Newsletter July 2026

Book your place at Somerset Parishes Conference 2026

The Somerset Parishes Conference 2026 will take place on Thursday 8th October at The Canalside Conference Centre, near Bridgwater.

SALC leads the organisation of the annual celebration of Somerset’s city, town and a parish council sector, with welcome support from Somerset Council and our sector partners.

The Conference will commence with a keynote speech, then SALC’s AGM, followed by plenary sessions, workshops, and the marketplace exhibition throughout the day. The theme of this year’s conference is “Community Leadership”, and the conference will close with a celebration of Somerset’s Star Council Awards!

The day offers an opportunity for councillors and officers to meet and network with each other, engage with some of our Somerset partner organisations, and learn about our marketplace stalls hosted by organisations that deliver services to local councils.

We are grateful that this benefit for member councils is once again supported by our 2026 Conference sponsors, Parish Online and CloudyIT.

Thanks to our sponsors and exhibitors, lunch and refreshments will be provided at no cost to delegates from member councils.

Booking instructions

Owing to venue capacity, and that Somerset boasts 273 city, town, and parish councils, tickets will be restricted to two representatives from each member council.

Parish councillor delegates will be prioritised, but for councils to benefit fully from the conference, we encourage the clerk or officer to accompany their councillor delegate.

Parking at the venue is available, but limited. We encourage car sharing where possible, and will organise priority parking for those with accessibility needs.

To avoid disappointment, book you place via SALC’s website. We will send a full programme to delegates during September.

Introducing Somerset’s Star Council Awards 2026!

We are excited to introduce Somerset’s “Star Council” Awards at our Somerset Parishes Conference 2026. We invite member councils to join together on Thursday 8th October to recognise and celebrate:

Somerset’s Council of the Year
Somerset’s Councillor of the Year
Somerset’s Young Councillor of the Year
Somerset Nature & Climate Response of the Year
Somerset Project of the Year
Somerset Clerk of the Year.

Nomination instructions will be added to the Somerset “Star Council” Awards notice on the SALC website over the next few days.

NALC Star Councils Awards 2026/27: Nominations open

SALC is proud to support NALC’s Star Council Awards 2026/27

These awards recognise excellence across England’s parish and town council sector and highlight the people and organisations making communities stronger.

Anyone can submit a nomination before 25 September 2026, with winners announced at the in-person awards reception on the House of Lords on 23 February 2027. Learn more and nominate at NALC star council awards.

We would like to see many more Somerset Councils be represented in the finalists at the parliamentary reception at the House of Lords on 23 February 2027, where winners will be announced and celebrated.

This annual event is more than an awards night. It celebrates the power of local governance and community spirit. It’s an opportunity to network, share success stories, and inspire others. SALC was itself delighted to be a finalist for the 2025/26 County Association of the Year, and also that are near-neighbours in Gloucestershire were the proud winners of this award.

Please consider submitting a nomination for your council, a councillor, clerk, or project that you are rightly proud of. Please also let us know at awards@somerset-alc.org.uk when you have submitted your nominations – it is always great to hear when Somerset’s success is celebrated.

Will you help shape SALC’s services by joining our board of directors?

The Somerset Association of Local Councils Ltd (SALC) is seeking expressions of interest from councillors serving on councils in membership of the association.

If you are keen to help shape SALC’s service and forge partnerships across Somerset, we are keen to hear from you.

Six director vacancies will be up for election at the AGM, covering each of the four Somerset areas. Each directorship is for a period of 3 years, falling vacant in 2029.

To find out more about what it means to become a SALC company director, including the role description and time commitments, email Ewan at ceo@somerset-alc.org.uk

SALC & NALC affiliation fees 2027/28

We have received feedback that members want to know the SALC & NALC affiliation fees figures much earlier than has previously been the case.

SALC absolutely understands that this will allow councils more time to budget & resolve their membership status. Therefore, we will agree fees by October 2026 and invoices will go out in January 2027 for payment in April 2027.

2027 is an election year when the benefits to councils from SALC and NALC membership will be even more significant. We recognise that early settlement of fees will allow council’s greater confidence from certainty of access to SALC and NALC support and resources.

Election of Parish Representatives to the Quantock Hills National Landscape Partnership

Nominations are open for the role of Parish Representative on the Quantock Hills National Landscape Partnership (constituted as a Joint Advisory Committee).

The Partnership is the governing body directing the work of the National Landscape Team, and working in partnership to conserve and enhance the Quantock Hills. Its members include national and local government, organisations, and community groups, all with an active interest in the Quantock Hills. There are four Parish Representative positions on the Partnership.

