News

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has been featured on the latest podcast by the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC).

Authors: Steve Besford-Foster, PlanSupport in association with Neil Kirkland, GoCollaborate Limited 

There has been a significant dip in the willingness of communities to engage since COVID. Some of this might be due to a fear of public meetings and mixing, but there’s a continuing strong element of cynicism about government and planning, which is having an impact on NDP engagement. There is also a growing recognition of what digital engagement can bring which many communities are looking to grasp.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has unveiled its much-anticipated events schedule for the first half of the 2024/25 financial year.

In response to numerous issues raised by local (parish and town) councils about high street banks, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has launched a new webpage to help address those concerns.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has notified the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) that the appropriate sum for section 137(4)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 (the 1972 Act) for local (parish and town) councils in England for 2024/25 is £10.81.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has released extra tickets to its sold-out online event on how local councils can benefit from the levelling up agenda which takes place on 31 January 2024.

Author: Lee Cleaver​​​, sales development account broker at Clear Councils Insurance 

With winter well and truly upon us, now is a good time for local (parish and town) councils to prepare for the worsening weather from a safety and risk management perspective. The winter weather can present many challenges, with roads, car parks, walkways, stairs/steps, bus shelters, playgrounds, and more becoming more hazardous due to ice and snow.

Author: Lucy Baker, consumer all IP director and Vicky Hicks, head of engagement, digital voice and gender equality network chair at BT Consumer 

The landline is here to stay, but the technology used to make calls is changing from analogue to digital as part of an industry-wide shift.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has released extra tickets to its sold-out online event on the good, the bad, and the ugly of social media in the local council sector which takes place on 28 February 2024.

Author: Barbara Eifler, chief executive of Making Music and chair of Make Music Day UK

It’s the simplest of concepts: anyone can create or host or perform in a music event on 21 June and be part of the world’s biggest DIY grassroots music festival.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has completed its leadership line-up for the next two years following the election of chairs and vice-chairs to its committees. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has announced the latest Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS) results.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) held an introductory event on the Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS), explaining why and how local (parish and town) can apply.

Author: Graham Duxbury, chief executive of Groundwork UK

Watching delegates fly in and out of COP 28 in Dubai over the last two weeks it’s been easy to get downhearted by how distant and difficult the discussions about tackling dangerous climate change are.  In the meantime, the power of nature to enhance or disrupt our lives has never been more evident.  Extreme weather battering our shores and causing real hardship in communities is making us finally understand what an unstable climate means.  At the same time, more and more of us are realising how being better connected with nature does wonders for our health and wellbeing.  As is so often the case, we don’t truly appreciate something until it’s gone.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) attended the UK Finance parliamentary event on 5 December 2023 on raising the banking challenges local (parish and town) councils face.

The National Association of Local Councils has called for the Office for Local Government's (Oflog) remit to include England's 10,000 local (parish and town) councils. 

Author: Shar Roselman, town clerk at Newport Pagnell Town Council 

Join me as I reflect on the enlightening study tour held in June 2023. Let's explore the valuable benefits of study tours and dive into the extensive array of subjects that these tours can cover. Trust me, you will want to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the next one!

Author: Jess Allan, Science & Research Projects Manager at The Tree Council 

National Tree Week 2023 (25 Nov-3 Dec) marks fifty years since the ‘Plant a Tree in ‘73’ campaign, from which the annual week-long celebration of trees (and The Tree Council!) was born. The week is always a brilliant opportunity to come together and truly appreciate the trees around us that give us joy! The theme this year is ‘Grow a Tree in ‘23’, reflecting the continued love and care that trees need after planting – a crucial message for all of us. 

In a powerful display of solidarity, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has pledged its support for White Ribbon Day, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) held its latest event on 22 November 2023, looking at how to make the planning system work for local (parish and town) councils.

The National Associations of Local Councils (NALC) national network for super councils was encouraged to consider participating in the Corporate Peer Challenge.

Author: Daisy Petrow, communications officer at NALC

In September 2023, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) attended the White Ribbon conference in Birmingham. White Ribbon’s mission is to prevent violence against women and girls by addressing its root causes. They work with men and boys to change long established harmful attitudes, systems and behaviours around masculinity that perpetuate inequality and violence. Their work is preventative; they want to stop violence before it starts.  

Author: UN Women

Violence against women and girls remains the most pervasive human rights violation in the world, affecting more than 1 in 3 women, a figure that has remained unchanged over the last decade. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will head to Yate Town Council in Avon for its annual study tour as part of its good practices initiative. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) calls on larger and smaller local (parish and town) councils to vote for the Larger Councils Committee and Smaller Councils Committee elections.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the government to tighten up the regulation of land management companies. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and the Local Government Association (LGA) held a joint event on 14 November 2023 that explored the role of local councillors.

