Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils

Annual Report of the Executive Committee 2017

(incorporating the 2016-17 accounts)

LRALC, Jubilee Hall, Stadon Road, Anstey, , LE7 7AY Tel 0116 235 3800 Email [email protected] Website www.leicestershireandrutlandalc.gov.uk

LRALC Executive Committee members

Back row left to right: Cllr John Springthorpe (Vice Chairman), Cllr Sue Gerrard, Cllr Tony Hirons, Cllr Pat Crane, Cllr Gordon Brown

Front row left to right: Cllr Maureen Cook, Cllr Pat Thomas, Cllr Guy Jackson (Chairman), Cllr Betty Crick, Cllr Sue McKendrick

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Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils

Annual Report 2016-17

Executive Committee members A new Executive Committee member joined the Association in September 2016. Cllr Sue McKendrick joined the LRALC Executive representing North West Leicestershire. There was also a resignation, Cllr Julia Tobin had to leave the Executive Committee due to ill health.

The Association remains in a position where some LRALC Branch areas do not formally meet, which results in the need for the LRALC Executive to appoint Executive Committee members for those Branch areas. Whilst this is constitutionally acceptable the Association still actively supports and encourages Branch areas to meet and appoint Executive Committee members locally. Executive Committee member Cllr Pat Crane put a great deal of effort into rejuvenating the Hinckley and Bosworth Branch during 2016-17.

The full list of Executive Committee members as at 31st March 2017 is detailed below:

Name Branch

Guy Jackson (Chairman) (Investment Trustee) Blaby John Springthorpe (Vice-Chairman) (Investment Trustee) Blaby Betty Crick Charnwood Sue Gerrard Charnwood Tony Hirons (Investment Trustee) Harborough Stephen Bilbie Harborough Maureen Cook Hinckley & Bosworth Pat Crane Hinckley & Bosworth Anne Dames Melton Vacant Melton Pat Thomas North West Leicestershire Sue McKendrick North West Leicestershire Ron Simpson (Investment Trustee) Rutland Gordon Brown Rutland

2016-17 Finances The year-end accounts are attached to this report from which it can be seen that the Association’s financial position remains secure, the Association having returned a surplus for the fifth consecutive year. Indeed, the year end balances for 2016-17 have returned to the previous highest recorded level achieved in 2010-11 (see graph on page 4).

The contract with Leicestershire County Council continued during 2016-17 with a further £20,000 being received during the year from the County Council for specific agreed outcomes which LRALC met or exceeded (quarterly monitoring meetings are in place to ensure that the Association is delivering against the contracted outcomes). The current

3 LCC contract was due to expire on 31st March 2017 but has subsequently been extended for a one year period. It is hoped that a renewed contract can be agreed before the end of 2017-18.

The very successful and expanded range of training courses offered by the Association was a major factor in us delivering our fifth consecutive surplus. The majority of the courses proved very popular and, as a result, the training income received during 2016- 17 was, once again, slightly higher than expected. This is in line with many County Associations who are finding they are becoming increasingly reliant on training income to provide an additional source of income to support core activity, and who are experiencing an increase in demand for specialist courses as the sector experiences continuing change and expanding powers.

The graph below illustrates the Association’s financial journey since 2005-06, with 2010- 12 being a period where a number of grants and other sources of external funding either reduced or ceased, resulting in the loss of a staff post in March 2012. However, with the return to surplus in 2012-13 and a dramatic increase in the proportion of self-generated income, LRALC is now in the most financially sustainable shape it has been for many years.

Investment of Reserves A total of £60,000 of LRALC’s reserves have previously been invested in a conservative Discretionary Fund Management portfolio. The closing balance of £68,904.01 shows unrealised gains of £7529.76 during 2016-17. This figure includes investment charges of £324.72 which had been deducted. The investment is intended to be long term. The Association is very happy with the level of return on this investment, but will continue to monitor the investment to ensure the money in it is managed appropriately and prudently.