Why engage with the Partnership:

Learn more about the work that is happening by partnership members across the Quantock Hills
Influence and engage with future work stream, especially the statutory National Landscape Management Plan
Raise the profile of relevant local issues
Gain a greater understanding of National Landscapes, the requirement on parish councils, including strengthened duties under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023

The Partnership meets formally four times a year, but there are other opportunities to engage, such as site visits to view specific issues, or work and events run by the Partnership.

Further information can be found in the Role Profile or by contacting Iain Porter, Manager, Quantock Hills National Landscape Team at iain.porter@somerset.gov.uk

Please use this nomination form for submission via email to elections@somerset-alc.org.uk to arrive by the closing date: 5pm on Friday 28 August 2026.

Martyn’s Law webinar & summer vigilance

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, known as Martyn’s Law, is expected to come into force in Spring 2027 to reduce the risk of harm at public premises and events in case of a terrorist attack.

Martyn’s Law aims to make people safer by ensuring premises and events have appropriate plans in place to respond to acts of terrorism.

Now is the time to identify if your council is in scope and what you need to do to comply. You can find a frequently asked questions page on Protect UK. For anyone unsure about what Martyn’s Law means for them, this is a good place to start.

Home Office guidance outlines the steps necessary for premises and events to comply. The focus is on what is appropriate and reasonably practicable for your premises or event. The Security Industry Authority is the regulator that will support compliance for those responsible for premises and evens in scope.

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In addition, Counter Terrorism Policing has launched its annual Summer Vigilance campaign, which encourages the public to stay alert while they enjoy a summer of events with family and friends.

With recent changes to the UK’s threat level, it’s more important than ever that event organisers and businesses up-and-down the country do their part to keep customers and the public safe this summer. The campaign includes a toolkit which includes assets, messaging, and guidance, which event organisers and businesses can use to help keep the public safe this summer.

Reminder about publication of home addresses of councillors & clerks

Following the item in our June newsletter, we want to remind all councils that, from 29th June 2026 The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 amended the Localism Act to remove the requirement for councillors’ home addresses to be published on the register of interests.

Equally, there is no requirement for councillors’ home addresses to be included on the council’s own website.

Declaration of home addresses will still be required by Somerset Council for the purposes of transparency as it relates to conflicts of interest, but the detail is now removed prior to publishing and the register will state that an interest exists without revealing the address detail.

The changes don’t affect council officers. However, although it is necessary for the council to have contact details for post (i.e., service of formal documents), this doesn’t mean it must have an open public office, and if it does, the office doesn’t have to be the clerk’s home address.

If preferred, the council might use a PO Box. For some formal documents, where a physical address is required, the council can use a virtual office with post forwarding, or it might come to a cost-effective agreement with the village hall, public building, local accountants office, or such like.

LGA resources for healthy debate

The Local Government Association (LGA) has published new resources around the subjects of healthy debate and debating skills, and social media.

The resources are not specifically designed for town and parish councils, but they contain lots of helpful guidance to strengthen healthy debate that councillors might find helpful, along with guidance on using social media safely, effectively, and responsibly.

Changes to HMRC mileage rates 2026/27 tax year

The HMRC tax-free amount at which mileage can be reimbursed for the first 10,000 miles has increased from 45p per mile to 55p per mile.

If you drive as part of your work (not just commuting), your council can cover your costs per mile with an ‘Approved Mileage Allowance Payment’, on which you don’t pay tax or National Insurance. The rate reflects the costs of buying, running, and maintaining a vehicle.

If a council policy or contract of employment refers to payments made in line with HMRC mileage rates (or words to that effect), then the change should automatically apply.

If a policy or contract specifies a rate, for example, “45p per mile”, then the change will not automatically apply and the documents will need to go through the council’s process to be amended.

If a staff member is employed under the NALC/SLCC agreed model contract of employment (and potentially the template contract of employment) it’s stated that, “Mileage payments at the NJC rate in force will be paid“. This means that staff under those contracts are unaffected by the change in the HMRC rates and the contractual rates continue to apply.

Help shape the future of NALC’s Model Standing Orders

NALC has commissioned the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO) to undertake a review of the Model Standing Orders.

As one of the most widely used governance documents in the local council sector, it is important that the Model Standing Orders remain practical, accessible, and fit for purpose.

To support the review, ADSO has sought out opinions about standing orders from clerks, councillors, county association officers. ADSO aims to learn from experiences and to identify areas for improvement to shape future versions of the document.

We encourage you to complete the survey and share your views. The findings will help inform recommendations for the next iteration of the Model Standing Orders. Closing date: 31/07/2026

Somerset’s Flood Resilience Programme

Following the 9 June announcement of £50m of funding from Defra to Somerset for flood resilience, Somerset Council has been working with partners to scope a programme of works across the county. A draft programme will be heard by the Executive on 23 September.

This programme is likely to include a wide range of works led by partner organisations to improve conveyance and pumping capability across the levels and moors. It will also focus on mitigating flood ‘hot spots’ across the county.

