NALC launches neighbourhood planning survey for parish and town councils

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The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has launched a survey for all parish and town councils in England that are currently leading and managing neighbourhood plans, and councils in Bedfordshire are invited to share their views and experiences.

The survey aims to build a clearer picture of the current state of neighbourhood planning across England. The survey will explore the status of existing neighbourhood plans, councils’ intentions to review or update them, the challenges they face in managing neighbourhood planning, and the impact of the recent withdrawal of government funding and support.

The findings will provide vital evidence to help shape NALC’s policy work and discussions with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). In particular, the results will inform its response to the government’s forthcoming update to neighbourhood planning guidance and strengthen its case for ensuring parish and town councils continue to have the support they need to deliver effective neighbourhood plans for their communities.

Neighbourhood planning has played a significant role in helping local communities shape development and influence planning decisions since its introduction through the Localism Act 2011. However, at the end of the 2025/26 financial year, the government ended all general and technical support funding previously available to parish and town councils and neighbourhood forums for neighbourhood planning.

While the government has indicated that it has no plans to repeal neighbourhood planning legislation, NALC’s Policy Committee agreed that further evidence was needed to understand how parish and town councils are managing neighbourhood plans in the current environment and what support they may require in the future.

If your parish or town council is one of the 75 Bedfordshire councils currently managing a neighbourhood plan, you are encouraged to take part and complete the survey, here. The survey closes on 25 September 2026.

Vacancy – Part-Time Parish Clerk, Wymington Parish Council

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Vacancy for Clerk of Wymington Parish Council

Part-Time Parish Clerk- 21 hours a month to be worked flexibly as required mainly from home

Wymington Parish Council seeks a highly motivated and enthusiastic person to take on the post of Clerk to the Council and Responsible Finance Officer. Our current Clerk will retire on 30th September 2026

The successful candidate will be employed for 21 hours month (averaging just over 4 hours a week) to be worked on a flexible basis, including attendance in person at the Parish Council meeting which is held every two months on the second Tuesday of the month, in the evening. Meetings are held at the Meeting Place, High Street Wymington, and you will need to attend other meetings as and when required.

The role of the Clerk is to ensure that the Council conducts its administrative functions and services professionally and in accordance with all relevant statutory obligations. The Clerk is the main point of contact for all other authorities, contractors, suppliers and the public and plays an important role in Council meetings. Duties will include, but are not limited to:

  • Acting as an impartial advisor to the Parish Council;
  • Arranging and attending Parish Council and other meetings including preparing agendas, meeting papers, taking minutes and undertaking all actions arising from the meeting;
  • Providing legal, procedural and administrative guidance to the Council;
  • Receiving and dealing with enquiries and all correspondence from members of the public and other bodies;
  • Liaising with Councillors, outside bodies and residents as required;
  • Management of budget, day to day finances, payment of invoices, management of online banking, production of
  • Bi monthly financial and budgeting reports for the Council;
  • Preparing the Annual Accounts for audit and completion of statutory returns as required;
  • Management of Council staff and assets.
  • Acting as Registrar for Wymington Cemetery

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and experience:

  • The applicant to hold a Certificate in Local Council Administration (CILCA) or be prepared to obtain the qualification;
    •A good understanding of Local Council administration and the legal framework;
    •Competent use of email, Microsoft Office, Word and Excel;
    •A high degree of literacy and numeracy;
    •Excellent written and verbal communication skills; and
    •Very good organisational skills.

Terms and Conditions

Remuneration will be in accordance with National Local Government Pay Scales LC2 SCP18-23 depending on qualifications and experience.

For more information, please contact the Clerk on clerk@wymington-pc.gov.uk

To apply, please send your CV along with a short covering note and your contact details to jeffrey.wilson@wymington-pc.gov.uk

The closing date for applications is Friday 14th August 2026 and interviews will be held on 20th and 21st August 2026

Vacancy – Part-Time Parish Clerk, Milton Bryan Parish Meeting

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Part-time Parish Clerk: 7 hours per month to be worked flexibly, mainly from home.

