• 6th January– Parish and Town Councils exempt from council tax referendum principles, Star Council Awards 2024 finalists, Planning News December ’24;
• 13th January– NALC Open Letter, Stengthening the standards and conduct framework consultation, Statement from ECC following extra-ordinary meeting;
• 20th January– The Good Councillor’s Guide to Finance 2025. Essex Climate Action Report 23-24, Latest Essex Highways Transport Meeting Minutes

• 17th February– NJC pay claim 25/26, Civility and Respect Newsletter January ’25, ECC Devolution Consultation
• 24th February– Devolution Asset Transfer Workshop recording, Find Your Active Places and Spaces Fund, Nominations for Honours Fund 2026

• 3rd March– NALC advice note on .gov.uk domain, COVID Day of Reflection resources, Essex Youth Map;
• 17th March– NALC Updates Model Financial Regs, ACRE Village Halls Week, GOV.UK SSP Updates;
• 24th March– Greater Essex Re-organisation Plan Submitted, Section 137 expenditure limit announced, GOV.UK Planning and Infrastructure Bill;
• 31st March– Practitioners’ Guide 2025 released, 20’s plenty update, High Sheriff’s Award highlights;

• 7th April– Martyn’s Law gains Royal Assent, NALC Updates Model Standing Orders, Heritage Revival Fund;
• 28th April– NALC Quarterly Report- January to March 2025, New High Sheriff of Essex Announced, Planning News- April 2025.

• 12th May– Council Tax Statistics 2025/26, SLCC Update March ’25, ECC Response to Devolution Consultation
• 19th May– DBS Check Service, LGPS Survey, VCS Support
• 26th May – Food Support Fund, Joint Fire and Ambulance support saves lives at home.

• 2nd June – Local Government Reorganisation options progress, Salt Bag Partnership Scheme for Winter 2025/26 launched, 
• 9th June – Essex County Council has achieved a top rating for efforts to cut emissions and strengthen climate resilience. Essex Association of Local Councils supports national awards for parish and town councils.
• 16th June -Local Councils Explained has been fully revised. Public rights of way and volunteering in Essex.
• 30th June –  The 2025 edition of the Practitioners Guide contains a new Assertion 10 covering digital and data compliance.

• 7th July – Southend tribute to seven-year-old girl, Active Essex launched the Find Your Active campaign.
• 14th July – Major changes are planned to councils across Greater Essex as part of the largest reorganisation of local government in over 50 years.
• 21st July – On the 10th July, MHCLG introduced into Parliament the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.
• 28th July – The National Joint Council for Local Government Services (NJC) has reached an agreement on rates of pay applicable from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. We encourage employers to implement this pay award as soon as possible.

• 4th August – NALC opens Star Council Awards 25/26.
• 11th August – EALC announces its office relocation.
• 18th August – Updated guidance on applying for memorial grants.
• 25th August – Operation raise the colours.

• 1st September  – Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) is reminding parents and carers that it is against the law for them to allow their child to ride an e-scooter to school, or anywhere on the roads, pavements, cycle tracks or parks.
• 15th September -Buckingham Palace Garden Party Award. This award recognises the long service (10 years +) and commitment by a Chair or mayor to their Local Community. 
• 22nd September – The new Beaulieu Park railway station in Chelmsford is on track to open its doors to passengers for the first time next month. 
• 29th September – Canewdon Parish Council has proudly been awarded the prestigious Silver Award as part of the Local Council Awards Scheme, recognising its outstanding commitment to governance, community engagement, and continuous improvement.

• 13th October – EALC Training Bulletin, Tenancy Agreements and Policy Frameworks in Allotment Management.
• 20th October – Protecting Commons, Greens and Open Spaces, online webinar delivered by Open Spaces Society. NALC Governance Elections

• 3rd November – National Housing Order declared to protect poultry from from Avian Influenza
• 10th November – Training News, Honouring Cllr. Keith Stevens of NALC.
• 17th November – Local Government Consultation is Live

• 1^st December

  -Greater Essex Mayoral Elections postponed

  -Government’s consultation on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Greater Essex.

  -Star Council Finalists

  -Assertion 10 Hub

• 3rd December – Data Protection Essentials (GDPR) online training course.
• 8^th December

-Winner of the Buckingham Palace Garden Party Award 2025

-Local Council Award Scheme – Update

-Essex Caring Communities Commission – First Official Newsletter

• 10^th December -Local Government Consultation

• 15^th December

  -Upcoming Training & Events – January & February 2026

  -Introducing the Essex Film Office – Your Gateway to Filming in Essex

  -Introducing the Essex Growth Agency.

  -Love Essex’s December Newsletter

  -Hot Tops from the Essex Climate Action Commission

19^th January

• Upcoming training courses for February 2026 – make sure you secure your place.
• Opening letter from the New Chair of NALC, Cllr. Iain Hamilton.
• Section 137 expenditure limit increase.
• Save the date for NALC’s Annual Conference on 24 June 2026 in London.
• Update from NACO’s president, Paul Millward.
• Latest from Essex Fire & Rescue Service.
• Latest headline news from Essex Police.
• Local Government Consultation, latest presentation from the Leader of ECC, Cllr. Kevin Bentley.

26th January 

• The first CiLCA session for 2026 commenced.
• The County Officers Forum was hosted at CCLA’s offices in London.
• National Infrastructure projects.
• NALC Legal Update.
• Updates from across Essex’s Police, Fire, Crime and Rescue Services. Community Safety and keeping young drivers safe.
• Connect to Work.
• Community Governance Review in Tendring.
• Consultations and Planning News.