A major element will be a new “My Community” programme, where Somerset Council will work with local communities at parish council and local community network levels to identify and assess local flood resilience assets, and develop and deliver solutions to any local issues.

This could include a range of things, such as clearing ditches and gullies, repairing, replacing and installing new flood resilience assets, and putting measures in place to ‘slow the flow’ of flood waters downstream. Depending on the individual needs of each community, this could also include support through enhanced flood warning, procurement of property level protection, and community resilience facilities.

In many cases, communities are best-placed to advise on the issues that affect them. Somerset Council wants to use the investment to ensure communities are supported in identifying and delivering solutions on the ground. This will involve visiting locations with communities where required, and liaising on the development of actions.

There is already a very high level of interest from communities, and there is no set deadline to submit proposals. The programme is expected to deliver benefits for autumn/winter 2027 onwards.

Somerset Council plans to communicate progress on the “My Community” programme through LCN newsletters. Parish members can register an interest on behalf of their community via floodresilience@somerset.gov.uk

Flood Wardens and Community Resilience Plans

Many city, town, and parish councils have community emergency volunteers or flood wardens, who help prepare for flooding and respond in an emergency. These flood wardens provide a vital link between residents, Somerset Council, and the Environment Agency, and they help carry out activities set out in a community resilience plan.

Paul Elliston and Bel Deering of the Somerset Prepared team can help communities to develop resilience plans, have worked with several LCNs to develop plans across multiple parishes, and convene regular catchment-level workshops. Paul & Bel can be contacted here, The Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Day 2026 will take place at Millfield School in Street on Wednesday 21 October.

The Environment Agency supports community flood wardens, and can also help with writing and testing a community emergency flood plan. They can provide flood maps, templates, advice and literature, help you network with other local communities, and they send out regular updates and information. If you would like to know more or to be added to a distribution list, you can contact the local Flood Resilience team at floodwessex@environment-agency.gov.uk.

SAAA’s Digital Future for AGAR

The Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments Ltd (SAAA), is the organisation responsible for appointing external auditors to parish and town councils. It is writing to all councils requesting updated contact information ahead of the launch of the Digital AGAR Portal, which will modernise the AGAR process, making it more accurate, efficient, and accessible for councils of all sizes.

The SAAA will be introducing the new Digital AGAR Portal for the 2027 AGAR submissions.

The Digital AGAR Portal will be voluntary for the 2027 AGAR submission, giving councils an opportunity to become familiar with the new process. SAAA intends for the portal to become the primary submission route and, subject to final arrangements, its use is expected to become mandatory for the 2029 AGAR submissions.

SALC will shortly provide training in the use of the Digital AGAR Portal; look out for training dates advertised on the website training page.

You can find out more about SAAA and its role in supporting the local audit regime for smaller authorities by visiting its website:
www.saaa.co.uk

CiLCA support course starting in October

Places on October’s support course are limited and filling quickly. If you are an officer with at least 12 months experience within a parish council who wants to become qualified, then head over to the CiLCA page of the SALC website for details of how to apply to join the next cohort.

A CiLCA qualified clerk benefits the council that aims to achieve an award under the Local Council Award Scheme. Crucially, it helps the council to declare eligibility to use the General Power of Competence, and a council able to exercise the GPC brings significant benefit through opportunity to its community.

“Sam was great, interactive and full of good advice.”

“I really enjoyed the training, The trainer is really confident and has the knowledge to help us understand how and what we need to be successful in this qualification.”

“CiLCA was a great, arduous, interesting, unexpected, fiddly & rigourous challenge: wish I’d done it earlier to push myself.”

Clerks’ Fundamentals training

The Essential Clerk training sessions are being revamped, renamed, and re-released starting from September.

The sessions will be called Clerks’ Fundamentals and will still cover the essential detail of what a clerk must know to meet the demands of the job, but the training will be delivered more regularly on a rolling basis by Simon, SALC’s Training & Support Officer.

The new structure will see sessions available on the second Tuesday of each month starting at 4pm for up to 3 hours, meaning that over three months parts 1 to 3 of the course will be delivered. This will allow new clerks, and those in need of a refresher, better opportunity to plan ahead and book-in when the support is needed.

Part 4 (audit) will be added into the cycle towards the end of each financial year.

Look out for dates and details on the training page of the SALC website.

Opportunities & connections

Bath & North East Somerset Councils’ One West team invites you to connect with it on LinkedIn, where it is sharing valuable updates, practical guidance tailored to support your the work of councils, and creating a place for professional discussion and connection.

Follow One West on LinkedIn: One West | LinkedIn

Over the coming weeks, One West will share a range of content, with a particular focus on practical tips and insights to help you handle Subject Access Requests with confidence.

Whether you’re looking to strengthen your processes or stay informed on best practices, the LinkedIn page will be an additional useful resource.