Milton Bryan Parish Meeting seeks a motivated and enthusiastic person to take on the post of Clerk to the Parish Meeting.  The current Clerk will step down in August 2026.

The successful candidate will be employed for 7 hours per month to be worked on a flexible basis, working independently from home, along with attendance in person at the 3 parish meetings held on a Monday evening in February, May and October in Milton Bryan Village Hall.

The role of the Clerk is to ensure that the meeting conducts its administrative functions and services professionally and in accordance with all relevant statutory obligations.

The Clerk is the main point of contact for all other authorities, contractors, suppliers and the public.

Duties will include, but are not limited to:

–Acting as an impartial advisor to the Parish Meeting;
-Arranging and attending Parish meetings including preparing agendas, meeting papers to enable the meeting to make informed decisions, taking minutes and undertaking actions arising from the meeting;
-Providing legal, procedural and administrative guidance to the meeting if required;
-Receiving and dealing with enquiries and all correspondence from members of the public and other bodies;
-Management of budget, day to day finances, payment of invoices, management of online banking;
-Preparing the Annual Accounts for audit and completion of statutory returns as required; —-Updating and maintenance of the meeting’s website.

The ideal candidate should have the following skills and experience:

-A good understanding of Local Council administration and legal framework;
-Competent use of email, Microsoft Office, Word and Excel, and ability to update and maintain the meetings website;
-Possesses a high degree of literacy and numeracy;
-Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
-Very good organisational skills;

-Hold a Certificate in Local Council Administration (CILCA) preferable;

Terms and Conditions

-Renumeration will be in accordance with National Local Government Pay Scales and is currently set at SCP (spinal column point) 21 at £17.00 per hour or £119 per month based on 7 hours worked per month.  This is due for review in October 2026.

For more information, please contact Karen Barker, the current clerk by email 1karenbarker@gmail.com.  If you wish to apply please send your CV along with a short covering note and your contact details.

Trees for Climate – Find out More About Tree Planting Grant Scheme

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Forest of Marston Vale Trust LogoTrees for Climate is a multi-million-pound programme offering landowners, farmers, community groups and town and parish councils free expert advice and funding to transform their land through hedge & tree planting and woodland creation.  The programme is being delivered across Bedfordshire by the Forest of Marston Vale Trust, which writes:

Trees for Climate is a multi-million pound woodland creation programme with one of the most competitive grant schemes for tree planting available today.

The programme is part of the national Government-led Nature for Climate fund and is being delivered by England’s Community Forests, a partnership of organisations with years of experience helping landowners to plan, deliver and manage woodland creation schemes across the country.

As an expert advisor, delivery partner and funder in one local organisation, the Forest of Marston Vale is there to help landowners, farmers, their agents, schools, community groups and Parish Councils enhance their land and business through woodland creation.

The Trees for Climate programme is providing social, economic and environmental transformation across the country. Every landowner that works with us is playing their part to help address climate change, whilst also improving the environment and local area for communities to benefit from for years to come. The Forest of Marston Vale is Trees for Climate is an ambitious multi-million-pound programme offering landowners, farmers and community groups free expert advice and funding to transform their land through hedge & tree planting and woodland creation.

To find out what we offer, read case studies, and for more information, please visit our website:

Trees for Climate | The Forest of Marston Vale Trust

Vacancy – Parish Clerk, Cople Parish Council

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Cople Parish Council

Part-Time Parish Clerk

Cople Parish Council seeks a highly motivated and enthusiastic person to take on the post of Clerk to the Council and Responsible Finance Officer. Our current Clerk will step down on 22nd July 2026.
The successful candidate will be employed for 10 hours per week to be worked on a flexible basis, including attendance in person at the Parish Council meeting which is held every two months in the evening, on the third Monday of the month, at Cople Village Hall and other meetings as and when required.

