Creating your own council

Parish and town councils are the first tier of local government. They are at the core of local communities and serve as the essential voice for neighbourhoods, cultivating a purpose of involvement in decisions that impact residents. They offer citizens a democratic platform that extends beyond voting during elections. Yet parish and town councils represent only a third of the population. We want to transform this landscape and encourage more communities in England to embrace the model, joining the ranks of the already-established 10,000 councils making significant contributions to their areas.

We have long supported the need for a fundamental power shift to local people. Establishing parish and town councils in all areas will allow people to benefit from better representation and service delivery. There are now 270 more parish and town councils than just over 15 years ago. People nationwide are taking more control over the decisions that affect their communities. Join them and see if you can take the first step today in creating your own parish or town council.

Legislation changes to the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 allowed parish and town councils to be created in London. We played a pivotal role in communicating the legislative changes to London-based community organisations. From 2007 onwards, our work was crucial in helping establish Queen’s Park Community Council, which remains the capital's only parish and town council.

Click the images to discover more about creating your parish or town council.

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