News

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is calling on local (parish and town) councils to get involved as Keep Britain Tidy (KBT) launches the Great British Spring Clean 2020.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has launched three new study tours across 2020/21 at three dynamic larger local (parish and town) councils.

AUTHOR: DANIELLE FROST, HEALTH AND WELLBEING OFFICER AT THE ESSEX ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS

The health and wellbeing movement is fundamental to Essex County Council’s strategic plan and they understand that to be successful, they need the local council sector to engage with it. Local (parish and town) councils are the closest layer of government to residents and can have the greatest impact on residents’ lives, from beginning to end.

Building stronger communities were the theme of October’s NALC Annual Conference where Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, paid tribute to England’s 100,000 councillors for all the work they do for their places. And I want to add my own thanks and appreciation, and wish you all the very best for the new decade ahead.

CRISPIN TRUMAN OBE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT RURAL ENGLAND

Standing in the High Weald in Kent recently, I’d been hearing about the multitude of problems the local area faces, with the pressures of development, degradation of nature, the finances of farming and the decline in traditional forms of community and participation.

The Surveillance Camera Commissioner Tony Porter has written to local (parish and town) councils in England and Wales reminding them of the rules around the use of surveillance camera systems in public places.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has attended a meeting of Birchwood Big Local in Lincoln to discuss the creation of a new urban local (parish and town) council for the area.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) celebrated Tree Charter Day on 30 November, as part of National Tree Week.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has just completed the elections process for 2019-21 for its Larger Councils Committee (its corporate voice for larger local councils).

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has opened bookings to its Spring Conference next year on 17 March 2020.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has notified the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) that the appropriate sum for the purpose of section 137(4)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 (the 1972 Act) for parish and town councils in England for 2020-21 is £8.32 per elector.

AUTHOR: JONATHAN OWEN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS

Amidst all the current manifesto talk there is a frisson of excitement in the world of think tanks which is highly relevant to our movement, especially our largest ‘super’ local (parish and town) councils, about the concept of ‘community power’.

AUTHOR: ANDREW TUBB, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF CIRENCESTER TOWN COUNCIL

It was great to be asked to chair the making communities healthier workshops at the NALC annual conference, with a strong focus on loneliness; during the sessions I had a strong sense that whilst loneliness is on-trend, the most important message to take away was the impact we can all have where we live and work.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has today launched a new webpage on health and wellbeing to support one of...

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has written an open letter to political party leaders urging their General Election manifestos to help communities to help themselves so local people can build strong communities.

AUTHOR: CLLR BARONESS SCOTT OF BYBROOK OBE, WILTSHIRE COUNCIL

Retiring as leader of Wiltshire Council this year has offered me the opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved, and how local government has changed over the last ten years. For me, chief among these was the creation of Wiltshire Council in 2009. As the leader of Wiltshire County Council at the time, applying for unitary status seemed like a golden opportunity to improve the delivery and efficiency of services for 470,000 people.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has published a new guide for local (parish and town) councillors on transport planning.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) declared a climate emergency following overwhelming support at a panel session this year's Annual Conference.

AUTHOR: JAMES BEVAN, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER AT THE CCLA

Planning ahead for costs and revenues or profits and losses requires assumptions to be set on the what will happen to economies, the environment and markets. Climate change can affect all three.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has today launched a new joint guide with the Local Government Association (LGA) on tackling loneliness.

The Princess Royal, today visited the National Association of Local Councils’ (NALC) Annual Conference to celebrate 125 years of local (parish and town) councils.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Star Council Awards winners were this evening announced at a celebratory ceremony at NALC’s Annual Conference.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has held a very ‘positive’ introductory meeting with Luke Hall MP, the new local government minister.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is again urging the government to re-introduce the non-domestic rating (public lavatories) billto end the “toilet tax” on public conveniences local (parish and town) councils manage – after it was not included in the Queen’s Speech on Monday.

AUTHOR: HELEN WILDSMITH, STEWARDSHIP DIRECTOR (CLIMATE CHANGE) AT THE CCLA

Increasing attention is being paid to the impact that climate change will have on the economy.

It is important that everyone can easily access information provided by local (town and parish) councils online, including those with disabilities. According to Scope, the disability equality charity in England and Wales, there are 13.9 million disabled people in the UK.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has opened nominations to its Smaller Councils Committee to candidates for 2020/21.

The National Association of Local Councils is celebrating National Democracy Week to raise awareness of what democracy means to local (parish and town) councils and to encourage more people to stand for elections.

According to Mind, the mental health charity, 1 in 4 of us experiences a mental health issue every year. As the first level of local government, local (parish and town) councils play a huge role in caring for their communities. The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) fully supports their members to champion their mental health and that of their communities.

Northamptonshire County Association of Local Councils (NCALC) has launched a new publication that sets out the role of local (parish and town) councils in the context of unitary local government.

AUTHOR: DANNY MOODY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF LCOAL COUNCILS

Over the past two years Northants CALC (the membership organisation for parish and town councils in Northamptonshire) has been heavily engaged in the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) programme in the county. LGR will see the existing borough, district and county councils replaced with two new unitary councils, West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire Council, from 1 April 2021.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) were at the Healthwatch 2019 conference to highlight key health issues and to improve communication between local (parish and town) councils, county associations and Healthwatch branches.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the Conservative Party to provide support to help the 10,000 local (parish and town) councils in England to tackle loneliness and isolation.

The National Association of Local Councils has teamed up with the Epilepsy Society to raise awareness of the hidden disabilities in communities. The partnership will promote the role of local (parish and town) councils play in improving people's quality of life.

Waltham Abbey Town Council has an estimated population of over 20,000 with 11 elected councillors. The council is also accredited with...

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has called on the Labour Party to support the creation of new local (parish and town) councils as part of their devolution agenda for England.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) held its first meeting with Cllr James Jamieson, the new chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA).

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) met with Sir Tony Redmond to share the experiences of local (town and parish) councils with the current audit regime.

The forthcoming Queen’s Speech must include legislation to give local (parish and town) councils more powers to help them build strong communities, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has told the Liberal Democrat party at their annual conference.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has published a quarterly report highlighting its activity within the sector.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has welcomed calls by Plunkett Foundation, Locality and ACRE as part of an Esmée Fairbairn Foundation funded programme that local (parish and town) councils should use their powers to support the creation of community businesses.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) today arrived at Chippenham Town Council in Wiltshire to pilots its first-ever Peer Review.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is proud to support this year's Communities Week to help recognise the work of local people, groups and organisations across the country.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will be responding to the government's consultation on the proposed reforms to permitted development rights to support the deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, will be attending the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Annual Conference on 29 October 2019.

Ahead of the Spending Review, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the government to ensure local (parish and town) councils have the flexible and diverse funding they need to continue playing a vital role in building strong communities.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has today become a Dementia Friendly organisation and is calling on all local (parish and town) councils to follow suit to tackle one of the UK’s biggest health problems.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has confirmed that it will be responding to the government's review into local government audit led by Sir Tony Redmond.

This week the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) published its updated Model Financial Regulations for England and Wales.

Fillongley Parish Council in Warwickshire is a busy and enthusiastic council representing a small population of 1,204 with a precept of £18,190.