NALC Manifesto: Building stronger communities
Imagine a future where communities thrive, local services flourish, and every resident feels heard and valued. Thanks to England’s 10,000 parish and town councils, this vision is within reach. Positioned at the heart of our communities, these democratic, accountable, and transparent grassroots bodies are uniquely equipped to address the challenges of austerity and public service delivery.
Parish and town councils excel at engaging directly with residents, making them ideal for revitalising neighbourhoods and fostering economic, environmental, and social prosperity. They are dedicated to rebuilding communities and making impactful decisions that benefit everyone.
Embracing localism is the key to overcoming division and enhancing local services. Empowering parish and town councils can create a more connected and supportive society. We have outlined a compelling manifesto demonstrating how government collaboration can amplify these efforts.
Join us in supporting parish and town councils and enabling communities to help themselves. Together, we can build a brighter future for all.
Click the images to explore our manifesto for building stronger communities.
Our vision
Parish and town councils nationwide will be the centre of community effort, the natural focus of public activity and service delivery.
Parish and town councils give a democratic voice to communities in the deliberations of other agencies and work in partnership with them.
Vibrant, dynamic, and effective local councils will help communities build strength and resilience and improve residents' quality of life.
Our offer
- Parish and town councils give people a voice and structure for taking action as the first tier of local government.
- Parish and town councils provide democratic leadership that is accountable, accessible and transparent.
- Parish and town councils comply with the same practice and behaviour standards as other tiers of local government.
- Parish and town councils plan for the future of neighbourhoods by championing what matters to local people, including the built and natural environment.
- Parish and town councils are fiscally responsible by engaging with residents and businesses about investing in local priorities, services and projects.
- Parish and town councils work with principal authorities, businesses, local groups and others.
- Parish and town councils help build community cohesion and resilience.
Our asks
- Empower communities
- Diverse funding
- Strengthening local leadership
- Building capacity and capability
Empower communities
- Extend the General Power of Competence to all parish and town councils.
- Reform outdated legislation, such as the flexibility to hold remote meetings.
- Strengthen community rights to protect neighbourhood plans, support community assets and take over services.
- More influence on local councils’ decisions, such as highways, housing, licensing and planning (including a right of appeal).
Diverse funding
- Direct access to government funding and enabling powers for ministers to fund parish and town councils.
- Freedom to set the precept (a small share of council tax) without a referendum.
- A share of business rates with the community and cultural assets are exempted.
- Increased developer levy contributions to parish and town councils and flexibility in its use.
Strengthening local leadership
- Expand parish and town councils across England, make them easier to create, and make them mandatory where local government reorganisation occurs.
- Promote civility and respect in public life, including strengthening the standards regime and introducing sanctions.
- Improve links with bodies such as principal authorities, directly elected mayors, police and crime commissioners, local enterprise partnerships and health bodies.
- Extend the remit of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Building capacity and capability
- Encourage more people from all backgrounds and experiences to get involved with parish and town councils as councillors or professional officers.
- Make it easier to stand and serve as councillors.
- Support and invest in the National Improvement Strategy for parish and town councils, which encourages and provides training and development opportunities to parish and town councils