Author: Cllr James Gleave, board member at Transport Planning Society and councillor at Flitwick Town Council 

Anyone who is a councillor knows that one of the things that is most often raised by the public is transport. Whether it be the lack of local buses or the state of the roads – people often have a lot to say. You may think that transport and highways is the responsibility of your County Council, Unitary Authority, District Council, Borough or Combined Authority. But believe it or not, even local (parish and town) councils can do a lot to help make the transport system better and decarbonise it at the same time.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) National Network: Young councillors met on 8 November 2023 to appoint its new co-chairs.

Author: Louise Marshall, senior public health fellow, and Bethan Page, public health speciality registrar, the Health Foundation

Thriving communities need all the right building blocks in place, including quality housing, stable jobs, a good education, and much more. Erosion of these building blocks causes instability in people's lives, reducing resilience to circumstances outside their control and increasing their risk of poor health.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has released extra tickets to its sold-out online event on winning strategies for the funding game which takes place on 15 December 2023.

Author: Chris Mewse, managing director of Parish Online

I have always been passionate about using technology to create something new and useful. I used to build software and websites in my spare time and loved looking through maps and atlases (no wonder I ended up with this career!). I’m proud that over the last 14 years, my team and I have built a reputation for providing trustworthy digital services, namely our Parish Online mapping software.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will speak at an event to explore how local (parish and town) councils can identify and plan action towards net zero and address nature depletion.

Author: Sally-Ann Beaver at director of Utility Aid 

In recent years, we have all seen energy costs fluctuate significantly, making it difficult for local (parish and town) councils to budget accurately. This can be especially problematic for smaller councils that may not have large reserves to fall back on if unexpected energy costs arise. By fixing energy costs, councils can plan their budgets with more certainty and have greater control over their expenses.

Author: Sam Hagen, digital marketer at the Water Hygiene Centre 

This blog looks at the considerations any local authority should make in determining how to appoint a contractor(s) to support them to ensure that water systems are free from microbiological contamination for those who use them.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) met with the Barclays Know Your Customer team and other senior Barclays representatives last week on 22 September 2023.

Local (parish and town) councils across England were successful bidders for the Community Ownership Fund.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) White Ribbon steering group discussed NALC’s plan for this year’s White Ribbon Day when they met on 4 October 2023.

The government has unveiled 55 towns that will benefit from a £1.1 billion levelling up investment as part of a long-term plan for towns that provide long-term investment in towns that have been overlooked and taken for granted.

Author: Katerina Sukstul, head of platform delivery and engagement at GoCollaborate 

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, local authorities find themselves at a crossroads, facing the dual challenges of engaging their communities effectively and adapting to the ever-increasing demands for transparency and participation in decision-making processes. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) attended the White Ribbon Conference at Villa Park in Birmingham on 26 September 2023.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) held an online event on engaging with local communities through digital engagement on 27 September 2023.

Author: Richard Stanford CB MBE, chief executive of the Forestry Commission  

With growing environmental pressures to tackle the climate and nature emergencies, never has it been a more important time to grow trees. The UK government and local authorities share a common goal to halt the decline in biodiversity by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.

On 25 November 2023, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will support White Ribbon Day to work towards ending violence against women and girls.

Author: Lauren Jones-Mullins, wildlife ecologist & beachwatch administrator at Marine Conservation Society

What do you think of when you hear the words ‘marine litter’? Rolling waves of plastic? Vast islands of waste in the middle of the ocean? Wildlife tangled in fishing net and eating plastic bags? Shocking images of the extent of pollution around the world have been brought into the public eye through Blue Planet 2, National Geographic, and even the Octonauts - but the reality is much closer to home. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the government to simplify the rules to protect hedgerows and give local (parish and town) councils a more significant role. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will attend party conferences throughout September and October 2023 to promote the local (parish and town) council sector.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has secured several amendments to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill at last week's Report Stage in the House of Lords.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) National Network: Women councillors met on 7 September 2023 to discuss the White Ribbon campaign, NALC’s White Ribbon accreditation and the Civility and Respect Pledge.

Author: Joanne Riddle, town clerk at Bingham Town Council 

After a challenging period of time for the council, the Local Council’s Award Scheme was considered as a positive way to provide residents reassurance that the council were not only meeting their responsibilities, but they were exceeding them and were striving to constantly improve. Staff know that the council meet the legal requirements expected of them and that they take their scrutiny role seriously, but after a negative time it can be difficult to change that view with the community.