The role of the Clerk is to ensure that the Council conducts its administrative functions and services professionally and in accordance with all relevant statutory obligations. The Clerk is the main point of contact for all other authorities, contractors, suppliers and the public and plays an important role in Council meetings.Duties will include, but are not limited to:

Duties will include, but are not limited to:

•Acting as an impartial advisor to the Parish Council;
•Arranging and attending Parish Council and other meetings including preparing agendas, meeting papers, taking minutes and undertaking all actions arising from the meeting;
•Providing legal, procedural and administrative guidance to the Council;
•Receiving and dealing with enquiries and all correspondence from members of the public and other bodies;
•Liaising with Councillors, outside bodies and residents as required;
•Management of budget, day to day finances, payment of invoices, management of online banking, production of
•monthly financial and budgeting reports for the Council;
•Preparing the Annual Accounts for audit and completion of statutory returns as required; and
•Management of Council staff and assets.

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and experience:

•The applicant to hold a Certificate in Local Council Administration (CILCA) or be prepared to obtain the qualification;
•A good understanding of Local Council administration and the legal framework;
•Competent use of email, Microsoft Office, Word and Excel;
•A high degree of literacy and numeracy;
•Excellent written and verbal communication skills; and
•Very good organisational skills.

Terms and Conditions

Remuneration will be in accordance with National Local Government Pay Scales LC1 depending on qualifications and experience.

For more information, please contact clerk@cople-pc.gov.uk

To apply, please send your CV along with a short covering note and your contact details to clerk@cople-pc.gov.uk

The closing date for applications is Friday 19th June 2026 and interviews will be held shortly afterwards

BATPC County Committee Meeting Welcomes Central Bedfordshire Council Deputy Executive Member for Town and Parish Councils

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Cllr Russell Goodchild and Cllr Madeline Russell Shaking Hands in front of Bedfordshire Crest
Cllr Russell Goodchild and BATPC County Committee Chairman Cllr Madeline Russell

BATPC County Committee’s latest quarterly meeting, which took place this week at Shefford House, welcomed Central Bedfordshire Council Deputy Executive Member for Town and Parish Councils and Town Centres Cllr Russell Goodchild.

Cllr Goodchild spoke about the new portfolio, to which he was appointed earlier this year, including his plans in the role, key projects and his engagement with town and parish councils to date.  Committee members then asked questions covering a wide range of important issues for the local council sector.

 

 

 

 

BATPC urges Government to put local councils at heart of any Tempsford new town plans

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Bedfordshire Association of Town and Parish Councils (BATPC) has called on the Government to listen to the voices of existing communities and the parish and town councils that represent them, over its plans for a new town near Tempsford with over 40,000 homes.

Responding to the Government’s New Towns Draft Programme consultation, BATPC stressed that should the proposals go ahead, the interests of existing communities need to be properly represented from the outset, while any new communities must have parish level representation.

BATPC’s submission stresses that existing town and parish councils and the residents they serve must not be sidelined in favour of top-down decision-making structures. It calls for a formal role for local councils in any development corporation established to deliver the new town plans, which will have far-reaching implications on those in the immediate vicinity and beyond.

BATPC have also called on the government to ensure that the character, identity and heritage – and the infrastructure needs – of longstanding communities are recognised and protected throughout any development process and beyond.

BATPC County Committee Chairman, Cllr Madeline Russell, said:

“If the Government is serious about pursuing development that actually works—for both existing and new residents—it must start by listening to the communities already here. Meanwhile any new communities must have proper representation, with parish-level governance for all.

Parish and town councils are the democratic voice of local communities and we are calling for them to have a formal seat at the table within any development corporation formed to deliver these plans.  Should Tempsford New Town go ahead then local knowledge, concerns and aspirations must shape how this it is planned and delivered.

Cllr Russell added: “The character and heritage of existing communities must also be protected, along with their infrastructure needs which will of course be affected by any development of this scale.”

 

Help shape the future of the local council sector – Project Keystone survey is now live

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NALC LogoProject Keystone is a strategic review of NALC and its relationships with county associations, designed to help shape and inform the future direction, role and strategic priorities of sector support for parish and town councils. And you can play your part in that review via the sector-wide survey that is now live.

