The Councillor's Corner

The Councillor's Corner Welcome to the Councillors' corner!

We offer an open support network for Councillors to Town & Parish Councils via an exclusive closed member group where live discussions take place daily covering a vast range of relevant topics.

👀 Scribefest 2026 is just one week away and if you haven’t registered yet, now’s the time...On Thursday 17th September, ...
09/09/2026

👀 Scribefest 2026 is just one week away and if you haven’t registered yet, now’s the time...

On Thursday 17th September, we’re bringing together town, parish and community councils virtually for a full day of insights, advice, ideas and inspiration. From VAT and the new Digital AGAR to employment rights, community engagement and audit prep — there’s something for everyone.

🎟️ Free Registration & Agenda: https://scribe-fest.com/

And, because it’s not all about learning, we’ve got a little bit of fun planned too!🎉 Join us live for exciting quizzes, challenges and the chance to win prizes throughout the day.

P.S. 🎁 Every registrant will be entered into our random prize draw with a chance to win a yummy food hamper, afternoon tea for two, garden vouchers, book vouchers and more!

As for our speakers’ secret mission… 🤫 Let’s just say you’ll need to keep your eyes and ears open during the conference!

Want to master your council’s budget season and set your Precept with absolute confidence?From forecasting your figures ...
09/09/2026

Want to master your council’s budget season and set your Precept with absolute confidence?

From forecasting your figures to calculating your Precept with total confidence, a proactive financial strategy transforms budget season from a scramble into a smooth success.

Join Hannah Driver in our upcoming webinar, "Forecasting, Budgeting & Setting the Precept for Local Councils," where she’ll walk you through essential budgeting approaches, forecasting methods, and practical tips to streamline your council's finances.

What you'll learn:
✅ An Introduction to Budgeting: Understand the core budgeting timeline and discover when to use Incremental vs. Zero-Based budgeting.

✅ Forecasting & Calculating the Precept: Learn practical steps to project costs, set next year’s budget, and calculate your Precept accurately.

✅ Simple practices for effective, regular budget monitoring throughout the year

👇 Register your spot today: https://resources.scribeaccounts.com/forecasting-budgeting-setting-the-precept-for-local-councils-sept-26

We’ve already introduced you to the speakers joining our first Lightning Round, but did you know we’re having not one, b...
07/09/2026

We’ve already introduced you to the speakers joining our first Lightning Round, but did you know we’re having not one, but TWO Lightning Rounds at Scribefest 2026?

Four speakers, four very different topics, and just five minutes each to share their ideas, advice and expertise.

Here’s Lightning Round #2! ⚡️

📊 Keeping Your Accounts Audit-Ready
Claire Lingard McKay, Practice Director at Working the Greener Way Online
- Top tips and best practices to keep your accounts on track and audit-ready all year round.

📚️ Woughton Community Council's Library of Things
Steve McNay, Council Manager, Woughton Community Council
- Discover how one council developed a resource-sharing scheme for residents, helping them save money, reuse more and reduce waste.

📝 Agendas & Minutes – Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Julie King, Parish Clerk and Partner at Norfolk Parish Training & Support
- Pick up quick tips for getting your agendas and minutes right and avoiding common mistakes.

🔮 Planning for the Parish Council of 2030
Tom Clay, Executive Officer, East Riding & Northern Lincolnshire Local Councils Association
- Explore what the local council of 2030 could look like — and what councils might need to keep, start or stop doing to get there.

Scribefest 2026 - The Free Online Conference for Town, Parish and Community Councils
Thursday 17th September, 9:30AM - 4:00PM
🎟️ Register your free spot: https://scribe-fest.com/

And remember, the Lightning Rounds are just one part of a packed day at Scribefest, with prize giveaways, challenges and competitions happening throughout the event too. 🎁 🏆️

🚨 With VAT compliance reviews becoming more common for local councils, are you confident that your council is getting it...
03/09/2026

🚨 With VAT compliance reviews becoming more common for local councils, are you confident that your council is getting its VAT right?

At Scribefest 2026, join Steve Parkinson, AAT Licensed Accountant & Partner at the Parkinson Partnership, as he shares his expertise on VAT, common pitfalls and what councils need to know when facing a compliance review.

You will discover:
✅ What a VAT compliance review involves and what HMRC may ask for
✅ Common VAT mistakes that can catch councils out
✅ Simple steps you can put in place to help avoid these issues

Scribefest 2026 - The Free Online Conference for Town, Parish and Community Councils
Thursday 17th September, 9:30AM - 4:00PM
🎟️ Register & View Agenda: https://scribe-fest.com/

P.S. Don't forget to check out the photo competition details for a chance to win a tasty food hamper!

⚖️ Employment law is changing — is your council ready? Join James Corrigan, Director of Council HR and Governance Suppor...
01/09/2026

⚖️ Employment law is changing — is your council ready?

Join James Corrigan, Director of Council HR and Governance Support, at Scribefest 2026 for a focused session on the Employment Rights Act and discover:

✅️ The Core Updates: A simple breakdown of the new legislation.
✅️The Implementation Timeline: A look at when the changes come into effect.
✅️Building Compliance Confidence: Remove the fear of getting it wrong.
✅️Practical Roadmap: The actions you need to take now and in the future.

With 25+ years as a chief officer, 8 years as a parish clerk and 10 years as an SLCC National Advisor, James brings extensive practical experience to help you navigate the changes with confidence.

