NALC is led by councillors appointed by county associations to its National Assembly. National Assembly elects the NALC chair, vice-chairs (finance and member service), and committee members. These elections are held every two years, and this round will begin on 23 August 2023.
There are opportunities for councillors and clerks not on the National Assembly to stand for the direct elections on the Larger Councils Committee and Smaller Councils Committee.
NALC's governance election process aim is to adopt democratic representation and efficient decision-making, enabling NALC to effectively pursue its strategic objectives and deliver valuable services to members and stakeholders.
National Assembly members, through these elections, will select individuals to serve on the committees. NALC collaborates with UK Engage to facilitate a smoother and more efficient election process.
Timeline
23 August 2023 — Nominations open
25 October 2023 — Nominations close
26 October 2023 to 31 October 2023 — Check for eligibility
1 November 2023 — Voting opens
15 November 2023 — Voting closes
15 November 2023 — Amend ballot papers
15 November 2023 — Voting reopens
22 November 2023 — Voting closes
29 November 2023 — Election results announced
Committee elections
NALC chair
The chair is the national spokesperson for the sector in dealings with the media. The chair also secures NALC's strategic objectives by meeting ministers, senior representatives from the Local Government Association and other national organisations and lobbying the main political parties. The chair sits on relevant national committees, bodies and working parties. The chair chairs the Management Board and National Assembly to secure broad-based support for and engagement with NALC's activities. The chair also sits on NALC's Policy Committee. The chair liaises with major sponsors and will regularly speak/attend national and county association events. The chair is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the chief executive. This high-profile, high-pressure post requires a significant time commitment (40 days per year), including weekends and evenings.
Submit nomination
NALC vice-chairs
Vice-chair (member services)
Vice-chair (member services) provides the lead support related to NALC’s member services to the chair and Management Board. They help ensure NALC is focused on delivering effective, impactful and value-for-money services to its members. The vice-chair (member services) will work closely with the head of member services to review current service delivery, seek county association views on services and identify new service options for consideration by Management Board. This is vital in interacting with NALC staff and county associations, with a time commitment of around 25 days per year.
Submit nomination
Vice-chair (finance)
Vice-chair (finance) provides the lead financial support to the chair and Management Board, overseeing planning and budgeting processes and ensuring all strategic plans are financially appraised and budgets are aligned to both short-term and long-term objectives each year. The vice-chair (finance) liaises with external auditors, NALC's chief executive/finance officer and reports on the association's overall financial position transparently to the board, assembly and AGM. The chair also sits on the Finance and Scrutiny Committee. This is an important role interacting with a time commitment of around 25 days per year.
Submit nomination
Management Board
The role of the Management Board is to oversee the overall management of NALC. The Management Board recommends a three-year rolling budget to deliver the strategic objectives, set affiliation fee level, remuneration and conditions of service for employees of NALC, ensure NALC's corporate governance framework reflects good practices and sound running, and specifies and monitors the level and quality of services for which NALC is responsible.
Management Board has six seats available for National Assembly members. The six elected members may not serve on the Finance and Scrutiny Committee or the Policy Committees.
Submit nomination
Finance and Scrutiny Committee
The Finance and Scrutiny Committee's main functions are to monitor the overall financial performance of the budget, to settle and keep under review the format and presentation of the NALC's budgets and the financial parts of the Annual Report, to recommend the appointment of external auditors, to secure the implementation of any measures recommended by the external auditor; to order, regulate and supervise NALC's finances.
The committee has five seats available for National Assembly members. The five elected members may not serve on the Management Board or the Policy Committees.
Submit nomination
Policy Committee
Policy Committee guides NALC in formulating and reviewing its national policy objectives. They consider, adopt, amend, or reject proposals for developing national policy for local councils in England based on policy resolutions (and surveys undertaken) from county associations. Where appropriate, they refer such matters to the National Assembly/AGM for further consideration and action.
The committee has seven seats available for National Assembly members. The seven elected members may not serve on the Management Board (except for the chair who has a seat as of right on the board) or the Finance and Scrutiny Committee.
Submit nomination
Larger Councils Committee
The Larger Councils Committee represents the needs of larger councils, defined as those with an electorate of over 6,000 and/or an annual budgeted income of £600,000. It develops, formulates, and responds to the policy issues affecting larger councils within NALC's framework. By direct access, it provides a full range of national services, including legal advice and networking opportunities for elected members, clerks, and staff of larger councils in terms of conferences, seminars, and training courses.
The committee has four seats available for National Assembly members.
Submit nomination
Smaller Councils Committee
The Smaller Councils Committee represents the needs of smaller councils, defined as those with an electorate of under 6,000. Its function is to enable smaller councils to be provided, through county associations, with the tools and information to carry out their functions effectively, with the minimum cost and complexity and to develop, formulate and respond to the policy issues affecting smaller councils within NALC's overall framework, including the ability to recommend directly to the Policy Committee.
The committee has five seats available for National Assembly members.
Submit nomination
Direct elections
Councillors and clerks who are not National Assembly members can participate in NALC committees.
Larger Councils Committee
The following seats are available for candidates interested in direct election to the Larger Councils Committee:
- Eight directly elected councillor seats from larger councils.
- Four directly elected non-voting clerks from larger councils.
To be eligible to stand for election, you must represent a larger council, defined as those with an electorate of over 6,000 and/or an annual budgeted income of £600,000.
Submit nomination
Smaller Councils Committee
Three seats are available for candidates interested in direct election to the Smaller Councils Committee. Candidates may be councillors or clerks but must represent a smaller council which is defined as a council with less than 6,000 electorates. Its function is to enable smaller councils to be provided, through county associations, with the tools and information to carry out their functions effectively, with the minimum cost and complexity and to develop, formulate and respond to the policy issues affecting smaller councils within NALC's overall framework, including the ability to recommend directly to the Policy Committee.
The committee has three directly elected seats available. NALC welcome nominations from both councillors and clerks of smaller councils.
Submit nomination
RESOURCES
Constitution — The constitution outlines the basic principles, structure, and functions of NALC’s governance.
Committee structure
— NALC's governance structure for its committees.
Role profiles
— Member role profiles refer to committee members' specific roles or responsibilities. These profiles outline the tasks, duties, expectations, and qualifications.
Terms of Reference
— Outlines a committee's scope, purpose, objectives, and responsibilities. These terms provide a clear framework for the committee's work and help ensure its members align on their goals and expected outcomes.
