Local Councils: The Power to Deliver?

19 September 2006

NALC Fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat Conference

NALC (National Association of Local Councils) welcomes the Liberal Democrats' commitment to devolving power to local communities, through truly accountable neighbourhood bodies, and enabling the whole of local government to be freed up.

NALC believes that for local communities to have true voice and influence in service delivery, they should have elected representatives at the first tier level of local government.

Tom Brake MP, Liberal Democrat shadow secretary of state for local government and community cohesion, speaking at the NALC fringe meeting said: "We look forward to implementing our party policy proposal to create community councils freed from the constraints that the present government imposes. These community councils will be synonymous with first tier councils as they exist in their present state".

Cllr Osbourne, leader of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, also spoke at the event, indicating his support for the introduction of the power of well being to first tier councils.

Cllr Brian Kerr (NALC) said: "NALC welcome the proposals to empower local communities. NALC believes in four main principles of neighbourhood governance - councils should be democratically elected, be fairly financed, have the power of well being, and that there should be universal first tiering throughout the country. "

Notes for Editors:

The National Association of Local Councils is the national representative body for 10,000 community, parish and town councils throughout England and Wales. In all, there are over 100,000 community, parish and town councillors throughout England and Wales.

These councillors, who serve electorates ranging from small rural communities to major cities, are all independently elected. The councils have powers to raise their own funds through council tax. Community, parish and town councils provide employment for over 25,000 staff while their annual expenditure exceeds £400 million.

Together, they can be identified as the nation's single most influential grouping of grassroots opinion-formers.

Over 15 million people live in communities served by 10,000 community, parish and town councils nationally - this represents up to 30% of the population. Over 150 new community, parish and town councils have been created since 1997.

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