News

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) held an excellent national council meeting last week at Westminster Central Hall with presentations from senior Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) officials on the new transparency arrangements and community rights providing the opportunity for councillors to get their views across on these important issues.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has backed two tier local government in its latest contribution to the UK devolution debate, calling for the creation of unitary principal authorities coupled with the establishment of new parish councils.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) held their first meeting on 20 March 2015 following the agreement of a new protocol between the two key national bodies representing local council staff and councillors.

Frome Town Council and the Frome Twinning Association have received £26,000 funding from the EU to host a renewable energy conference in March 2016. The funding stream is part of a new approach to Twinning and aims to bring together experts and decision-makers from Frome, and its three twin towns in France, Germany and Poland, to share knowledge and best practice.

Communities Minister, Stephen Williams MP has confirmed new measures that will make it far easier for communities to set up new local (parish and town) councils giving them a greater say in how their local neighbourhood should be governed.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has secured a multi-million pound package of funding from Government to help smaller parish councils meet new audit and transparency rules.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) gave a warm welcome to the Government’s idea of extending the jurisdiction of the Local Government Ombudsman to some parts of the local (parish and town) councils sector.

With two town councils and one shadow parish council involved in the Neighbourhood Community Budget pilots – the forerunner to the Our Place programme and totalling 12 areas across England – the parish sector has been involved right from the outset in a new approach to bringing the community together to shape public services.

Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) have published the consultation on extending the Ombudsman to larger town and parish councils.

The government is toasting the first-ever Community Pubs Day with an announcement of measures designed to bolster the Great British Pub and protect it for future generations.

The Government held its National Planning Summit on 2 March 2015, which saw a range of speakers from government minister, Brandon Lewis MP to the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) chief executive, Jonathan Owen.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) published its Spring 2015 edition of its flagship magazine, LCR (Local Council Review), on 23 March 2015.

You have powers to make a difference in your area - saving local pubs, shops and community centres. Support and grants for developing your area through neighbourhood planning and building for your community are available, help with owning and managing local land and buildings, running services and boosting the local economy opens on 1 April 2015. The My Community website offers a range of resources, advice and grants and to connect with others on the My Community Network.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is supporting the 800th anniversary sealing of Magna Carta on 15 June 2015. NALC is asking local (parish and town) councils, communities and people to take a moment to celebrate, debate and reflect on those rights which we can often take for granted, but which people throughout history have campaigned to make happen or fought to preserve.

A new powerful alliance of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and Civic Voice has called on all political parties to make a firm manifesto commitment to introduce a community right of appeal into the planning system.

The Government has published a new guide on the changes and key requirements of the new local audit and accountability regime for local (parish and town) councils from 1 April 2015.

Local (parish and town) councils should be given a new legal right to be consulted on local transport licences, according to a national committee charged with promoting new sustainability powers at grassroots level.

The move is backed by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and would see local councils have more say over licensing applications from vehicle operators such as local taxi firms.

More than 730 Commonwealth Flags will be raised in locations throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK Overseas Territories, and Commonwealth countries and on 9 March 2015 – Commonwealth Day 2015.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) announced on 27 February 2015 that it will once again be running an awards programme this year, as part of its work to recognise the achievements of the local (parish and town) council sector.

Communities Minister, Stephen Williams MP announced on 18 February 2015 a new £6m funding boost to the Community Rights programme.

The boost to the Community Rights programme will give even more people greater control and influence over what happens locally.

15 February 2015 saw the premiere of the television adaption of JK Rowling's Casual Vacancy, which shows divisions in a community played out around a fictional parish council.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) thinks one of the points of the plot about different parts of a local community trying improve people's lives via a parish council is a right one.

Rural communities could miss out on public and private sector digital services because parts of this country are not ready with high quality or any decent broadband, a cross-party Parliamentary group on Broadband has warned.

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Local Democracy heard on 11 February 2015, how the variable states of broadband across the country is causing problems for rural business, councils, communities and people.

The National Association of Local Council (NALC) is to hold its first ever 'lobby day' aimed at promoting local (parish and town) councils to Members of Parliament.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has welcomed steps by the Government to update rules governing referendums on local issues but has warned against an increase in costs which could burden taxpayers and hike up council tax bills.

