NALC stands by advice on council meetings and notice periods during period of national mourning after King's Counsel expresses alternative view

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has said it stands by its advice to its network of 43 county associations of local councils and local (parish and town) councils on council meetings and notice periods during the period of National Mourning.

The NALC advice states that on the days within the mourning period up until the Royal Funeral do not count as clear days for the notice of a council meeting. It said the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) supports this advice.

Writing in Local Government Lawyer, Richard Harwood KC has expressed a contrary view, saying councils can continue to send out notices of meetings and to hold those meetings during the period of national mourning. The day of Her Majesty’s funeral, as a bank holiday, is excluded from the calculation of the notice period, however, he argues.

You can read the NALC advice here and Richard Harwood’s article is here.

In a statement NALC said: “NALC stands by its advice, which is supported by the SLCC, and which meets the terms of the relevant law.”

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