News

Author: Daisy Petrow, communications officer at NALC

In September 2023, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) attended the White Ribbon conference in Birmingham. White Ribbon’s mission is to prevent violence against women and girls by addressing its root causes. They work with men and boys to change long established harmful attitudes, systems and behaviours around masculinity that perpetuate inequality and violence. Their work is preventative; they want to stop violence before it starts.  

Author: UN Women

Violence against women and girls remains the most pervasive human rights violation in the world, affecting more than 1 in 3 women, a figure that has remained unchanged over the last decade. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will head to Yate Town Council in Avon for its annual study tour as part of its good practices initiative. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) calls on larger and smaller local (parish and town) councils to vote for the Larger Councils Committee and Smaller Councils Committee elections.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the government to tighten up the regulation of land management companies. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and the Local Government Association (LGA) held a joint event on 14 November 2023 that explored the role of local councillors.

Author: Cllr James Gleave, board member at Transport Planning Society and councillor at Flitwick Town Council 

Anyone who is a councillor knows that one of the things that is most often raised by the public is transport. Whether it be the lack of local buses or the state of the roads – people often have a lot to say. You may think that transport and highways is the responsibility of your County Council, Unitary Authority, District Council, Borough or Combined Authority. But believe it or not, even local (parish and town) councils can do a lot to help make the transport system better and decarbonise it at the same time.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) National Network: Young councillors met on 8 November 2023 to appoint its new co-chairs.

Author: Louise Marshall, senior public health fellow, and Bethan Page, public health speciality registrar, the Health Foundation

Thriving communities need all the right building blocks in place, including quality housing, stable jobs, a good education, and much more. Erosion of these building blocks causes instability in people's lives, reducing resilience to circumstances outside their control and increasing their risk of poor health.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has released extra tickets to its sold-out online event on winning strategies for the funding game which takes place on 15 December 2023.

Author: Chris Mewse, managing director of Parish Online

I have always been passionate about using technology to create something new and useful. I used to build software and websites in my spare time and loved looking through maps and atlases (no wonder I ended up with this career!). I’m proud that over the last 14 years, my team and I have built a reputation for providing trustworthy digital services, namely our Parish Online mapping software.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will speak at an event to explore how local (parish and town) councils can identify and plan action towards net zero and address nature depletion.

Author: Sally-Ann Beaver at director of Utility Aid 

In recent years, we have all seen energy costs fluctuate significantly, making it difficult for local (parish and town) councils to budget accurately. This can be especially problematic for smaller councils that may not have large reserves to fall back on if unexpected energy costs arise. By fixing energy costs, councils can plan their budgets with more certainty and have greater control over their expenses.

Author: Sam Hagen, digital marketer at the Water Hygiene Centre 

This blog looks at the considerations any local authority should make in determining how to appoint a contractor(s) to support them to ensure that water systems are free from microbiological contamination for those who use them.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) met with the Barclays Know Your Customer team and other senior Barclays representatives last week on 22 September 2023.

Local (parish and town) councils across England were successful bidders for the Community Ownership Fund.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) White Ribbon steering group discussed NALC’s plan for this year’s White Ribbon Day when they met on 4 October 2023.

The government has unveiled 55 towns that will benefit from a £1.1 billion levelling up investment as part of a long-term plan for towns that provide long-term investment in towns that have been overlooked and taken for granted.

Author: Katerina Sukstul, head of platform delivery and engagement at GoCollaborate 

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, local authorities find themselves at a crossroads, facing the dual challenges of engaging their communities effectively and adapting to the ever-increasing demands for transparency and participation in decision-making processes. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) attended the White Ribbon Conference at Villa Park in Birmingham on 26 September 2023.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) held an online event on engaging with local communities through digital engagement on 27 September 2023.

Author: Richard Stanford CB MBE, chief executive of the Forestry Commission  

With growing environmental pressures to tackle the climate and nature emergencies, never has it been a more important time to grow trees. The UK government and local authorities share a common goal to halt the decline in biodiversity by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.

On 25 November 2023, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will support White Ribbon Day to work towards ending violence against women and girls.

