The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) National Network: Young councillors met on 31 August 2023 to discuss future network co-chairs, the support NALC can provide to young councillors, and creating a survey on the network.
The network agreed to have co-chairs to help lead, shape, and run the network meetings, which will give more responsibility to network members to drive its direction. The new co-chairs will be appointed at the next meeting.
The network discussed how NALC can help young councillors. Cllr Lewis Anderson (Horninglow & Eton Parish Council) suggested that NALC should provide a handbook or guide for new young councillors to guide them through their time in office, and was backed by the network. Cllr Hannah Williams (Oakham Town Council) added that a simplified document detailing the basics of local (parish and town) councils could be provided, including acronyms and explanations. Another popular idea is to create a mentoring programme to partner new, young councillors with more experienced councillors.
The network supported NALC's proposal to create a survey to collect feedback on the network, which is being developed and will be circulated in the coming months.
The network will meet next on 8 November 2023.