NALC and Electoral Commission launch Elections Pack

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and the Electoral Commission have today launched a new Elections Pack for parish and town councils in England.

In recent years, turnout and participation in local elections has been disappointing, although voter turnout during the June 2005 local elections was an estimated 64% - higher than the general election turnout of 61.3%. However, people are more likely to know about Westminster Parliament than their local parish and town council.

Therefore, to encourage more people to get involved with this year's elections on 3 May 2007, NALC and the Electoral Commission joined forces to produce a resource pack for councils in the first tier. minster Parliament than their local parish and town council.

The elections pack provides parish and town councils with materials to use in their communities to help encourage participation. For example, the pack includes:

• A booklet - this details the roles of parish and town councillors, answers frequently asked questions and provides information on qualifying to run for your local council, which can be distributed to local community groups and/or schools
  
• 'How politics affects … your local area' poster - to display in and around the community; two versions are available, one with the 2007 election date and one without for general use
• Case studies - showing how parish and town councils can make a significant positive difference in their local communities
• A toolkit - produced by the Electoral Commission, this includes ideas for parish and town councillors and clerks on how to promote participation.

Cllr Ken Cleary, chairman, NALC, said: "Local communities feel that they have a lack of control over the way public services and functions are delivered to them, and this is leading to disenchantment with those in power. This new elections pack shows how local people can have their say in key decisions taken on the ground by voting in parish and town council elections as well as standing as councillors.This pack is being launched after the publication of the Local Government White Paper, Strong and prosperous communities, which gives opportunities for local people, via neighbourhood vehicles like parish and town councils to have a better say or a larger degree of ownership over services they use in their daily lives."

NALC has also provided a number of useful documents on its website, including key dates on the run up to the election, information about the nomination process and election expenses, and useful contact details.

Copies of the pack will also be distributed to town and parish councils across the country.

Elections Pack - Click here for more information and downloads

For more information contact Alan Jones on 020 7290 0316 or alan.jones@nalc.gov.uk