You can read the latest news from 20's Plenty for Us here:

• We gave oral evidence to the Transport Select committee on the UK Government’s new Road Safety Strategy
• We report on our recent “Delivering 20” webinar in May
• Active Travel England has published its 3^rd Cycling and Walking Investment strategy and a guide to active travel in Rural Areas
• The good news about fewer road casualties in Wales continues; the Welsh government has issued a new Road Safety Partnership Plan
• Rollout of 20mph in Scotland continues, along with various Highway Authorities in England, plus
• Our usual local news roundup, including a BIG welcome to Louise Wass, who has joined 20’s Plenty to co-ordinate our local campaigning.

If you want to find out more, please sign up for our next Campaigner Zoom call on 23^rd September or join our Campaigner Facebook group (details in the newsletter).

Adrian, Sue, Rod, Jeremy and Louise

Dear Town and Parish councils,

I wanted to make you aware that my annual Town and Parish Council Survey has gone live today.

Town and parish councils play a vital role in representing local communities and ensuring local concerns are heard. That is why I continue to run this survey because I value the local insight you provide.

Last year, only approximately 20% of our area’s town and parish councils responded to the survey. I am therefore keen to improve on this, as feedback from councils helps better understand the issues affecting communities across West Mercia. It also helps to inform ongoing discussions around policing priorities, community safety, and engagement activity, as well as drive change and improvement where needed.

In previous years, councils have said they wanted:

• Greater engagement from local policing teams.
• Better understanding of what the police are doing in their area.
• More opportunities to raise local concerns directly.

As a result, West Mercia Police’s activity and response is aligned to the priorities and concerns raised.

My team and I are planning to attend several council meetings over the next three months, particularly in the areas where we have seen low engagement.

I ask that you please complete the survey by midday on Tuesday 14^th October and it would be helpful if you could submit one per council. To support that, I have attached a full set of the questions that can be printed out.

Town and Parish Council Survey 2026

Thank you for helping us ensure local communities continue to have a strong voice in policing and community safety.

Yours sincerely,

John Campion

Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia

Don’t be afraid of the Internal Audit!!

With a huge number of parish councils in the country, all requiring an Internal Audit, it is important to understand not only their role but how to find someone who is competent and independent from your council.

The Internal Auditor (IA) – who is external to the council – is the only independent person with a legal right to look at all of the systems and controls of the council.
They will check that the Council has followed Proper Practices and thus that the figures they present on their AGAR can be relied on.

When a council approves the Annual Governance Statement and the Annual Statement of Accounts, the report of the internal auditor is proof that a competent independent person has reviewed the systems.
The purpose of the annual governance statement is for the authority to report publicly on its arrangements for ensuring that its business is conducted in accordance with the law, regulations and proper practices and that public money is safeguarded and properly accounted for. It provides assurance to the local electorate that their money is being spent in accordance with the law.

By engaging an IA who properly understands the legal framework and the up to date requirements, the council has demonstrated to ratepayers that it is complying with all the relevant legislation. In addition to the report included in the AGAR a competent IA will also provide a more detailed report to council giving recommendations for improvement where necessary. This should be published by the council and made available on its website along with the rest of the end of year paperwork.

The IA is not there to “punish” councils but to check systems and to guide clerks and councils as they get to grips with new requirements. It is really useful to make sure you have an IA in place well before the end of year. Some will be happy to do a mid year check so that there is time to make sure that anything missing can be put in place before the year end. Annual reviews of Standing Orders, Financial Regulations etc can be undertaken at anytime during the year and don’t have to wait until March! The Practitioner Guide also has a great deal of help for councils to make sure everything required is in place - this year particularly useful in relation to the new Assertion 10.

To help your auditor, councils should have as much as possible available on their website. That way a lot of the IA checks on minutes, policies etc can be undertaken remotely.

What to look for when appointing your Internal Auditor

The Practitioners’ Guide includes detailed guidance for appointing an IA. The key principles are that they are independent and competent. There is no requirement for a person providing the internal audit to be professionally qualified, however advice would be to look for an Internal Audit qualification and an understanding of the work of parish councils. It is also important to regularly change your IA – it is suggested this be every 3 years.

In summary, do not be afraid of your IA, they are there to help and really want to make sure the systems are in place and if they are not, their report will include guidance of what the council needs to do to make sure it’s all there next year! 

Here are the details of the Area Meeting with Rachel Benson from Worcestershire County Council Highways and the Lengthsman scheme coming and will be available for questions and to give an update.

Wychavon Area Meeting Agenda 26th March 2026

Wychavon Area Meeting minutes Sept 2025

Local Goverment Reorganisation 

As this is being implimented there is also a push from Government to bring in Neighbourhood Area Committees.

We have worked with other County Associations across the West Midlands to produce the following pack. Which contains guidance on the system and also a draft motion for the Town and Parish Council to agree and a draft letter to MP's to try and enact change.

