All about local councils

Parish and town (local) councils in England and community and town (local) councils in Wales are the first tier of local government. There are around 10,000 local councils in England and Wales, made up of nearly 100,000 councillors.

They deliver a range of services at a community level and their role is to represent the local community, provide services to meet local needs and improve quality of life and community well being.

More information on local councils in England, the role of local councillors and what you need to do if you would like to stand as a candidate in local parish or town council elections is available in our Booklets and Resources section by clicking here

There are many areas in England that are not covered by local councils. These unparished areas are usually found in metropolitan areas such as London, Birmingham and Manchester, although some town areas do not have a town council. More information on setting up a new local council in your area can be found in our Create a Council section by clicking here