NALC to help the development of the new Office for Local Government

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) are helping develop the new Office for Local Government (OFLG).

The OFLG aims to increase transparency, foster accountability, and use data to improve local government performance. While principal authorities are the current focus of this body, its data themes are social care, waste, finance (reserves) and adult skills. Local (parish and town) councils are not in the remit. However, NALC having a seat at the table provides an opportunity to help shape the regime to benefit communities and ensure the sector’s interests are not overlooked.

One of NALC’s objectives is to be a strong national voice for the sector, which includes raising the sector’s profile to the government and other national bodies so that they understand the importance, role, and potential of local (parish and town) councils.

NALC achieves this by engaging with parliament and meeting with ministers and civil servants. For example, NALC is on several government policy forums which bring stakeholders together, such as the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and its communities partnership board, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) insight forum and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) forum.

NALC will continue to provide further updates and information when they become available.