Current membership Membership of the Association has remained static for the 2016-17 year. As previously notified one council disaffiliated (Knossington & Cold Overton Parish Council) after giving the appropriate notice of its intention to do so but we welcomed Bruntingthorpe PC into membership. Feedback from members remains extremely positive with the Association being seen to provide a much valued, professional service.

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Requests for support and advice remain the “bread and butter” of the Association’s services; over the course of the year LRALC officers have responded to over 1100 individual enquiries from member councils (an increase of approximately 22% on last year). Some of the queries were simple questions and others, as always, were more complicated and required more detailed and comprehensive assistance. The ongoing supplementary legal and HR support offered by Roger Taylor of Wellers Hedleys and Chris Moses of Personnel and Advice Solutions remain a valuable source of support and advice for LRALC member councils.

LRALC Strategic Plan 2017-20 During 2016-17 the Association developed its second Strategic Plan. A wide range of consultation and engagement activities were undertaken with member councils, stakeholders, partners, and the Executive Committee during the development of the draft plan which we believe to be one of the most ambitious County Association (CALC) plans in the country, in line with our ambition to be an exemplar CALC.

NALC Cllr John Springthorpe continued to represent our membership at National level and is the Association’s National Council member at NALC.

Federation of Associations of Local Councils (FEMALC) FEMALC is a constituted grouping of County Associations (CALCs) comprising Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Rutland and Northamptonshire and was created in 1999. Together these Associations represent some 1,054 town and parish councils throughout the region with an electorate of some 1.3 million.

The LRALC representative on FEMALC is Cllr John Springthorpe who represents member councils at regional level.

The LRALC Chairman and Chief Officer are the nominated FEMALC representatives to attend meetings of East Midlands Councils (EMC); EMC represents the interests of councils in the East Midlands to Government and national organisations.

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Training Core training (delivered by LRALC officers) for councillors and clerks remained a key priority with most planned training courses being very well attended. During the year 12 councillor sessions were run with approximately 116 members receiving training. These included Councillor’s and Chairman’s courses. We have also seen a slight increase in requests for in-house councillor training. Alongside this training for elected members LRALC officers also delivered 5 core training sessions primarily aimed at Clerks which comprised 47 delegates attending Clerks 1, 2 and 3 training. Core training courses will continue to be developed and delivered by the Association in line with demand and capacity.

Specialist training courses The training programme was again extended to include a variety of courses and briefing sessions facilitated by external specialists. These courses were added as a result of feedback in the Member Satisfaction Survey which identified areas where training was required. These new courses included:

 Budgeting and Financial Management  Finance for Councillors

Smaller Authorities Transparency Fund The second year of the Transparency Fund which is available to smaller (sub £25k) Leicestershire and Rutland parishes saw £24,504.16 in grants being passed on to qualifying parishes. LRALC remained in the top 10 CALCs nationally during 2016-17 in terms of the amount of money secured for member councils from the Transparency Fund.

Local Council Award Scheme (previously the Quality Council Scheme) Two more Councils achieved a LCAS award during the year.

Braunstone Town Council FOUNDATION Ashby de la Zouch TC QUALITY GOLD

We would like to place on record our thanks for the LCAS Panel Members who volunteer their time to assess applications. The Panel as of 31st March 2017 consisted of:

Name Role Tina Britt 2Commune Ltd Sarah Carter Leicestershire County Council Andrew Ellis Parish Clerk, Barwell PC Andrew Granger Leicestershire Rural Partnership Julie Perrin Parish Manager, Burbage PC Hannah Surtees Town Clerk, Lutterworth TC

Qualified Clerks A further 12 clerks achieved the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) qualification which brings the total number of passes achieved in Leicestershire and Rutland to 75 as at 31st March 2017; 46 of these are current clerks or deputy clerks in the area. More and more Councils are including the requirement to hold, or be willing to

6 train to achieve, this qualification when recruiting a new clerk. It is pleasing to note that LRALC has one of the highest pass rates in the Country according to NALC statistics.

Staffing matters The funds generated by the Association, and its continued surplus, ensures that your Association had a staff resource amounting to 65 hours per week for 2015-16.