Taking place over a six-month period, the review aims to strengthen collaboration across the sector and ensure parish and town councils are effectively supported in the years ahead.

A major next step for Project Keystone is the launch of the sector-wide survey, giving parish and town councils, county associations and others the opportunity to share views, expertise and ideas. The survey is an opportunity to help shape the future direction of sector support for parish and town councils.  And it is now live, through to 5th June 2026.

NALC has explained that the review is seeking thoughtful and honest feedback on what is working well, what is not, and what needs to change. The insight and experience shared will directly inform the review and may also identify opportunities for further engagement across the sector.

Bedfordshire town and parish council members and officers are encouraged to take the opportunity to shape the future of support for local councils.  The survey is estimated to take 30 minutes to complete, and is available here.

Vacancy – Clerk & RFO, Oakley Parish Council

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Vacancy for Clerk of Oakley Parish Council

Part-time Parish Clerk: 14 hours per week to be worked flexibly, mainly from home but working in The Old School in Oakley for four hours, one day per week.

Oakley Parish Council seeks a highly motivated and enthusiastic person to take on the post of Clerk to the Council and Responsible Finance Officer. Our current Clerk will step down on 31st August 2026.

The successful candidate will be employed for 14 hours per week to be worked on a flexible basis, including attendance in person at the monthly Parish Council meeting which is held in the evening on the first Tuesday of the month at Oakley Village Hall and Neighbourhood Plan and other meetings as and when required.

The role of the Clerk is to ensure that the Council conducts its administrative functions and services professionally and in accordance with all relevant statutory obligations. The Clerk is the main point of contact for all other authorities, contractors, suppliers and the public and plays an important role in Council meetings.

Duties will include, but are not limited to:

Acting as an impartial advisor to the Parish Council;

Arranging and attending Parish Council and other meetings including preparing agendas, meeting papers, taking minutes and undertaking all actions arising from the meeting;Providing legal, procedural and administrative guidance to the Council;

Receiving and dealing with enquiries and all correspondence from members of the public and other bodies;

Liaising with Councillors, outside bodies and residents as required;

Management of budget, day to day finances, payment of invoices, management of online banking, production of monthly financial and budgeting reports for the Council;

Preparing the Annual Accounts for audit and completion of statutory returns as required; and

Management of Council staff and assets.

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and experience:

The applicant to hold a Certificate in Local Council Administration (CILCA) or be prepared to obtain the qualification;

A good understanding of Local Council administration and the legal framework;

Competent use of email, Microsoft Office, Word and Excel;

A high degree of literacy and numeracy;

Excellent written and verbal communication skills; and

Very good organisational skills.

Terms and Conditions

Renumeration will be in accordance with National Local Government Pay Scales LC2 depending on qualifications and experience.

For more information, please contact Ann Paice on 07873 887370 or email her at parishclerk@oakleybedford-pc.gov.uk

To apply, please send your CV along with a short covering note and your contact details to parishclerk@oakleybedford-pc.gov.uk

The closing date for applications is Friday 26th June 2026 and interviews will be held shortly afterwards

New Free Training Resource for Prospective Parish and Town Councillors

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A hand placing a folded piece of paper into a ballot box
Elections are taking place in Bedfordshire in 2027

A new free online course designed to help anyone thinking of standing as a parish or town councillor is now available.

The course, provided by the Association of Electoral Administrators’ (AEA), explains clearly what candidates need to know about parish and town council elections, including the key paperwork, deadlines, people involved and how the process works. It covers four short modules on nomination paper, consent to nomination, home address form and final steps.

There’s also a quick knowledge check at the end to reinforce learning. The whole course takes around 20 minutes to complete.

The National Association of Local Councils worked closely with the AEA on its development, including testing the course with input from county officers in early 2026. The result is a practical, easy-to-follow resource designed to give candidates confidence and clarity.

The launch of this new resource is timely for Bedfordshire, with local council elections taking place in May 2027.