Edition 1: AGAR deadline, Martyn's Law and grants up to £100k
Good morning. Welcome to the first edition of The Clerk, the 90-second briefing for town and parish councils. Fitting timing: it's Local Council Clerk Week (8 to 12 June), so this one's for you.
This Week's Essentials
AGAR sign-off is due by 30 June. Councils must approve and publish their 2025/26 Annual Governance and Accountability Return by 30 June, with the public rights period starting no later than 1 July. PKF Littlejohn, the external auditor appointed for most smaller authorities in England, must receive submissions by 1 July. If your AGAR isn't on a June agenda yet, it needs to be. AGAR guidance.
Martyn's Law: regulator guidance under consultation. The Security Industry Authority is consulting on draft Section 12 guidance for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, ahead of implementation in spring 2027. NALC's response presses for plain-English, proportionate rules, and for clarity on the "responsible person" role, which in smaller councils will often fall to the clerk. If your council runs venues or events, start mapping what's in scope now. NALC's response.
New NALC advice on mileage and allowances. NALC has published new guidance on travel mileage, fuel rates and allowances, a useful prompt to review your expenses policy and payroll arrangements. Read the advice.
Funding Radar
FCC Community Action Fund. Grants of £10,000 to £100,000 for community amenity projects such as halls, play areas and green spaces. Projects must be within 10 miles of an eligible FCC Environment site (check the postcode tool). The current round closes at 5pm on 19 August. Details.
National Lottery Awards for All England. £300 to £20,000 over up to two years for projects that bring people together and improve communities. Parish and town councils are eligible. Open year-round, but allow 16 weeks for assessment. Details.
Veolia Environmental Trust Community Grants. £10,000 to £75,000 for capital works on community buildings, play and recreation spaces near qualifying Veolia sites. The next round opens 20 August and closes at midday on 1 October. Note that a 10% contributing third party payment is required. Details.
Deadline Watch
- 12 June: NALC's Project Keystone survey closes
- 30 June: AGAR 2025/26 approval and publication deadline
- 1 July: Latest start for the public rights period, and the submission deadline for PKF Littlejohn, the external auditor for most smaller authorities
- 19 August: FCC Community Action Fund round closes, 5pm
Free Resource
Local Councils Explained (NALC) is the sector's standard reference, fully revised for today's legal landscape and digital expectations. A solid induction tool for new councillors and a refresher for everyone else. Free to access.
Clerk's Corner
What can you build in 1,000 days? Ask Taunton. Taunton Town Council, only formed in 2023, hosted a NALC study tour showing how it became a fully operational, community-focused council in under three years. Its approach: understand community needs first, then deliver visible wins (three Green Flag parks, a refurbished works depot, a town festival), backed by a deliberate personnel strategy using apprenticeships and T Level placements to grow its own workforce. The lesson for councils of any size: pair a small number of visible projects with steady investment in staff capacity, and momentum builds quickly. Study tour report.
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