The National Assembly of the National Association of Local Councils’ (NALC) held its latest quarterly meeting in London on 9 July.
Responsible for the appointment of NALC committees, as well as the management and conduct of NALC, the National Assembly comprises one councillor representative from each of NALC’s network of 43 county associations in England.
A summary of issues considered and decisions taken is set out below.
Call for more people from all backgrounds to get involved in the sector
The Assembly stressed the importance of increasing the diversity of representation on local (parish and town) councils, county associations and NALC’s managing bodies. It agreed steps to encourage under-represented groups to serve on its committees including co-opting councillors from NALC’s national networks for young councillors, women councillors and LGBT+ councillors.
Local councils’ role in community safety
NALC’s latest big theme and campaign is to promote the sector’s role in community safety, a key element of the new Government’s missions to rebuild Britain. Through a workshop session councillors split into groups to define community safety and councils’ potential role and identify initiatives taken by county associations including examples of good practice from local councils. Over the coming months NALC will be taking forward a package of activities including launching a new web resource on community safety, publishing case studies and holding events, lobbying for relevant powers and funding. The Assembly also noted several existing policies on quad bike legislation, local licensing, funding for Police Community Support Officers and Martyn’s Law.
NALC’s financial future
The Assembly discussed NALC’s current and future budget and financial plans, noting the external auditors had agreed last year’s accounts without qualification. Councillors agreed to consider an increase in affiliation fees above that planned for next year of 8.34p per elector, capped at £2,139. The increase is to address pressures caused by several years of below inflation level increases and to enable further investment in improving NALC’s services and lobbying capacity. Members of the Assembly will be discussing this further with their county associations and member councils to inform a decision later in the year at the Annual General Meeting. More information on NALC’s finances is included further below.
Building links with new Members of Parliament
Over 300 new Members of Parliament were elected at the General Election, some with experience of local councils and many without. The Assembly recognised that it has never been more important to make the case for the local council model of hyper local democracy and its role in strengthening community resilience and improving quality of life. Councillors agreed on a package of actions to help build links with MPs comprising urging councils and county associations to get to know their MPs, writing to congratulate them on their election and inviting them to meetings and events, and to include MPs’ details in newsletters and other communications.
NALC is also delivering a programme of engagement with parliamentarians and the government too. This includes NALC’s chair, Cllr Keith Stevens, meeting key ministers to discuss relevant proposals including those in the King’s Speech, revisiting the All Party Parliamentary Group on local democracy, attendance at the Autumn party political and LGA conferences, and NALC’s parliamentary reception in February 2025.
The full papers and draft minutes of the meeting including presentations on policy development, community safety, the General Election and financial position are available on the NALC website.
Further information on NALC’s finances
- NALC is financed through subscriptions or affiliation fees paid by member local councils collected by county associations. These are based on a pence per elector fee and capped for the largest councils.
- In 2021/22 affiliation fees were 7.42 pence per elector capped at £1,900. With the agreement of our AGM these have increased over the three years since to 7.94 pence per elector capped at £2,037 in 2024/5. An overall increase over those years of .52 pence and £137 (or 7% and 7.2%).
- In similar periods the consumer prices increased by 21% between May 2021 and May 2024 according to the House of Commons library. And average band D precepts rose from £74.35 in 2021/2 to £85.88 in 2024/5, a 15% rise.
- During this period NALC’s finances have continued to be sound with consistently unqualified externally audited accounts. And NALC has managed its resources effectively, modernizing many of its processes and vacating out-of-date offices which it previously owned, securing office savings and valuable investment income.
- NALC has also managed within these reduced resources to maintain and improve services to member councils including:
new website and CRM system being launched in October
new HR services commissioned from Worknest handling over 350 queries per year
along with SLCC investing in the civility and respect project with buy-in currently from over 1,500 councils
an employee assistance programme for NALC and county association staff
new model employment contract, model financial regulations and Good Councilor’s Guide
raising the profile of sector with government, securing exemption from referendum principles, and accessing new national funding streams such as the Community Ownership Fund
fortnightly briefing sessions with county officers and monthly online events programme
- These development are in addition to the day-to-day services that we have provided for many years as set out in the benefits of membership.
- In order to address the financial challenge due to below inflation level fee increases outlined above, and to maintain and increase our service levels and lobbying capacity, NALC is seeking feedback on a small additional increase in fees next year and for the new three-year plan period. This will increase affiliation fees to 8.34 pence per elector next year capped at £2,139 and 9.19 pence per elector in 2027/28 capped at £2,357.
- Assembly members will be discussing these proposals within county associations and NALC would welcome views. No final decisions will be taken until NALC’s AGM in November.