Author: Lauren Jones-Mullins, wildlife ecologist & beachwatch administrator at Marine Conservation Society

What do you think of when you hear the words ‘marine litter’? Rolling waves of plastic? Vast islands of waste in the middle of the ocean? Wildlife tangled in fishing net and eating plastic bags? Shocking images of the extent of pollution around the world have been brought into the public eye through Blue Planet 2, National Geographic, and even the Octonauts - but the reality is much closer to home. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the government to simplify the rules to protect hedgerows and give local (parish and town) councils a more significant role. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will attend party conferences throughout September and October 2023 to promote the local (parish and town) council sector.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has secured several amendments to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill at last week's Report Stage in the House of Lords.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) National Network: Women councillors met on 7 September 2023 to discuss the White Ribbon campaign, NALC’s White Ribbon accreditation and the Civility and Respect Pledge.

Author: Joanne Riddle, town clerk at Bingham Town Council 

After a challenging period of time for the council, the Local Council’s Award Scheme was considered as a positive way to provide residents reassurance that the council were not only meeting their responsibilities, but they were exceeding them and were striving to constantly improve. Staff know that the council meet the legal requirements expected of them and that they take their scrutiny role seriously, but after a negative time it can be difficult to change that view with the community.

The Joint Panel on Accountability and Governance (JPAG) met on 4 September 2023 to agree on its plans for updating the Practitioners Guide' for the 2024/25 financial year. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and the Local Government Association (LGA) have published their Corporate Peer Challenge report on Morecambe Town Council.

Author: Luke Lancaster, public affairs and campaigns officer for the Royal British Legion  

The Royal British Legion (RBL) recently launched Councillor Network. The aim is to enhance the support we provide to those who serve in local government. We welcome all elected representatives from every level of local government – including from local (town and parish) councils – to join.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) joined the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Rural Insight Forum on 25 August 2023.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has released extra tickets to its sold-out online event on empowering young voices in your community, which takes place on 25 October 2023.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) on 23 August 2023 met with Making Music, the UK's membership organisation for leisure-time music.

Stroud Town Council in Gloucestershire and Swindon North Parish Council in Wiltshire received funding from the government and the National Lottery Community Fund as part of the Million Hours Fund.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) National Network: Young councillors met on 31 August 2023 to discuss future network co-chairs, the support NALC can provide to young councillors, and creating a survey on the network.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and De Montfort University (DMU) have opened a survey for local (parish and town) councils and county associations on the 2023 local elections.

Author: Cllr Marianne Overton MBE, leader of the LGA Independent Group 

At a time when developments in digital technology mean that it’s possible to connect with friends and family located thousands of miles away in mere seconds, the importance of nourishing a local community and connecting neighbours has never been more important.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is working with The Parkinson Partnership LLP to update its 2019 Model Financial Regulations for England and Wales.

On 22 August 2023, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) launched the Coronation Living Heritage Fund for applications.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC), the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Royal British Legion (RBL) have published a joint letter to all councils regarding Remembrance events.

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

Author: Cllr Joe Harris, leader of the LGA Liberal Democrat Group 

In the complex web of local governance in England, one of the most vital and often overlooked institutions is the humble parish or town council.

Member of Parliament (MP) for South East Cambridgeshire, Lucy Frazer MP, met with Littleport Town Council to explore ways of improving youth provision across the area.

Author: Cllr Shaun Davies, chair of the Local Government Association (LGA) and former leader of the LGA Labour Group 

Along with being a Leader of Telford and Wrekin Council and the LGA Labour Group, it's been my real honour to be elected to the local councils that serve my ward; Lawley and Overdale Parish Council since 2019 and the Great Dawley Town Council since 2007, and Chair since 2011. I know first-hand the importance of our parish, town and community councils.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has released extra tickets to its sold-out online event on engaging with local communities through digital engagement, which takes place on 27 September 2023.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has created a new section on its website to help local (parish and town) councils in their local engagement with the planning system.

Author: Cllr Izzi Seccombe OBE, former leader of the LGA Conservative Group

I am delighted to have the opportunity to submit this essay explaining why I believe that parish and town councils matter. I am also looking forward to engaging in a wider discussion on these issues with colleagues from the other LGA political groups at the fringe session NALC is organising at the LGA Conference on 5 July 2023. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has moved closer to becoming White Ribbon accredited after its steering group met on 25 July 2023.