The Association office opening hours remain as previously; 8am until 1pm on Mondays and Thursdays and from 8am until 2pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Retained specialist advice Towards the end of 2012-13 LRALC entered into agreement with two commercial partners, one a firm of solicitors the other a firm providing specialist HR advice, to provide an additional layer of support to our members. These agreements have been renewed each year since then as they continue to be of benefit to member councils.

Guy Jackson Chairman

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APPENDIX 1: MEMBER COUNCILS

Ab Kettleby Parish Council Anstey Parish Council Appleby Magna Parish Council Arnesby Parish Council Asfordby Parish Council Ashby de la Zouch Town Council Ashby Magna Parish Council Ashby Parva Parish Meeting Ashby Woulds Town Council Ashwell Parish Council Bagworth & Thornton Parish Council & Parish Council Barkestone, Plungar & Redmile Parish Council Barlestone Parish Council Barrowden Parish Council Barrow-Upon-Soar Parish Council Barwell Parish Council Belton in Rutland Parish Council Belton Parish Council Belvoir Parish Council Billesdon Parish Council Birstall Parish Council Bitteswell with Bittesby Parish Council Blaby Parish Council Bottesford Parish Council Braunston in Rutland Parish Council Braunstone Town Council Breedon on the Hill Parish Council Broughton & Dalby Parish Council Broughton Astley Parish Council Bruntingthorpe Parish Council Buckminster Parish Council Burbage Parish Council Burton & Dalby Parish Council , Cotes & Parish Council Burton Overy Parish Council Cadeby Parish Council Caldecott Parish Council Carlton Parish Council Castle Donington Parish Council Charley Parish Council Clawson Hose & Harby Parish Council Claybrooke Magna Parish Council Claybrooke Parva Parish Council Coleorton Parish Council Cosby Parish Council Cossington Parish Council

8 Cotesbach Parish Council Cottesmore Parish Council Countesthorpe Parish Council Croft Parish Council & Branston Parish Council Desford Parish Council Dunton Bassett Parish Council Earl Shilton Town Council Parish Council East Langton Parish Council Eaton Parish Council Edith Weston Parish Council Ellistown & Battleflat Parish Council Elmesthorpe Parish Council Empingham Parish Council Enderby Parish Council Exton Parish Council Fleckney Parish Council Foxton Parish Council Freeby Parish Council Frisby on the Wreake Parish Council Frolesworth Parish Meeting Gilmorton Parish Council Glen Parva Parish Council Glenfield Parish Council Great Bowden Parish Council Great Casterton Parish Council Great Easton Parish Council Great Glen Parish Council Grimston, Saxelby & Shoby Parish Council Groby Parish Council Hallaton Parish Council Parish Council Heather Parish Council Higham on the Hill Parish Council Hoby with Rotherby Parish Council Parish Council Houghton on the Hill Parish Council Hugglescote & Donington le Heath Parish Council Huncote Parish Council Hungarton Parish Council Husbands Bosworth Parish Council Ibstock Parish Council Kegworth Parish Council Ketton Parish Council Keyham Parish Meeting Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council Kibworth Harcourt Parish Council Kilby Parish Council Kimcote & Walton Parish Council Kirby Bellars Parish Council

9 Kirby Muxloe Parish Council Langham Parish Council Forest East Parish Council Leire Parish Council Lockington & Hemington Parish Council Long Whatton & Diseworth Parish Council Lubenham Parish Council Lutterworth Town Council Manton Parish Council Market Bosworth Parish Council Market Overton Parish Council Markfield Parish Council Measham Parish Council Medbourne Parish Council Misterton with Walcote Parish Council Morcott Parish Council Parish Council Mowsley Parish Meeting Nailstone Parish Council Narborough Parish Council Newbold Verdon Parish Council Parish Council North Kilworth Parish Council North Luffenham Parish Council Oakham Town Council Oakthorpe, Donisthorpe & Acreford Parish Council Osbaston Parish Council Osgathorpe Parish Council Packington Parish Council Peatling Magna Parish Meeting Peckleton Parish Council Parish Council Quorndon Parish Council Ratby Parish Council Parish Council Ravenstone with Snibston Parish Council Parish Council Ridlington Parish Council Parish Council Ryhall Parish Council Sapcote Parish Council Scalford Parish Council Scraptoft Parish Council Parish Council Seaton Parish Council Shackerstone Parish Council Sharnford Parish Council Shearsby Parish Council Sheepy Parish Council Town Council Parish Council

