Author: Jessica Bailey, deputy head of outreach and engagement, Office for National Statistics
Everyone benefits from the census. The data provided helps councils, charities and businesses plan and fund the local and national services we all rely on, wherever we live, across England and Wales.
New members joined the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Smaller Councils Committee at a meeting on 18 July 2023.
Author: Jeremy Leggett, policy advisor at ACRE
If Michael Banks in ‘Mary Poppins’, were to wisely invest his tuppence in The Bank today, he would not give it, face-to face, to a cashier. The transition from banks with a branch in every town, to banks that aspire to have apps in every pocket has taken little time at all.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) represented local (parish and town) councils at the Local Government Association Annual Conference between 4 and 6 July 2023.
The House of Lords has backed calls from the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) for councils to be able to hold remote council meetings by voting to support an amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.
Great Dawley Town Council in Shropshire were recently awarded Gold in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, becoming one of the first local (parish and town) councils to win such an award. The Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire other organisations to do the same.
Author: Mark Luxton, digital community engagement lead at GoCollaborate
With the rapidly evolving digital landscape, the face of community engagement has changed significantly. But are you optimising your online community engagement efforts effectively?
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has made its online event recordings freely available on its website.
Author: Jake Woodier, senior media and campaigns manager at The Climate Coalition
Climate change and protecting our natural world is the greatest challenge of our time. It requires urgent and collaborative action from government through to local councils and our communities. While national and international efforts are crucial, there is great hope and belief in the change that takes place at the local level.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has launched a new online event on reconnecting communities through community transport on 27 March 2024.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) National Network: Young councillors met on 7 June 2023 to discuss how to make the network more effective for councillors.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has launched a new online event on how local councils can benefit from the levelling up agenda, taking place on 31 January 2024.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is to attend the LGA Annual Conference 2023 to represent the interests of local (parish and town) councils.
Author: Jake Woodier of The Climate Coalition
Organised by The Climate Coalition, Great Big Green Week is a celebration of community action to address climate change and protect our natural world. Now in its third year, this nationwide event brings together communities and groups from across the country to showcase their efforts in safeguarding the planet. Local (parish and town) councils have a vital role to play in supporting and promoting Great Big Green Week alongside people from all walks of life that engage in the campaign.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has launched a new online event on winning strategies for the funding game, taking place on 15 December 2023.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is asking local (parish and town) councils to submit planning case studies for a new planning publication as part of a new dedicated planning webpage.
Author: Tracey Robbins, head of UK delivery at Eden Project Communities
This June, the third annual Month of Community will occur across the UK. We came together with a group of partners to start the initiative in 2021, recognising so many wonderful campaigns taking place around the same time of year. This includes The Big Lunch, our annual get-together for neighbours bringing communities across the UK together for friendship, food and fun on the first weekend in June.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has launched a new online event on making the planning system work for local councils, taking place on 22 November 2023.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) are helping develop the new Office for Local Government (OFLG).
Author: Pete Davies, chief executive officer at Playing Out
Streets constitute the majority of public space in our villages and towns. To see them only as places to drive and park cars is to undervalue them. Streets can and should be places where people can sit, talk, read, play and walk.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has launched a new online event on empowering young voices in your community, taking place on 25 October 2023.
Author: Danielle Scott, solicitor and senior employment law adviser at WorkNest
An employee isn’t performing to the required standards. But are you dealing with a conduct or performance issue?
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has launched a new online event on engaging with local communities through digital engagement, taking place on 27 September 2023.
Author: Lee Cleaver, sales development account broker at BHIB Councils Insurance
In recent years the UK has been subject to extremely hot and dry weather, putting properties at greater risk of subsidence.
Subsidence happens when the ground under a property collapse or sinks lower. This uneven movement may result in structural damage, such as cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings, which can be expensive to repair.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) held its first White Ribbon steering group meeting on 15 May 2023.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) National Network: Women councillors met on 10 May 2023 to discuss how to make the network more effective for councillors.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) National Network: Climate emergency met on 4 May 2023.
Author: Mel Islin, physical activity programme manager, Rethink Mental Illness
It is widely known and accepted that physical activity is good for our physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. But often, people are isolated from activities or cannot find the right one.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) representatives spoke at the Committee Stage of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill on the new Infrastructure Levy.
The leadership teams of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) held their latest catch-up meeting at NALC’s new office in Bloomsbury, London, on 27 April 2023.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) attended The Rural Coalition meeting on 26 April 2023.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has released extra tickets to its sold-out online event on fighting climate change with local (parish and town) council action, which takes place on 24 May 2023.
The Smaller Authorities' Audit Appointments (SAAA), on 19 April 2023, announced its new board and published a report on the results of the auditor's work 2021/22.
Author: Iain Lynch, town clerk at Farnham Town Council
This week the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) launched its Star Council Awards 2023, the only awards in England that recognise local (parish and town) councils' contributions to their communities. The long-running awards celebrate local councils, councillors, young councillors, clerks, and county associations' positive impact on their communities. We look back at the 2021 Council of the Year winner, Farnham Town Council.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has announced the latest Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS) results.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) convened the National Employment Strategy Steering Group meeting on 17 April 2023.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) attended the Co-operative Party Rural Commission Report launch on 17 April 2023, which calls for strengthening local (parish and town) councils to address the challenges rural communities face.
Authors: Kim Lowes, parish councillor and community pantry lead and Sophie Taylor, clerk and responsible finance officer at Coxhoe Parish Council
The parish of Coxhoe and Quarrington Hill is not alone in feeling tested by rising costs. As a parish council, we do our utmost to respond to the needs of residents, including taking a proactive approach to difficult financial times.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) receives answers to written questions submitted to the House of Lords.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) seeks writers for Good Councillor's guide series.
Author: Cllr David Francis, chair of NALC's Policy Committee
It is sometimes said that democracy can only be achieved through the ballot box and that making co-options is a failure of the democratic process. However, this need not be the case, and co-options can be a positive tool. Arguably, every local (parish and town) council benefit from having a mix of councillors drawn from various backgrounds. They are capable, enthusiastic, and engaged in reflecting on their communities.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) seeks panel members for its Local Council Awards Scheme.
Pucklechurch Parish Council is surveying councillors with non-visible disabilities as part of a dissertation for the De Montfort University Community Engagement and Governance course.
Author: Daniel Purchese, co-director at Breakthrough Communications
As local (parish and town) councils are the closest level of government to their communities, it is essential for them to communicate effectively and strategically. In 2023, with the increasing reliance on technology and social media and the fact that councils are providing more services than ever, effective communication is essential in supporting effective governance.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Make A Change champion Cllr Anita Collier has been featured on Mumsnet.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) met with Barclays last week to highlight the ongoing poor banking services local (parish and town) councils are experiencing, especially in rural areas.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) teamed up with Communities Prepared and Cullompton Town Council to deliver its latest online event on emergency planning on 29 March 2023.
Author: Nicola Swanborough, head of external affairs at the Epilepsy Society
If someone at your council meeting – maybe a fellow councillor or a public member – had a seizure, would you know what to do?
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).
