NALC at Bournemouth

· The Mayor, her Escort and the NALC President Lord Lytton Cllr Brian Kerr, Cllr Kenneth Whetlor and the Mayor’s escort


On 5–7 October 2007
NALC hosted its annual conference and exhibition at the Bournemouth International Centre on 5th to 7th October. This was the largest event in the UK local community calendar. This high profile event brought together over 500 local council clerks, councillors and county officers over the three days of conference, to share experiences and learn about new developments in the sector.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Building the Future of Local Communities“. With the Local Government Bill progressing through Parliament, town and parish councils need to ensure that they are ready to take on the challenges and opportunities which this may provide. Delegates had the opportunity to question key speakers from organisations involved in the sector, as well as getting perspectives from councils on the ground.
There were sessions held on markets, parish planning, partnership working, sustainable communities and climate change, as well as the opportunity to learn from the experience of other councils in formal best practice sharing sessions, and networking throughout the weekend. Delegates also had the chance to speak to experts who provide training in the sector with drop-in sessions for CiLCA and councillor training.
Alongside the conference was the largest exhibition of its kind, which continues to attract a wide variety of commercial companies as well as public sector organisations and charities. Throughout the three days of conference, delegates had numerous opportunities to meet face to face with exhibitors, to see how they can help address the needs of local councils.
After registration at 9.30am on Friday there was ample time to a take look at the Conference Hall and all the exhibits and trade stands. They were of the usual high standard and variety.
My first stop was to visit the Larger Council meeting and meet members at a NALC drop-in session at the exhibition.

The time had come to go and hear the welcome from NALC Chairman, Cllr Ken Cleary. Also by this time the Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Anne Filer, had arrived to address the delegates. She welcomed us to Bournemouth and wished us all a successful conference


Chief Executive of NALC, John Findlay, gave his address to Conference laying out what NALC hoped to achieve in the next few days and be carried forward by the Association .We must not stand still but progress for the betterment of our members.

Larger Councils session ‘Partnership Working’ - Lesley Hughes, Ivybridge Town Council and Karen Bridgford, Devon County Council, gave interesting views of PW citing examples from various councils.

Smaller Councils session ‘Clustering’

David Webb DAPTC CE, David Jenkins CE, Dorset County Council
The main theme of this session was ‘Groups & Clusters - The View from Dorset.’
This idea evolved rather than as a result of planning and raised the question “Is the
current structure fit for the purpose?”
Can we make what we have in Dorset better? How does this work and can we
improve on this model? We have gone from manors and churches to parishes under
the 1894 Act.
1972 LGA established the basis of the current structure. Can we make it work better?
Dorset has 252 villages/hamlets grouped into 40 grouped councils & 98 sole parishes,
19 towns and 36 parish meetings plus some unparished.
Approx 120 villages are now in 40 groups. This works extremely well. Can we
improve? Of course we can. We should group more meetings and even consider cross
border issues.
The question and answer session was very worthwhile.

Saturday 6 October 2007

LARGER LOCAL COUNCILS VOTING. This year I was not up for election as I am automatically co-opted to the LC Committee by virtue of being Chairman of NALC Policy Committee this being my third year. Cllr Haydn White of Blandford was elected to the Larger Councils committee, which gives Dorset strong representation at NALC.
Keynote speech - ‘Code of Conduct’ Cllr Shirley Flint and David Prince, The Standards Board for England. The lady was an excellent speaker with a good question and answer session.

‘Grants and funding’ Chris Butcher, Big Lottery Fund and Beverley Davies, Beaver Business Solutions Ltd. An interesting talk by Chris Butcher who is the Senior Advisor to the Lottery Fund responsible for giving up to 50% funding to good causes. The mission of the Big lottery funding is to bring real improvement to the life of people in need. To help health, education and environmental and charitable purposes and £100 million had been available in 2006/7. This was an opportunity for all to hear from the Lottery first hand and worth it. Beverly Davies spoke about the importance of putting in a good bid and warned that many had failed because of poor applications. The funds discussed included: Awards for All, Reaching Communities (England) People and Places (Wales), Community Buildings (closed)


Neighbourhood Policing Marion Boyes, National Policing Improvement Agency
I attended this talk about the core element of neighbourhood policing PCSOs etc.

NALC Policy & Communications Drop-in Session
‘Cybercommunities’ Graham Harrop, Director of Government Microsoft Public Sector, gave an interesting talk on websites and email. This had my full attention because of my belief in this technology.

‘Councillor Training’ Lynne Lodge, Suffolk CTP Elisabeth Skinner, University
Of Gloucestershire both stressing the importance of training for councillors.

