News

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has published the Joint Panel on Accountability and Governance (JPAG) 2023 edition of the Practitioners' Guide.

Author: Lucy Knight, customer care and communications specialist at Utility Aid   

On 9 January 2023, the government announced introducing a new Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS), which will run from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. This will replace the previous Energy Bills Relief Scheme that provided a discount to all eligible organisations (which ends on 31 March 2023).

National Association of Local Councils (NALC) president Baroness Ros Scott of Needham Market and vice-president, The Earl of Lytton, championed local (parish and town) councils in the House of Lords Committee Stage of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Larger Councils Committee agreed that councillor training should be mandatory following the committee meeting on 28 February 2023.

Author: Amy Knox, project officer (gender), Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK)

On Wednesday evening, I was one of 150 women who joined the Parliament Project for the “Women in local (parish and town) council – What is it and can I do it?” workshop.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is proud to announce that it has achieved Cyber Essentials certification, demonstrating its commitment to protecting its members' data and business operations against cyber threats.

The BBC has informed the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) that it will allow public events to show the King’s Coronation without needing a TV license. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has added a new online event on fighting climate change with local council action, which takes place on 24 May 2023.

Author: Duncan Hayes, marketing and communications manager at the Right to Build Task Force 

The government funds the Right to Build Task Force to support local authorities working to deliver custom and self-build homes. Find out more about the benefits of this route to delivery on the NALC-hosted event: Tackling the housing crisis the local way with custom and self-build homes on 15 March 2023.

Today, 8 March 2023, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) celebrates International Women's Day, a global day celebrating women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. 

Lee Rowley MP, parliamentary under secretary of state in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognised the importance of local (parish and town) councils at the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Standards Matter conference on 3 March 2023.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has written an essay for Localis as part of their essay collection on where local government finance will be in 2030.

This week, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) urged the government to keep planning local in response to a significant national consultation. 

The Civility and Respect Project has published its March edition of the Civility and Respect newsletter.

Author: Lee​ Cleaver, sales development account broker at BHIB Councils Insurance

With King Charles III’s Coronation set to take place on 6 May 2023 and a one-off bank holiday announced for 8 May 2023, we know that local (parish and town) councils will be key to bringing our local communities together to celebrate.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Smaller Councils Committee recommends that councillor training be a part of the Local Council Award Scheme's criteria following the committee meeting on 21 February 2023. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has created a new section on its website to help local (parish and town) councils support their community through the cost-of-living crisis.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) attended an event about levelling up in South and East Lincolnshire at the House of Lords on 21 February 2023.

Author: Cllr Andy Snape, Town Mayor, Flitwick Town Council

Part of NALC's #MakeAChange campaign, NALC’s LGBTQ+ National Network was set up in June 2021, bringing LGBTQ+ councillors together to share ideas and inspire change in our local communities.

1,000 local (parish and town) councils have signed up for the Civility and Respect Pledge.

Dr Paul Behrens joins the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) as a guest speaker for the first National Network: Climate emergency meeting of the year on 14 February 2023.

The Civility and Respect Project has launched a new suite of e-learning courses for local (parish and town) councils.

Author: Kate Groves, Marketing Manager, Eden Project Communities 

Following the recent announcement from Buckingham Palace, we are delighted to share that this year's Big Lunch will take place on 6-8 May, as part of the celebrations for the Coronation.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the House of Lords to make essential changes to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to ensure local (parish and town) councils play their part in levelling up and improving local communities.

Michael Gove MP confirmed on 7 February 2023 that local (parish and town) councils would not be subject to the council tax referendum principles in 2023/24.

The president of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), Baroness Scott of Needham Market, met in parliament with the faith and communities minister, Baroness Scott of Bybrook.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has joined the Better Planning Coalition. 

Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE, parliamentary under secretary of state (Faith and Communities) at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, has written to NALC's chair, Cllr Keith Stevens, about the King's Coronation and the vital role of local (parish and town) councils in the celebrations.

Author: Prishita Maheshwari-Aplin, digital mobilisation lead at Stonewall

Over a third of LGBTQ+ people still feel they have to hide who they are at work.

Last week, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) discussed the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill in parliament.

This week, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) was invited to participate in a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) ministerial roundtable.

The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has notified the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) that the appropriate sum for section 137(4)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 (the 1972 Act) for parish and town councils in England for 2023/24 is £9.93. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) met with Mumsnet last week to discuss how they could help raise awareness of the Make A Change campaign.

Author: Eleanor Greene, Secretary to the Internal Audit Forum

Councils can be members of their county association and, thus, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC). This gives them access to resource materials, training, and support. Clerks and officers can be members of the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC), giving them access to resource materials, training, and support. Internal auditors can be members of the Internal Audit Forum (IAF).

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Policy Committee met on 24 January 2023 to discuss several topics, including councillor training, government consultations, local government finance and NALC campaigns.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) created a new dedicated webpage for the King’s Coronation. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has been advocating for the important role local (parish and town) councils have in reaching Net Zero.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) announced today that they have partnered with the Internal Audit Forum. The partnership will see the two organisations working together to raise awareness and quality of internal audits for local councils.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has added a new online event on tackling the housing crisis the local way with custom and self-build homes, which takes place on 15 March 2023.

Author: Phillip Vincent, Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE)

Village Halls Week 2023 will celebrate how these volunteer-run rural community buildings support local residents, groups, and businesses, particularly during difficult times.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the government to give local (parish and town) councils a multi-year exemption from referendum principles on excessive council tax increases.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) held an informal National Assembly on 17 January 2023 to discuss the upcoming Coronation of His Majesty The King. The meeting was open to local (parish and town) councils and was well attended, with roughly 100 people joining the discussion.

Author: Michael King, chair of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman

For nearly 50 years, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has had the power to investigate complaints about problems faced by people using all kinds of local services, from registering births to caring for our oldest residents.

Author: Jennie Thomas, chief officer and parish clerk at Stone Parish Council

Award schemes are generally used to support the credibility of a sector, help people feel their work is valued, improve morale, boost the profile, and solidify an organisation's reputation through third-party endorsement.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will hold its first in-person conference since 2019 on why professional standards and ethics matter.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has added a new online event on emergency planning, which takes place on 29 March 2023.

The Civility and Respect Project releases a new HR podcast to better explain local (parish and town) councils' responsibilities as employers regarding sickness and absence.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has announced the latest round of results for the Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS).

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and Parish Online have released a new publication on digital mapping systems for local (parish and town) councils.

The Civility and Respect Project has backed a new Early Day Motion on intimidation in community, parish and town councils, tabled in parliament by Dr Julian Lewis MP.