Over 500 local (parish and town) councils have already registered with the Local Council Award Scheme since its launch on 6 January 2015. We have been pleasantly surprised by the interest in the scheme so far and look forward to having even more registrations from councils across the country. This is strong testimony to Local Councils commitment to improving, pushing themselves to meet the challenges faced by the their communities and the whole local government family.

The Government has confirmed that it will continue to fund England's network of rural community councils.

National Association of Local Councils' (NALC) Larger Councils' Committee (LCC), has called this week for several changes to government legislation to give local (parish and town) councils a fairer deal.

The first of these changes is a call to remove the viability clause on affordable housing, from Section 106 of the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) wishes to congratulate the most recent graduates of the Community Governance programme. Community Governance is one of the highest qualifications designed for people working in Local Councils, and is part of the National Training Strategy.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has announced that seven new town, parish and community councils have been set up, as part of its New Councils Programme that has been running since 2013.

The programme is funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and follows changes in legislation in recent years that make it easier to set up Local Councils.

More than 5000 people have signed a petition against proposals to withdraw government funding from England's 38 rural community councils.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) welcomes the Electoral Commission’s recommendations to modernise the rules around standing for election and to make them clearer and fairer. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is supporting a national campaign to get as many people in the UK to register to vote ahead of May's general and local elections.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has led a delegation to meet with Local Government Minister Kris Hopkins MP this week to press for fair funding for parish and town councils in next month’s local government finance settlement.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) welcomes the Government’s moves to make a law that allows local (parish and town) councils to be able to send agendas electronically rather than in the post; ending a budgetary burden on councils and enabling them to benefit from 21^st Century technology.

Communities up and down the country are being urged by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) to get their voices heard and run local services through neighbourhood democracy.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has today launched its Local Council Award Scheme, supported by the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) and the Local Government Association (LGA) and developed following consultation with county associations and NALC's member councils.

A little feedback has gone a long way for Sarah Pengelly, Town Clerk at Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council, the lucky winner of this year’s conferences and events survey prize draw. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has asked the Government to think again about its opposition to giving local (parish and town) councils a percentage slice of the business rates under the Sustainable Communities Act (SCA).

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is calling for the Government to help local (parish and town) councils through local government finance after a finance settlement statement was made from the Department of Communities and Local Government on Thursday 18 December 2014.

The Government has published the final version of this Code which replaces the need for external audit for parish councils with turnover less than £25,000. The code will require the on-line publication of information which the Government says will provide taxpayers with a clear picture of the council's' activities, spending and governance and will improve the ability of communities to hold local public bodies to account.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) welcomes and supports many findings of the parliamentary select committee for Communities and Local Government on planning.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is calling on all County Associations of Local Councils with parish and town councils to follow the example of the Hampshire Association of Local Councils (HALC) by forging closer links with local Rotary Clubs.

Responding to the command paper 'Implications of Devolution for England' presented to Parliament by the First Secretary of State and Leader of the House of Commons, National Association of Local Councils (NALC) chairman, Cllr Ken Browse said: "Today's command paper on the implications of devolution for England is a welcome step forward in giving more power to local people and putting communities in control of their areas.

The Rural Services Network has published its manifesto ahead of the 2015 General Election, calling for a fairer deal for rural England.

The department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) has informed the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) that the appropriate sum for the purpose of section 137(4)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 (the 1972 Act) for parish and town councils in England for 2015-16 is £7.36 per elector.

Tackling the rural housing crisis The Rural Housing Alliance and Rural Services Network have launched a new guide promoting affordable rural homes.

Parish and town councils are improving accountability for public money according to a new report by the Audit Commission.

LCR (Local Council Review), the flagship magazine of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has been published on 10 December 2014.

LCR is NALC’s high-quality, glossy quarterly publication with in-depth articles and features offering you advice and good practice, along with regular spotlights on parish and town councils and top tips information to help assist you with the real issues affecting local councils and communities. 

Re-elected chair and two vice-chairs will lead the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) in 2015 as it takes the lead in furthering the development of localism for every local (parish and town) councils and communities, after elections held on 9 December 2014.

Frome Town Council has just been recognised as the ‘Most Proactive Public Body’ in the whole of the South West, making it an obvious candidate for our 'Council of the Week' slot.