Scribefest 2026 - The Free Online Conference for Town, Parish and Community Councils
Thursday 17th September, 9:30AM - 4:00PM
🎟️ Register & View Agenda: https://scribe-fest.com/

For many in local government, looking at a new bundle of planning drawings can feel like a minefield of confusing bluepr...
26/08/2026

For many in local government, looking at a new bundle of planning drawings can feel like a minefield of confusing blueprints, technical scale bars, and architectural jargon 📑🔍

Join Tom Sykes, Architect, Client Advisor and Founder of Common Works in this practical session as he unpacks how to read a planning application and identify good vs bad designs.

In this session, you’ll learn:
✅ The basics of reading plans and drawings
✅ What "good design" looks like on paper
✅ How to spot the bad stuff
✅ Pushing back on design grounds
✅ The real value of good design

How to Read a Planning Application
Thursday 3rd September, 11am - 12pm
👉 Register your free spot: https://resources.scribeaccounts.com/how-to-read-a-planning-application

⚡4 Experts. 20 Minutes. A Lightning Round of Ideas! Looking for a quick hit of ideas, advice and inspiration? Join us at...
24/08/2026

⚡4 Experts. 20 Minutes. A Lightning Round of Ideas!

Looking for a quick hit of ideas, advice and inspiration? Join us at Scribefest 2026 for a fast-paced start to your morning with our first Lightning Round — bringing together four speakers, each with just five minutes to share their insights and expertise.

🛝 Creating Playgrounds That Engage Tweens and Teens - Millie Manton, KOMPAN UK
- How to make your public open space attractive to ‘tweens’ and ‘teens’, keeping them active and engaged.

🔐 Cyber Security and Insurance - Colin Raffell, James Hallam Insurance Brokers
- A quick look at the cyber risks facing local councils and what you should consider when it comes to your council’s insurance.

🏛️ How to Read a Planning Application - Tom Sykes, Common Works
- Discover how to read plans and drawings, what good design should look like and the value that it can bring to a place, and how to push back against bad designs.

🧠 The Council as a Nervous System: Opening the Window of Tolerance - Becky Walsh, Council Culture
- Explore how councils respond to pressure and how understanding our “window of tolerance” can help create healthier council cultures.

Scribefest 2026 - The Free Online Conference for Town, Parish and Community Councils
Thursday 17th September, 9:30AM - 4:00PM
🎟️ Register your free spot: https://scribe-fest.com/

💡 Can a parish council be too small?It’s the question Louise Gransden set out to answer in her Master’s dissertation — a...
20/08/2026

💡 Can a parish council be too small?

It’s the question Louise Gransden set out to answer in her Master’s dissertation — and the results weren’t quite what she expected.

After 10 years as Faversham Town Clerk and having recently joined Margate to set up its new Town Council, Louise has worked with councils at very different ends of the spectrum — from her home village with a £5,000 precept to a town with a precept of almost £1 million. She has also been a peer reviewer for NALC’s Local Council Award Scheme for several years and is Kent’s representative on the SLCC’s National Forum.

At Scribefest 2026, Louise will share her findings and explore what council size means for capacity, effectiveness and the communities councils serve.

She’ll explore:
✅️ What added value can a council provide beyond its statutory duties?
✅️ Does having greater capacity and resources make larger councils more effective?
✅️ And ultimately, can a parish council be too small?

Whether you work for a small parish council or a larger town council, come and hear what Louise discovered — and see if her findings change the way you think about council size!

Scribefest 2026 - The Free Online Conference for Town, Parish and Community Councils
Thursday 17th September, 9:30AM - 4:00PM
🎟️ Register your free spot: https://scribe-fest.com/

🚦How do you know when a request has become vexatious — and what should you do about it?Dealing with challenging or persi...
17/08/2026

🚦How do you know when a request has become vexatious — and what should you do about it?

Dealing with challenging or persistent requests can be difficult for councils, particularly when you need to balance openness and transparency with the time and resources available to you.

At Scribefest 2026, join Jackie Weaver, Chief Officer at Cheshire Association of Local Councils (ChALC), as she explores Handling Vexatious Requests.

You Will Discover:

- What makes a request vexatious?
- Assessing alternatives before refusing a request
- What to do once you’ve decided to refuse a request

Whether you’re currently dealing with a challenging request, unsure whether a request could be considered vexatious, or simply want to be prepared for the future, this session will give you practical guidance to help you navigate these situations confidently.

Scribefest 2026 - The Free Online Conference for Town, Parish and Community Councils
Thursday 17th September, 9:30AM - 4:00PM
🎟️Register your free spot: https://scribe-fest.com/

💡Did you miss our recent session on the Digital AGAR & Proper Practices Update? Don’t worry, we’re bringing it back as p...
12/08/2026

💡Did you miss our recent session on the Digital AGAR & Proper Practices Update?

Don’t worry, we’re bringing it back as part of Scribefest 2026!

With the AGAR moving into the digital age, this is a great opportunity to stay ahead of these changes and hear directly from the key figures supporting the sector through this transition.

Join Lance Allan, User Acceptance & Training Project Manager at SAAA, for a live look at the new Digital AGAR portal, including what to expect and guidance on accessing the system ahead of 2026/27 year-end submissions.

Beyond the system walkthrough, Claire Reed, Proper Practices Project Manager at NALC, will share the latest updates to SAPPP Proper Practices and the Practitioners’ Guide, along with how you can get involved in the next consultation.

Whether you missed our previous session or fancy a refresher, this is your chance to get the latest guidance and feel prepared for the changes ahead.

Scribefest 2026 - The Free Online Conference for Town, Parish and Community Councils
Thursday 17th September, 9:30AM - 4:00PM
🎟️ Register your free spot: https://scribe-fest.com/

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