AUTHOR: JONATHAN OWEN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS
Amidst all the current manifesto talk there is a frisson of excitement in the world of think tanks which is highly relevant to our movement, especially our largest ‘super’ local (parish and town) councils, about the concept of ‘community power’.
AUTHOR: DANIELLE FROST, HEALTH AND WELLBEING OFFICER AT THE ESSEX ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS
The health and wellbeing movement is fundamental to Essex County Council’s strategic plan and they understand that to be successful, they need the local council sector to engage with it. Local (parish and town) councils are the closest layer of government to residents and can have the greatest impact on residents’ lives, from beginning to end.
CRISPIN TRUMAN OBE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT RURAL ENGLAND
Standing in the High Weald in Kent recently, I’d been hearing about the multitude of problems the local area faces, with the pressures of development, degradation of nature, the finances of farming and the decline in traditional forms of community and participation.
NALC has taken the opportunity to use the challenges of Brexit and local government funding reductions to undertake a stocktake of where the sector is now, how it sees itself and its future, and how others perceive it and view its potential. NALC want this big conversation to help develop a new vision for the role of local (parish and town) councils and the support and change needed to achieve this.
Organised by the Local Government Association, #OurDay is an annual tweetathon that gives everyone who works or volunteers in public services the chance to share their stories of how they improve the quality of life of their residents. And it’s really easy to get involved – simply tweet us @NALC using the #OurDay hashtag with your local council’s top achievements from 2017. NALC want to know anything you have done to benefit your community. Remember, images and videos help tell your story so make sure you tweet them out too! Do also sign up to the #OurDay thunderclap which will help get the hashtag trending. NALC be playing our part by tweeting out case studies from throughout the year. If you’ve already decided to get involved please let NALC know at: . If you’re not on Twitter yet, here are some simple tips to help signing up, so you can get involved!
NALC's A prospectus for ultra-localism sets out our positive offer to the government. It outlines how we can help the next government realise its ambitions for community empowerment, localism and devolution. It also arms the next government with a range of policy ideas to unlock the power and potential of communities by helping local councils flourish.
