations, which they will be officially publishing for use by councils this week on the NALC website.  SALC have decided to circulate the pre-release version purely as advance information, but recommend councils await the final version before adoption in case there are any final changes. 

    Click on this link to view the pre-release Model Financial Regulations.

    NALC

    NALC have renamed legal topic notes to Advice Notes.  These are available for members by registered for a NALC account, see below information.  

    SALC is working on the member portal 'Model Council' to remove reference to the previous NALC legal topic notes and refer instead to the new advice notes. Training resources will be updated in due course. 

    NALC have launched a new website on 7th October 2024.  Click on this link to read our NEWS blog.  You will need to register for an account to access the NALC resources. 

    Publications

    NALC have launched an updated version of The Good Councillor Guide to Finance and Transparency. This is available through the NALC website. You will need to register for an account to access. View the SALC NEWS blog for further information Click on this link to read our NEWS blog.  

    SALC has published the latest e-newsletter 'The Local Councillor'. click on this link to view our new webpage to view the latest news from SALC.

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