Sharing Best Practice

Winners of the Community Empowerment Awards were split into two sessions to share their experiences in working with old people, young people, gypsies, travellers and migrant workers.
Delegates had the opportunity to attend the following sessions:
Housing Andrew Smith, English Rural Housing Association
Older People Chris Bain, Age Concern
Travellers and Migrant Workers Chris Whitwell, Friends, Families & Travellers
Young People Becky Sharp Dave Phillips, National Youth Agency

Civic Reception (open to all delegates) I was part of the reception committee to welcome the Mayor and her escort before meeting the delegates. The escort had been Mayor ten years before so the roles were reversed this time. Three of the reception committee had been Mayors but this was somewhat special with me coming from Dorset. At this dinner the NALC awards are given out .

Sunday 7 October 2007

Topical motions for debate:-

Motions from Marchwood PC, Yeovil Town Council, DAPTC (2) were all carried with an amendment to one of the DAPTC motions.
Lawley & Overdale PC, Hardwick-in-Partnership PC and Madeley PC motions all failed to gain support.

Chairman Cllr Ken Cleary wished all a safe journey home and thanked everyone for making this conference very successful and he looked forward to taking on board all the suggestions that have been made during the Conference.

All details of the Conference speeches and power point presentations are on the NALC web site for your viewing, including the award winners. I have put some pictures on my website of some events http://kenwhetlor.blogspot.com

Cllr Kenneth Whetlor Lyme Regis Larger Council Representative NALC.

NALC National Seminar 2007

National Seminar
Royal Court Hotel, Tamworth Road, Keresley, Coventry CV7 8JG
Monday 10 September – Wednesday 12 September 2007
“Community empowerment – the future role of town and parish councils”
Started with the Chairman’s Welcome
The Chairman of the National Association, Councillor Ken Cleary, welcomed colleagues and set out the programme and objectives for the seminar

Report on the NALC AGM

Re-appointment of the President for the coming year the Rt Hon. The Earl of Lytton
Appointment of Vice-President for the coming year. Cllr David Leeson
· Re-appointment NALC Auditors for the year ending 31March 2008. Lithgow, Nelson & Co
· Annual report and Annual Accounts were received and approved
· Subscriptions were agreed for 2008/2009 4.93 pence per elector
· There were three speakers Mr Mick Rice a former district councillor who is now the manager if Birmingham Association of Neighbourhood Forums. Neighbourhood forum are community groups run by and for local people They provide an opportunity to discuss and influence the issues that effect local communities such as community safety and crime education, environmental issues, health and social issuers house local economy and transport. Birmingham City Council is moving to devolve decision – making, budgets and some services to eleven ‘districts’. Neighbourhood local knowledge they represent can make a big difference by ensuring that the districts spending and priorities reflect the needs of local people.
· The second speaker Mr Charles Lesley has worked in local government since 1979 and with other bodies since 1983. His background is in training & development and focusing on identifying and promoting best practice Advice to local authorities on the introduction of Compulsory Competitive tendering to Housing Management. He also has given a report on the experience of Black and Ethnic Minority managers on management.
· Third speaker is a prominent figure in People Management and in Local Government. He is also acting as Public Sector Practice Manager for Link Management Group. He is currently a director and consultant for his own company,Pieve Solutions, a People Management and Organisational Change Consultancy. All excellent speakers.
· Motions from County Associations Four Motions Two were carried one was taken back another and the other to be taken to the new working group next May

We had an excellent discussion at the recent national seminar about the future opportunities for Town and Parish Councils and the need to develop our organisation and funding to provide them with the support they need.
The seminar recommended that a review group should be set up to consider these issues and report to National Council. It was further recommended that the Group should consist of two representatives from each regional grouping of County Associations.

National Council considered this recommendation on Tuesday 25 September. National Council resolved to set up a working party and agreed terms of reference as follows:

To consider the future development of the National Association, CALC’s, Member Councils their future role, funding and organisation and to report to the Executive Committee and National Council.

You are therefore invited to let us have your nominations as soon as possible. Nominations have already been received from two regional groupings. We hope to have the first meeting in late October/early November and it is hoped that the review group will be able to submit its report and recommendations in the early spring.

· Cllr Kenneth Whetlor NALC representative DAPTC.

July reports

Friday 20th July attended meeting of the Dorset Association of Larger Councils at Blandford. My report to the meeting is below .I represent Lyme Regis at this meeting as they are a Larger Council. The speaker was Louise Colclough, Waste Policy Manager, Dorset County Council gave a very useful and interesting talk on Waste Management in Dorset. .



Tuesday 17th July
Meeting of Nalc Policy in London of which I am the Chairman The general issues surrounding regional assemblies, their role in EU funding, first-tier representation on them and various other issues were discussed. Given the likelihood of announcements on the future role of regional assemblies and their role, it was decided committee would be updated when full details of future developments were clear.

Community Ownership of Assets – Linkages between this consultation and post office services were observed and members felt the existing examples of good practice from members would further illustrate the points made in the response.

