NALC event explores lessons from devolution for parish and town councils
Last week, on 20 November 2024, we held our latest event exploring the concept of devolution for parish and town councils.
Our expert panel featured Cllr Desna Allen of Chippenham Town Council, Cllr Phillipa Williamson from the County Councils Network (CCN), and Zoe Adams, assistant research and communications officer at Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA).
Cllr Allen described how Chippenham Town Council embraced devolution by taking control of local service delivery, setting their standards, and funding them through an in-house team. She recounted the transfer of assets such as green spaces and street sweeping services, highlighting the importance of having clear goals and engaging councillors early in the process. Cllr Allen also stressed the value of assertiveness in negotiations with principal councils. “Be clear about what you want, identify your red lines, and be prepared to walk away from the negotiating table,” she advised, urging parish and town councils to take a proactive stance in devolution discussions.
Cllr Williamson highlighted devolution’s role in driving economic growth, emphasising that powers and funding should be devolved to county and unitary authorities, which are best positioned due to their scale and economic coherence. She also underscored the need for collaboration between different tiers of councils to develop inclusive governance models. “Devolution of powers and funding has to be at an appropriate spatial scale… county and unitary authorities are ideally placed to drive local growth,” she said.
Zoe Adams stressed that devolution extends beyond large-scale deals to include parish and town councils, showcasing how transferring services and assets fosters community ownership and sustains essential services despite financial pressures. “Devolution isn’t just about big deals. It’s happening at all levels, including parish and town councils,” she noted, emphasising the importance of grassroots involvement and collaboration despite challenges.
