The National Association of Local Councils has highlighted the vital role of local (parish and town) councils in supporting high streets in towns and small cities.
In response to the government's Built Environment Committee inquiry into high streets in towns and small cities, NALC provided examples of the work local councils are doing to support high streets, including organising community events, improving the public realm, employing town centre managers and town rangers, managing public toilets, holding markets, investing in communications and funding CCTV cameras.
NALC also called for local councils to be given a more significant role in the redevelopment, aesthetics, and conservation of high streets, with direct access to funding programmes and the extension of the general power of competence to cover all local councils.
The Built Environment Committee inquiry seeks to understand how high streets can be regenerated to be more resilient and attractive.