NALC welcomes government plans to strengthen the role of local councils

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has welcomed the government's announcement for plans to strengthen the purpose and role of local (parish and town) councils across the country, including a commitment to make it easier to set up new local councils.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published its new Communities Framework, which sets out the government's vision for active citizenship and helping people build stronger and thriving communities. 

Through the consultation earlier this year – and its place on the government’s Communities Partnership Board – NALC has actively promoted the role of England’s 10,000 local councils in supporting the communities agenda, pressing for financial, legislative and capacity-building support to help councils build stronger communities.

Cllr Sue Baxter, chairman of NALC, said: “I am delighted the government’s new Communities Framework rightly recognises that local councils play an important role as our most local level of democracy in building strong communities.

“I particularly welcome the commitment to champion the important work of local councils and explore opportunities to strengthen their purpose and role across the country. And to reform to the process of setting up new councils through updating and strengthening guidance, a measure we have called for.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the government to take this agenda forward, including developing these proposals further as part of the development of a communities white paper.”