Charities and Charity law (including points relevant to safeguarding) – Jan 2020 Summary

Charity Commission updates

  • Charities and investing: The Charity Commission has published a consultation – closing 31 March – on charities’ approach to investing in line with their purpose and values. The Commission asks:
    • what are the experiences and current considerations around responsible investments?
    • what are the barriers to more widespread responsible investments?
    • what more could be done to support trustees to invest in a way that reflects the charity’s purpose and values?

Safeguarding

  • New safeguarding digital portal for charities: DCMS has launched a new online portal, aimed at strengthening its support to charities handling safeguarding concerns or allegations. The portal offers a step by step guide to help charities correctly manage their concerns, identify the right people to contact if needed, and access helpful resources and advice.

Click here for Almshouse Association online Safeguarding training

Property and Planning (including listed buildings) – Jan 2020 Summary

MHCLG updates

  • Banning combustible material in and on external walls: MHCLG has published a consultation – closing 13 April – on the use of combustible materials in and on external walls of buildings. The consultation includes the building types covered, height thresholds, list of exemptions, attachments such as blinds, shutters and awnings, and a proposal to specifically ban the use of metal composite panels.
  • Building safety advice for building owners: MHCLG has published guidance on the measures building owners should take to ensure their buildings are safe. The Independent Expert Advisory Panel has issued a number of advice notes for building owners on the measures they should take to ensure their buildings are safe. It makes clear that ACM cladding (and other metal composite material cladding) with an unmodified polyethylene filler (category 3) presents a significant fire hazard on residential buildings at any height with any form of insulation. It also covers the safety of external wall systems (including spandrel panels and balconies), smoke control systems, fire doors and what short-term measures should be put in place should a significant safety issue be identified.

Round-up of other property and planning developments

  • Charity Property Matters 2020: The Charity Commission is encouraging charities to respond to the Ethical Property Foundation’s Charity Property Matters survey, which has been published. The survey is run in partnership with the Charity Commission and aims to help shape the sector’s understanding of the role of property for charities.
  • Natural England – Heritage management plans: Natural England has updated its guidance on heritage management plans for heritage properties. The update amends the section titled “How much preparing a heritage management plan costs” with updated costings.
  • Historic England – Heritage and the Economy 2019: Historic England has published a report titled Heritage and the Economy 2019, which examines the economic aspects of heritage conservation and presents evidence on the numerous ways that the historic environment contributes to national and local economies.

Adult social care and support for tenants – Jan 2020 Summary

Environment and Energy – Jan 2020 Summary

  • Welsh Government – New homes to be powered by clean energy sources from 2025: In a statement by Welsh Housing Minister, Julie James AM, the Welsh Government has announced that all new homes in Wales will be heated and powered from “clean energy sources” from 2025. The announcement supplements this consultation. The proposals include:
    • improving energy efficiency 
    • improving air quality
    • phasing out the use of high-carbon fossil fuels and moving to cleaner methods to heat homes, such as the introduction of low-carbon heating and energy generation.

Employment – Jan 2020 Summary

  • Government announces National Living Wage rise: The Government has announced that, starting on 1 April 2020, the National Living Wage (NLW) will be increased. The rise comes as part of the Government’s target for the NLW to reach 60% of median earnings by 2020. The National Living Wage (for over 25 year olds) will increase 6.2% from ÂŁ8.21 to ÂŁ8.72.

The National Minimum Wage will rise across all age groups, including:

  • A 6.5% increase from ÂŁ7.70 to ÂŁ8.20 for 21-24 year olds
  • A 4.9% increase from ÂŁ6.15 to ÂŁ6.45 for 18-20 year olds
  • A 4.6% increase from ÂŁ4.35 to ÂŁ4.55 for Under 18s
  • A 6.4% increase from ÂŁ3.90 to ÂŁ4.15 for Apprentices

Polital Updates– Jan 2020 Summary

Budget 2020: The Treasury has announced that Budget 2020 will take place on Wednesday 11 March 2020. The Chancellor is expected to set out plans in the March Budget to “open a new chapter for the UK’s economy and prepare it for the decade ahead, deliver on the Government’s promises on tax, and make good on the commitment to level up and spread opportunity, including by investing billions of pounds across the country”.

For a Summary of 2019 Policy and Governance Developments, click here