Members were updated on two active consultations on the Planning White Paper and Effective consultation which have been sent to County Associations and are due responses later in the summer. The recent CRC reports into young people in rural areas and into CALCs were also discussed.
REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES
Member updated members on Rights of Way and the Lost Ways project. Members were updated on post offices, Post Office limited are due to publish their closure programme from July. When the programme is known, it will be forwarded to all County Associations. Reform of Burial law was also mentioned. Members enquired of representation on Village Halls meetings, further attempts to secure ongoing representation on the body will be made.

Monday July 2nd I attended BCAG ( Burial and Cemeteries Advisory Group Meeting) at the Ministry of Justice a department of the Home Office for a meeting on behalf of the National Association of Councils in the morning. We discussed a written Ministerial statement on Burial reform and the Government response to the consultation paper. We should appreciate from that the intention is to take forward work on a scheme to provide for the re-use of old graves , to provide anew guidance on the provision and maintenance of burial grounds, and to update and revise exiting burial law where necessary and when opportunities arise. There are no plans for a comprehensive burial bill. We also discussed Memorial safety and the local government white paper update.

In the afternoon I made my way up North to Royal Leamington Spa for a visit to the town .









Royal Leamington Spa the opening of the Britain in Bloom week. An interesting town listed in the Domesday Book (1086) as the homestead of Lamintone. A Czech memorial in the town that I shall be commenting on in the British Legion page is unusual. Being Wimbledon fortnight it was interesting to find out that the site of the world's very first Lawn Tennis Club, established in 1872 by Major Henry Gem and three friends. They drew up the first rules at the house of Major Gem in Hamilton Terrace a Plaque marks the spot. Sadly flats are now on that spot. The Renshaw brothers won Wimbledon men's doubles1885/86/88/89 and in 1888 J.E won the singles title only to be defeated in the following year by his brother.

The Mayor and Mayoress with children from the local schools and an entertainer who was excellent got the week off to a great start The Town Clerk led us round on our tour and made a good job of something I am sure he was not used to. Bye the way the reason he did it was that the normal guide was on holiday in Lyme Regis would you believe !








I have visited many Towns and Parishes since becoming a councillor. Representing Dorset on the National Association of Parish and Town Council committees and this town of Lyme Regis as a Larger Town in the organisation, visiting Royal Leamington Spa had been one the most pleasurable. Approximately 20 Councillors made the visit representing Councils from all over the Country. We were welcomed by the Mayor, Chairman, Town Clerk and councillors from the town. I personally thank them, on behalf of NALC for the warm hospitally shown to us. Best of luck with your traffic wardens !

Cllr Whetlor reports

Watch this space ! More information will be added as it becomes available.

June 13th Unable to go to Planning meeting of LRTC . Gave apologies

June 14th Attended a meeting of the Local Area Partnership, I was pleased to see several of my fellow councillors there as well. With the Mayor I am the LRTC representative. This quarterly get-together of the Town's service providers and representatives of our local organisations now has real importance as it will act as the "guardian" of the newly published Community Plan. The meeting concentrated on identifying the first steps necessary to achieve the long list of possible projects. Delighted to hear that our local Ellen Rooke has been appointed Co-ordinator to the project. For me it is immensely gratifying having been involved in the very beginning of a process that has reached this far and what it will mean for the town in the years ahead. The towns people being involved in its decision making .



Thursday 14th June report for Council . In the evening I attended a Western Area meeting at Bothenhampton Village Hall The guest speaker was Mr Dugaid Lockhart of DCC who spoke on the subject of the Pathfinder project and what it will mean to local councils.

• The Dorset Pathfinder Proposal for enhancing the Multi Tier Structure
• Dorset Direct funded by DCC will begin soon
• E Planning which I have talked about for a considerable time will begin 1st July.
• Since the election 90 Councillors have applied and been given training. 30 more are having training this week funding supplied by DCC.
• Negotiations are in progress with Chideock PC and VOSA (Vehicle Operation Service Agency} to put a testing site on the A35 near Chideok. This has come about after years of trying and VOSA are all for it. The latest is that the air quality has been tested locally and is not good on average .
• About 137 you know now there are no limits for Quality Council on that money even buildings?
• Daptc has been given money by the SW for an additional part time officer in the DAPTC office this is great news and will free up time the Chief Executive to do training etc.
  
  Cllr Kenneth Whetlor Western Area Representative

On Saturday 16th I attended the Executive of the Dorset Association of Parish & Town Council meeting. (Daptc) Info to follow

Wednesday 17th June LRTC Policy meeting I am unable to attend. Report handed in for the Wester Area meeting Apologies given

June 20th Unable to attend Policy meeting due to Eye operation

June 25th Unable to attend C O B meeting still recuperating

June 28th Coastal Forum meeting unable to attend due to another meeting RBLegion see Legion Page