10 Smeeton Westerby Parish Council Somerby Parish Council South Croxton Parish Council South Kilworth Parish Council South Luffenham Parish Council Sproxton Parish Council Stanton under Bardon Parish Council Stathern Parish Council Stoke Golding Parish Council Stoney Stanton Parish Council Stoughton Parish Council Stretton Parish Council Sutton Cheney Parish Council Swannington Parish Council Swepstone Parish Council Swinford Parish Council Town Council Theddingworth Parish Council Parish Council & Parish Council Thurlaston Parish Council Parish Council Thurnby & Bushby Parish Council Tilton on the Hill & Halstead Parish Council Tugby & Keythorpe Parish Council Tur Langton Parish Council Twycross Parish Council Twyford & Thorpe Satchville Parish Council Ullesthorpe Parish Council Uppingham Town Council & Thorpe Arnold Parish Council Parish Council Whetstone Parish Council Whissendine Parish Council Whitwick Parish Council Willoughby Waterleys Parish Council Wing Parish Council Wistow & Newton Parish Meeting Witherley Parish Council Woodhouse Parish Council Worthington Parish Council Parish Council Wymondham & Edmondthorpe Parish Council

Total: 192 (including 6 Parish Meetings with full fee paying membership)

APPENDIX 2: NON MEMBER COUNCILS

Essendine Parish Council Parish Council Garthorpe Parish Council

11 Greetham Parish Council Illston on the Hill Parish Council Knossington & Cold Overton Parish Council Little Casterton Parish Council Lyddington Parish Council Snarestone Parish Council

Total: 9

12 APPENDIX 3: ACCOUNTS

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LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS

STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2017

2015/16 INCOME 2016/17 2015/16 EXPENDITURE 2016/17

£ 215.61 Interest £ 184.58 £ 216.00 Audit Fees £ 216.00

£ 62,805.03 Subscriptions and Donations £ 67,550.08 £ 20,104.31 NALC Subscriptions £ 23,700.07

£ 4,583.76 Administration Income £ 3,638.74 £ 15,074.29 Administration Costs £ 15,943.90

£ 20,000.00 LCC Grants (against salaries) £ 20,000.00 £ 61,687.04 Salaries inc. LCC grant £ 60,333.27

£ - LCAS Grant £ 1,246.89 Pension contributions £ 5,174.52

£ 1,770.00 HDC NHB Grant

£ 4,800.00 HDC Community Grant £ 259.10 HDC Community Grant £ 3,221.87

£ - Locality Grant £ 1,380.00 Locality Grant

£ - NALC - Outreach Bursary

£ - NALC NCP Shearsby PC £ 4,010.81 NALC NCP Shearsby PC

£ 2,931.82 NALC CALC Transparency Grant £ 2,000.00

£ 44,548.82 NALC Transparency Grants £ 24,504.16 £ 44,520.15 NALC Transparency Grants £ 24,504.16

£ 26,928.29 Training Course income £ 19,780.54 £ 9,415.58 Training Course Costs £ 7,922.48

£ 166.40 Novia Unrealised Gains £ 7,529.76 £ 939.93 Novia Investment Charges £ 324.72

£ 168,749.73 Sub total £ 145,187.86 £ 158,854.10 Sub total £ 141,340.99

£ - Excess expenditure over £ 9,895.63 Surplus income over £ 3,846.87 income expenditure (2015/16)

£ 168,749.73 Totals £ 145,187.86 £ 168,749.73 Totals £ 145,187.86

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