Neighbourhood Goverance

Today we are launching our new event:

The Digital Proper Officer: AI, Accountability and the Future of the Parish Clerk

Following the publication of my first governance book An Improper Officer, link:

https://www.slcc.co.uk/product/1121/

I am now undertaking research for a second volume examining the evolving role of the modern Parish/Town Clerk within an increasingly digital and complex governance environment.

In particular, the research seeks informed views from serving Clerks on three developing areas:

• The role and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence in day-to-day Clerk duties

• The growing importance of digital accounting systems in light of AGAR, audit requirements, and wider HM Government digital integration

• Professional wellbeing and the practical realities of Clerk treatment and support within smaller authorities

It is recognised that the sector is diverse and that the vast majority of councils operate professionally and respectfully. However, there remains value in understanding lived experiences, emerging challenges, and opportunities for modernisation in training frameworks such as CiLCA.

The intention of this work is not to criticise any institution, including the Society of Local Council Clerks, but rather to contribute constructively to ongoing professional development, governance resilience, and the future sustainability of the Clerk’s role.

Responses (formal or informal) would be treated with discretion and may be anonymised unless express permission is given.

Suggested reflections (if helpful):

• Has AI improved your efficiency as a Clerk?

• Do you currently use accounting software or manual systems?

• Do you feel training frameworks adequately reflect modern Clerk duties?

• What single reform would most support Clerks in small councils?

Given the increasing statutory responsibilities placed upon Clerks under the Local Government Act 1972, the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, and transparency requirements, your professional insight would be invaluable. With thanks in advance for your time and contribution to what I hope will be a constructive and forward-looking piece of governance literature.

Kind regards,

Ray Evans

Author – An Improper Officer

Replies to:

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Can Local People Still Afford to Live in Our Villages? Let’s Talk About It.

Across rural England, parish councils are hearing the same concern again and again: young people growing up in the village can’t afford to stay, families are being priced out, and local businesses are struggling to find workers who can live nearby.
It’s not just a housing issue — it’s about the future of our communities.
When local people can’t find an affordable home, villages slowly begin to change. Schools struggle to maintain numbers, local services become harder to sustain, and the mix of generations that gives rural communities their life and character starts to disappear.
The good news? Parish councils are in a powerful position to help shape solutions.

Affordable Housing Doesn’t Have to Mean Large Developments

When affordable housing is mentioned, it can sometimes raise concerns about scale or losing the character of a village. In reality, many successful rural schemes are small, carefully designed developments built specifically to meet local housing need.
These are often delivered through Rural Exception Sites — small parcels of land that would not normally be released for housing but can be used to provide affordable homes for local people.
These schemes typically provide a handful of homes for people with a strong local connection — helping young families, key workers and older residents who want to remain in the community.
But working out how to get from an idea to a deliverable project can feel complicated. That’s where support is available.

The Role of the Rural Housing Enabler

The Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) works with parish councils and communities to explore whether affordable housing could work locally.
The role is simple: act as an independent and trusted go-between, bringing together parish councils, residents, landowners, housing associations and the local authority.
The RHE can help with:

• Running local housing needs surveys to understand demand
• Helping communities explore options beyond neighbourhood plans
• Facilitating open conversations with residents and landowners
• Identifying potential sites and partners
• Supporting the development of high-quality homes that remain affordable for local people

Importantly, nothing moves forward without community involvement and a clear understanding of local need.

Momentum in Herefordshire

The Rural Housing Enabler project at Community First Herefordshire & Worcestershire is already building momentum through the Together for Affordable Housing – Hererordshire campaign, which has brought key organisations together to tackle the rural housing challenge collectively.
This partnership is now exploring a demonstration project that will test a more community-led approach to delivering rural affordable housing. The aim is to trial a model where communities play a stronger role in shaping solutions — and to learn lessons that could benefit other parishes across the county.

Let’s Start the Conversation

• If affordable housing is something your parish has talked about — or even worried about — you don’t have to navigate it alone.
  The Rural Housing Enabler is there to help parish councils explore the options, understand local need, and see whether a small rural scheme could work for your community.
  There’s no commitment — just a conversation.
  If your parish council would like to learn more about rural affordable housing or the support available, please get in touch with the Rural Housing Enabler.
  Because keeping villages alive, thriving and welcoming for local people is something worth working on together.
  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  Rural Housing | Community First H&W (www.comfirst.org.uk/rural-housing)

West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion, together with West Mercia Police, has launched a consultation giving the public the opportunity to share their expectations when visiting police stations in Worcestershire.

The consultation invites residents to share their experiences and outline what they want improved, helping identify what is working well and where changes are needed to enhance the service offered at police stations. It takes less than two minutes to complete.

This consultation closes on Friday 6 March.

Please can you share this survey with your councils and encourage them to share locally with residents and businesses, so we can ensure we get the views of as many communities as possible.

You can find out more, including accessing the link to the survey, via the PCC's website here:
https://www.westmercia-pcc.gov.uk/posts/public-asked-to-share-expectations-when-visiting-police-sta…

The survey can be accessed direct here:
https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/91018618/Accessing-West-Mercia-Police

The presentations from the 2025 CALC AGM can now be found here Committee Meeting Papers