NALC calls on Labour to support the creation of new local councils

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has called on the Labour Party to support the creation of new local (parish and town) councils as part of their devolution agenda for England.

NALC spoke to a fringe event and drew attention that some principal authorities were blocking the process of creating a new local council by having the final say in the outcome.

Strengthening local governance and trusting communities to tackle the problems they face are among the pledges in the Labour Coast and Country's A Manifesto for 2019.

Cllr Sue Baxter, chairman of NALC, said: "NALC will continue working with the main political parties to promote the role local councils play in building stronger communities. Several new local councils are being created each year due to community demand and local government reorganisation. But all too often communities in both towns and cities – such as Bexhill in East Sussex and Spitalfields in Tower Hamlets – are being denied a local council. It deprives local people of the opportunity to take back control and serve the community. In effect meaning grassroots local democracy is for the few, and not the many."

NALC was attending the party conference in Brighton to promote the measures needed to support localism and help local councils build active communities that are cohesive, healthy, safe, sustainable and prosperous.

Labour Coast and Country hosted the fringe event.