WALC News
Induction Training for New and Co-opted Councillors
This is an essential course for new Councillors, or those who have not previously attended training, as well as new Clerks. You will find out exactly what a Parish or Town Council can do over the next four years – if it collectively decides to do so.
The course covers the essentials – your Council’s purpose, its statutory duties and powers; and what the law allows your Council to do under the Local Government Act 1972. It also covers the role of a Parish or Town Councillor and your responsibilities to all people within your Parish or Town.
It explores other areas of responsibility, such as running local services, and how to decide on how much to raise by way of a precept to run those services. Your Council may focus on improving the quality of life and the environment in the local area. Your Council should be identifying issues which are important to the lives of the residents you represent and working to bring about improvements through local projects and deciding Council policy.
Rugby, Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick Councils – FREE to attend thanks to subsidies from your Borough and District Councils!
Click here to book your date – available face-to-face and online
Climate Engagement in Rural Communities
Warwickshire County Council’s next Town and Parish Council Reference Group event is dedicated to the subject of climate change and is open to all Councillors and Clerks.
Date: Monday 19 June, from 10am to 11.30am
The discussion will be led by the WCC climate change programme management team, who will share an update on the latest WCC plans and actions. It’s also an opportunity for you to share your Council’s ambitions, actions and challenges with your County colleagues who wish to work with you to deliver a Sustainable Future for Warwickshire.
To book your place, please email LouiseRichards@warwickshire.gov.uk and feel free to email the WCC climate change team on the same address with questions, ideas or issues you’d like to hear more on the subject.
Find out more about WCC’s Sustainable Future Strategy
Upcoming Events & Training
Council Training
- 6 June Employment: The Essentials
- 19 June Understanding: Code of Conduct
- 21 June Employment: Appraisals
Induction Training – “Off To A Flying Start”
- Thu 18 May 7 – 8.30pm WALC Zoom Room
- Wed 24 May 7 – 8.30pm WALC Zoom Room
- Sat 27 May 10 – 12noon Ettington Community Centre
- Mon 5 June 7 – 8.30pm WALC Zoom Room
- Sat 17 June 10 – 12noon Ryton-on-Dunsmore Village Hall
- Wed 21 June 7 – 8.30pm WALC Zoom Room
Clerk Training
- 23 May Clerk Toolkit 5: Community Engagement
- 25 May Clerk Toolkit 6: Risk
- 13 June Clerk Toolkit 7: Finance
Please check on our website for more training topics and dates
Area Meetings
- 27 April Solihull Area Meeting – 7.15 pm at The Pavilion Meriden Sports Ground, Meriden
- 6 July Stratford-on-Avon Area Meeting
NALC Updates
Star Council Awards 2023 – Nominations Now Open
The Star Council Awards are the only awards programme in England specifically designed to acknowledge the impact and contribution of local councils in their communities. The awards are open to all local councils, councillors, young councillors, clerks, and county associations across England.
The team at WALC was delighted to see Alcester Town Council win Council of the Year in 2022, as it recognised – and actioned – the need to deliver services to improve health and wellbeing in their community.
The Council’s vision and objective was to develop a resilient community by building capacity and social networks. It directly employs a health and wellbeing coordinator whose job is to partner with local organisations to create new services, activities, events, and projects that meet the needs of the community; represent and support existing groups and societies that promote health and wellbeing in the community, help to initiate, develop, and lead on any new projects and services and put forward the wishes and needs of the local community through consultation and two-way communication.
If you know of a Clerk, a Councillor, a Council going above and beyond to do great things in their community, then visit NALC’s website for details.
The nomination period ends on 28 July 2023, and the winners will be announced and given their awards at a ceremony in the House of Lords on 29 November 2023.
Upcoming NALC Events
- 24 May Fighting Climate Change with Local Council Action
- 27/ 28 June Study Tour 2023: Newport Pagnell Town Council
County & Borough News
Looking for Local Heroes in Solihull
Nominations are now open for the Solihull Civic Honours Awards 2023! The awards give residents a chance to recognise local unsung heroes who go above and beyond to make Solihull a better place.
The deadline for nominations is Friday 9 June. Residents can submit their nominations online on the Solihull Council website at https://www.solihull.gov.uk/councillors-and-democracy/solihull-civic-honours.
Warwickshire Road Safety: ‘Dead Slow’ Campaign
Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership has distributed 44 ‘Dead Slow’ boards to 32 equestrian yards across Warwickshire to support Warwickshire’s growing equestrian community and to help improve their safety whilst using the roads. The boards, produced in partnership with the British Horse Society (BHS) and Warwickshire Horse Watch, will be displayed on private properties where passing drivers can see them.
The boards ask drivers to please pass horses wide (2m) and slow (10mph or less).
This reflects the new 2022 Highway Code that is now specific about what drivers and motorcyclists need to do to safely pass horses. Read full story
Warwickshire Contacts
Warwickshire County Council Useful Contacts: Warwickshire Matters – WCC Useful Contacts Apr 2022.docx – There is also the single email address has been set up for Town and Parish Councils: townparishcouncils@warwickshire.gov.uk