The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has revealed details for its Health and Wellbeing Week in October, as part of the Rebuilding Communities online event series.
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The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has begun a review of the Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS) criteria.
Housing secretary, Robert Jenrick MP has today announced funding to help communities in urban and deprived areas plan their local neighbourhoods will almost double.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has clarified to the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) the eligibility of local (parish and town) councils for the business grants which are in place to support small businesses cope with the impact of COVID-19.
The Transport Planning Society and the Royal College of Arts have announced a new major research project working with Biggleswade Town Council in Bedfordshire, Lyme Regis Town Council in Dorset and Haltwhistle Communitiy Partnership in Northumberland.
Bill Grimsey (formerly of Iceland and Wickes) will join NALC's online event, Leaders’ talk: Building back stronger communities on 25 August 2020.
Cornwall Council are set to be the first principal council in England to pass on government funding and provide financial support for local (parish and town) councils impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Affordable Housing Commission (AHC) has published a report on making housing affordable after COVID-19.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has written an article for the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) on the measures needed to let local (parish and town) councils continue to play a vital role for their communities during the pandemic.
The Joint Panel on Accountability and Governance (JPAG) has written a letter to practitioners' clarifying a range of queries since the publication of the Practitioners' Guide early this year.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) today has united with the Local Government Association (LGA) to urge the government to keep planning local as better areas and homes can only be achieved through a local planning system with public participation.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) today announced a new online event series that will focus on the theme of rebuilding communities.
The government has confirmed local (parish and town) councils are not included in their latest financial support package for local government, with district and unitary councils still expected to help them with funding.
The County Councils Network (CCN) has published a report on the financial impact of COVID-19 on principal authorities.
Locality has published a major report on the response of community organisations to the COVID-19 crisis.
Yesterday a number of national bodies with interests in play NALC (National Association of Local Councils), SLCC (the Society of Local Council Clerks), The Play Safety Forum (PSF), Association of Play Industries (API) & The Register of Play Inspectors International (RPII) met with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to discuss the current government guidance. All involved were delighted by the enthusiasm shown for the provision of play, with it having huge mental and physical benefits to young people particularly at a time when their abilities to enjoy play outside of their homes have been curtailed during the current crisis.
The new funding package for local government must be precisely that, a plan for all tiers of local government, which includes helping local (parish and town) councils impacted through lost income such as car parks, museums, and community and cultural assets.
AUTHOR: DAVID PRESTON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF NABMA
Markets have been an important feature of many towns for over a thousand years. Currently, there are around 1,150 regular traditional retail markets, and almost 80% of them are operated or licensed by local authorities. But coming out of lockdown this situation might soon change unless local authorities support their markets.
The chairman of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), Cllr Sue Baxter, has made strong representations directly to a local government minister, Simon Clarke MP, on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on local (parish and town) council finances, urging him to introduce a financial support package.
AUTHORS: IMOGEN SMITH, SENIOR PROJECT OFFICER AT COMMUNITIES PREPARED AND PHILLIP VINCENT, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER AT ACRE
As the outbreak of COVID-19 has demonstrated, unexpected events can and do happen, threatening the way of life we have become accustomed to. Sometimes the impact on individuals and the services that support them can be severe, with recovery taking months, if not years. This can be particularly felt by rural communities which are typically not well served by public infrastructure and services. In response we - Communities Prepared and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) - have published a new guide to help rural communities become more resilient to a range of emergencies, from floods to pandemics, by supporting them to plan ahead.
Eighteen months after the Committee on Standards in Public Life reported to the Prime Minister on improving ethical standards in local government, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has been pleased to have worked with the Local Government Association (LGA) to take forward the recommendation to develop an updated national model code of conduct for all tiers of local government. This is an important measure NALC called for and proposed to the committee.
The New Local Government Network (NLGN) has published findings from its May 2020 Leadership Index survey.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) today has launched a new publication on website accessibility requirements.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has teamed up with Team Doctor to offer local (parish and town) councils access to workplace-related resources.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has today published its new edition of Points of Light, which showcases the excellent work of local (parish and town) councils in building stronger communities.
The Royal College of Art and the Transport Planning Society are seeking communities and organisations that are planning for the futures of our communities. They want to help communities to ensure resilience in dealing with complex social, economic and environmental challenges.
AUTHOR: AMY COBBETT, BUSINESS AND RURAL AFFAIRS ADVISER AT THE NATIONAL FARMERS' UNION
With the outbreak of COVID-19, we are in an unprecedented time of change and challenges. In order for rural communities and businesses to successfully navigate the difficulties presented by COVID-19, it is important to work together to best support these areas during this trying time. This piece briefly outlines some ways that local (parish and town) councils can work alongside the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and farmers to ensure the best possible outcome for rural businesses.
