Documents

This LTN covers retirement gratuities.The majority of local councils cannot now pay a gratuity but this document explains the contractual circumstance in which a council may be required to pay a retirement gratuity.

• Legal Topic Note 34: Retirement Gratuities revised May 2012 (PDF, 38 Kb)

This LTN covers the chairman's allowance and the different types of allowances that can be paid to councillors.

• Legal Topic Note 33: Councillors' Allowances revised August 2019 (PDF, 1003 Kb)

This LTN outlines the basics of VAT and explains business and non-business activities, exempt supplies, reclaiming VAT and VAT as it applies to land and buildings. Useful links to VAT notices relevant to local councils are included.

• Legal Topic Note 32: Local Councils and VAT revised January 2011 (PDF, 82 Kb)

This LTN covers the legislation relating to defamation and explains the terms slander and libel as well as insurance requirements.

• Legal Topic Note 30: Defamation revised October 2020 (PDF, 191 Kb)

This LTN outlines the liability of owners in terms of straying animals on highways and common land and refers local councils to the relevant legislation.

• Legal Topic Note 29: Straying Animals revised November 2007 (PDF, 26 Kb)

This LTN gives guidance on the relationships between village halls and local councils and includes information about custodian trustees, grants, loans, VAT and conflicts of interest.

• Legal Topic Note 21: Local Council Help for Village Halls revised May 2019 (PDF, 1022 Kb)

This LTN outlines the legislation which allows local councils to establish or acquire markets in their area.

• Legal Topic Note 20: Markets and other events revised March 2017 (PDF, 51 Kb)

This LTN outlines the statutory powers of principal authorities and the police to immobilise or remove vehicles on land that is not a public place.

• Legal Topic Note 19: Unauthorised Parking on Private Land revised August 2013 (PDF, 33 Kb)

This LTN explains a local council's powers and limitations together with the methods for providing parking spaces.

• Legal Topic Note 18: Local Councils' Power to Provide Parking Spaces revised March 2017 (PDF, 120 Kb)

This Legal Topic Note sets out the law and procedures in relation to keeping public places free of litter.

• Legal Topic Note 16: Control of Litter revised May 2015 (PDF, 76 Kb)

This LTN identifies the main types of legal proceedings (litigation) in civil law that local councils may become involved in and describes important considerations.

• Legal Topic Note 15: Legal Proceedings revised July 2015 (PDF, 92 Kb)

The LTN outlines the nature and use of byelaws together with information about the procedure to be followed for their creation, amendment or revocation.

• Legal Topic Note 14E: Byelaws England revised August 2016 (PDF, 86 Kb)

This LTN covers honorary titles such as honorary freemen and honorary aldermen.

• Legal Topic Note 12: Honorary Titles and Officers of Dignity revised March 2013 (PDF, 36 Kb)

This LTN covers celebrations and similar events organised by a local council and includes guidance on the relevant legislation that gives a local council powers for different events.

• Legal Topic Note 11: Celebrations and Similar Events revised March 2017 (PDF, 45 Kb)

This LTN gives advice to local councils on the formalities and rules of precedence associated with Royal visits.

• Legal Topic Note 10: Royal Visits revised March 2013 (PDF, 36 Kb)

This LTN covers complaints procedures for local councils

• Legal Topic Note 09: Handling Complaints England revised October 2022 (PDF, 219 Kb)

This LTN covers the role of non-councillors on council committees including code of conduct, qualification and voting rights.

• Legal Topic Note 07: Non-Councillor Members of Committees revised October 2013 (PDF, 51 Kb)

This LTN covers the arrangements for the parish meeting including number of meetings, convening meetings and rights of press and public.

• Legal Topic Note 06: Meetings of Parish Meetings revised September 2014 (PDF, 61 Kb)

This LTN covers the powers in legislation afforded to community meetings in areas without a separate local council.

• Legal Topic Note 04: The Powers of Community Meetings in Communities Without Councils revised March 2017 (PDF, 46 Kb)

This LTN covers the powers in legislation afforded to a parish meeting in an area with no parish council.

• Legal Topic Note 03: The Powers of a Parish Meeting in an Area Without a Separate Parish Council revised September 2014 (PDF, 61 Kb)

This LTN covers the role of the chairman to a local council.

• Legal Topic Note 02: The Chairman of a Local Council April 2018 (PDF, 96 Kb)