A new constitutional settlement for all of the UK

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) on 19 September 2014 is calling for a new constitutional settlement for all of the UK after yesterday’s referendum vote in Scotland.

NALC believes with the English question, devolution and localism firmly on the agenda, that it is time to bring more powers and local democracy to all communities in the United Kingdom. So NALC is calling for a new constitutional settlement for the UK and for local (parish and town) councils to be fully considered as part of these discussions.

NALC supports calls for an urgent meeting of the Constitutional Convention to speed up the process of English devolution to cities, towns, villages, neighbourhoods and communities. We stress the importance that all parts of local government and community life is represented at these meetings.

Cllr Ken Browse, chairman of NALC, comments that: “We must have a new constitutional settlement with stronger local democracy, fairer financial funding, and more powers in localities. Town, community and parish councils have a key role to play in the ending of the UK’s democratic deficit. We want to see the wholesale creation of local parish and community councils across the UK.”