As we move to a new phase of the coronavirus pandemic, I want to express my thanks for all your hard work and dedication over the last few challenging months.
This summer, for the first time in its 10-year history, The Big Lunch will become The Big Virtual Lunch, and the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is encouraging local (parish and town) councils to run events online, on the phone and doorsteps on the weekend 6-7 June 2020.
The former retailer, Bill Grimsey, is seeking input from local (parish and town) councils to his rapid review on the impact of Covid-19 on high streets and town centres.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is making the Spring edition of its flagship magazine, LCR, available to read online.
AUTHOR: THE REVEREND DR MARK BETSON, NATIONAL RURAL OFFICER AT THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
One of the very positive things to come out of the current global crisis is the resilience of local communities. I work as the National Rural Officer for the Church of England and part of my role is to keep in to try to keep in touch with the 10,000 of our 16,000 churches that inhabit the countryside. The story from them has largely been the same across the country with village communities developing locally based schemes to support the vulnerable and encourage everyone.
Today the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has published its report on local (parish and town) council elections after undertaking the first national research of its kind.
Local (parish and town) councils across England are galvanising their staff and volunteers to take action and look after the most vulnerable in their communities during the coronavirus pandemic.
AUTHORS: VARIOUS STAFF AT NALC
Like so many organisations, NALC moved quickly to homeworking for all staff due to the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, as part of NALC's business continuity planning most staff began working from home prior to the government advice to stop unnecessary travel and to work from home where possible. NALC staff reflect on the last few months, swapping the NALC office to their home office.
AUTHOR: GARETH ELLIOT, HEAD OF POLICY AND COMMUNICATIONS AT MOBILE UK
Patchy mobile coverage is one of today’s real concerns as the world becomes ever more connected. In the UK, many of the rural areas currently get only partial coverage or none at all. Ofcom’s most recent data states that 91% of the country receives 4G coverage from at least one operator and 66% from all four. Having good mobile coverage is widely recognised as being essential for the future prosperity of the rural economy and rural communities. People increasingly want the flexibility to work from home, and many sectors such as farming, tourism and transport are using mobile connectivity to increase productivity and improve services. Happily, the industry and the Government agreed on an unprecedented deal on 9th March 2020 that will extend coverage and eliminate the vast majority of partial not-spots coverage by all four operators.
The Great British Spring Clean has decided to postpone its annual event due to the ongoing coronavirus situation.
The Ramblers has launched a campaign to build a growing movement across the country to uncover and save generations of lost paths and hidden ways before it is too late.
The new chancellor of the exchequer, Rishi Sunak MP, has set out in his first budget a plan to support public services, individuals and businesses that may be affected by the coronavirus.
AUTHOR: STUART WILBUR, MICROSHADE VSM
Microshade VSM works in close co-operation with cybersecurity experts to ensure the safety of local (parish and town) councils' data. We wish to share this information with the sector that has given to us.
Members of Parliament have proudly supported their local (parish and town) councils by taking part in the National Association of Local Councils' (NALC) Lobby Day in parliament.
Hullbridge Parish Council in Essex has an estimated population of over 7,000 with a precept of £165,240 and 13 locally elected councillors. The council is also accredited with the Quality Gold Award under the National Association of Local Councils’ (NALC) Local Council Award Scheme.
AUTHOR: ANGE JONES, AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES MANAGER AT THE CENTRE FOR AGEING BETTER
An Age-friendly Community is a place where people of all ages are able to live healthy and active later lives. It involves local groups, councils, businesses and residents all working together to identify and make changes in both the physical and social environments. This could be anything from transport and outdoor spaces to volunteering and employment or leisure and community services.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and the University of Plymouth (UoP) are to undertake ground-breaking research on dementia in local (parish and town) councils.
Ric Holden MP has supported the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) long campaign to end the dreaded toilet tax.
Rishi Sunak MP, who did an exclusive interview with the National Association of Local Councils' (NALC) magazine, LCR, has been appointed as the new chancellor following a shock move in the cabinet reshuffle.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has addressed a commission looking at the future of local government, calling for a levelling up of local democracy to boost community power through the establishment of local (parish and town) councils across the whole country.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) announces today that Olivia Butterworth and Anna Calderwood from NHS England and Clare Pelham from the Epilepsy Society will speak at its Spring Conference on 17 March 2020. This year’s theme is health and wellbeing and is aimed at larger local (parish and town) councils.
With climate change one of the biggest global threats we face and extreme weather events more frequent and more severe, the Property Flood Resilience Roundtable (PFRR) has launched the Property Flood Resilience Code of Practice.