Town and parish councils (local councils) are subject to a regime of external and internal audit as part of their accountability and risk management in dealing with public money.

• LAIS1312 Local Council Audits (PDF, 492 Kb)

Town and parish councils (local councils) will be aware that a consultation on legislation to implement the transfer of the local government audit regime from the Audit Commission to a new system involving the private sector is anticipated this spring (LAIS1312).

• LAIS1312.1 Accounts and Audit Regulations (PDF, 499 Kb)

Town and parish councils (local councils) will be interested in the publication of confirmation of the Government's intentions in relation to speeding up and streamlining the planning system to enable major infrastructure projects, such as nuclear power plants and railway stations.

• LAIS1313 Major Infrastructure (PDF, 374 Kb)

Town and parish councils (local councils) will be interested in the LAIS which provides information on the Localism Bill and contextualises and analyses claimed and actual impacts on local councils.

• LAIS1314 Localism Bill (PDF, 490 Kb)

Town and parish councils (local councils) will be interested in the debate at the second reading of the farreaching Localism Bill.

• LAIS1314.1 Localism Bill Second Reading (PDF, 411 Kb)

Town and parish councils (local councils) will be aware that the Localism Bill, which contains many clauses affecting local councils and their communities (see LAIS1314 & 1314.1) has been progressing through the House of Commons Committee stage (24 sittings).

• LAIS1314.2 Localism Bill (PDF, 284 Kb)

Local councils will be aware that the Localism Bill emerged from the House of Commons Committee Stage without significant amendment. However, the publication of a House of Commons Library Research Paper highlights areas which will be given further consideration opening up further opportunities for local council influence.

• LAIS1314.3 Localism Bill (PDF, 478 Kb)

Parish and town councils (local councils) will wish to be aware that the Localism Bill is now passing through the House of Lords.

• LAIS1314.4 Localism Bill (PDF, 292 Kb)

Local councils will have noted that Government is consulting on the future of forests currently owned by the public.

• LAIS1315 Public Forests (PDF, 390 Kb)

Local councils will be interested to note that Government has abandoned its consultation on planned transfers of public forest ownership to charities, community and civil society groups and planned leases of public forests to the private sector.

• LAIS1315.1 Public Forests (PDF, 342 Kb)

Parish and town councils (local councils) will wish to be aware of Government's consultation on a Code governing publication of expenditure of £500 or more by local councils and other local authorities.

• LAIS1316 Data Transparency (PDF, 424 Kb)

Town and parish councils (local councils) will be interested in a Government letter to principal local authorities (not local councils) concerning the use of modern technology by members of the public at councils meetings.

• LAIS1317 Council Meetings (PDF, 413 Kb)

Parish and town councils (local councils) will wish to be aware of Government's review of the statutory duties placed on local government.

• LAIS1318 Statutory Duty Review (PDF, 356 Kb)

Parish and town councils (local councils) will wish to be aware of the key points from the Budget 2011.

• LAIS1319 Budget 2011 (PDF, 335 Kb)

Parish and town councils (local councils) were advised of the main issues arising from the 2011 Budget (LAIS1319) and will wish to have the increase of 5p/mile in the own-car work mileage allowance to 45p/mile highlighted as there is now information on the HMRC website.

• LAIS1319.1 Car Allowances (PDF, 311 Kb)

Parish and town councils (local councils) will be interested in financial data relating to their precepts published by Government on 20 April 2011.

• LAIS1320 Parish Financial Data (PDF, 270 Kb)

Parish and town councils (local councils) will wish to be aware of Government's consultation on a Code of Practice governing surveillance cameras in public places.

• LAIS1321 Surveillance Cameras (PDF, 377 Kb)

Parish and town councils (local councils) will wish to be aware that the Audit Commission has published Audit of small bodies: Scales of fees 2006/7 to 2011/12 reflecting changes in the legal framework.

• LAIS1322 Audit Fees and Regulations (PDF, 437 Kb)

Town and parish councils (local councils) will wish to be aware of the internal guidance, New Burdens Doctrine, which requires Government departments to properly assess and fully fund any new burdens they create on local councils, other local authorities and public services.

• LAIS1323 New Burdens Doctrine (PDF, 381 Kb)

Town and parish councils (local councils) will wish to be aware of the Government Issues Paper which seeks to review how change of use is handled within the planning system.

• LAIS1324 Change of Use (PDF, 439 Kb)

Town and parish councils (local councils) will wish to be aware that Government has published the White Paper Open Public Services and to consider the implications on communities and the first tier of local government.

• LAIS1325 Open Public Services (PDF, 531 Kb)

Parish and town councils (local councils) will be aware that the abolition of cheques was planned for 2018. However, the Payments Council announced on 12 July 2011 that the target for potential closure of cheque clearing in 2018 has been cancelled.

• LAIS1326 Cheque Payments (PDF, 454 Kb)

Local councils will be interested in a fundamental change to the planning framework proposed in the Government Document: Draft National Planning Policy Framework: Consultation.

• LAIS1327 National PPF (PDF, 679 Kb)

Local councils will be interested in a fundamental change to the planning regime being implemented through Government's National Planning Policy Framework.

• LAIS1327.1 National PPF (PDF, 510 Kb)

Town and parish councils (local councils) will wish to be aware that a new planning policy for traveller sites has been published.

• LAIS1327.2 Traveller Policy (PDF, 215 Kb)

Town and parish councils (local councils) concerned to protect local habitats will be interested in Government's publication of Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for England's wildlife and ecosystem services.

• LAIS1328 Biodiversity Strategy (PDF, 339 Kb)

Town and parish councils (local councils) will wish to be aware of the Big Lottery Fund consultation which proposes focussing the Fund on the community and voluntary sector.

• LAIS1329 Big Lottery Fund (PDF, 369 Kb)

Town and parish councils (local councils) will wish to be aware of the Government's published plan for delivering its Superfast Broadband policy and programme.

• LAIS1330 Broadband (PDF, 293 Kb)