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.

🚨 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/

💡Did you miss our recent session on the Digital AGAR & Proper Practices Update? Don’t worry, we’re bringing it back as p...
10/08/2026

💡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 Allen, 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/

👀 Two more sessions revealed for Scribefest 2026The line-up for this year’s free online conference for Town, Parish and ...
03/08/2026

👀 Two more sessions revealed for Scribefest 2026

The line-up for this year’s free online conference for Town, Parish and Community Councils is growing, and we’re excited to announce two more speakers!

📈 Improving Community Engagement & Getting the Best From Your Council's Website - Mark Tomkins, Director & Founder, Aubergine

Your website can be so much more than a place to share information — it can be a powerful tool for connecting with your community. In this session, Mark will share practical strategies to help councils maximise their website’s potential, improve communication and messaging, and boost meaningful engagement.

🫨 Data Breach at 4:55pm on a Friday - Daniel Purchese, Founder, Breakthrough Communications

What should councils actually do when personal information is sent to the wrong person, lost, shared online or accessed inappropriately? Daniel’s session will explore the practical steps councils need to take when a data breach occurs, helping you understand how to respond effectively and compliantly.

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

Ready to discover how apprenticeships can help build the next generation of local council professionals? 🏛️At ScribeFest...
27/07/2026

Ready to discover how apprenticeships can help build the next generation of local council professionals? 🏛️

At ScribeFest 2026, we’re diving deep into the power of apprenticeships in local government. Join Nigel Hayes (Responsible Financial Officer) and Keira Lake (Finance Apprentice) from Dorchester Town Council as they share their incredible journey from both a management and apprentice perspective!

📊 Meet the Speakers:

Nigel Hayes: RFO since 2023 (with the council since 2014) and currently mastering a Level 6 Bachelor’s degree in Community Governance.

Keira Lake: Joined at 18 in 2024 and has already smashed through her ILCA, FILCA, PIALC, and AAT Level 2 qualifications!

What you’ll learn in this session:
✅ The Blueprint: Why apprenticeships work in local government and how the recruitment process works.
✅ The Reality: First-hand insights from Keira on balancing council work with intense AAT qualifications.
✅ The Strategy: How to use apprenticeships for seamless succession planning and closing local skills gaps.

📅 When: Thursday 17th September | 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
📍 Where: Online (and completely FREE!)
🎟️ Secure your free ticket today: https://resources.scribeaccounts.com/scribefest-2026-sign-up-form

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