News

The leadership teams of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) held their latest catch-up meeting at NALC’s new office in Bloomsbury, London, on 27 April 2023.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) attended The Rural Coalition meeting on 26 April 2023.

Author: Nikki Bugden, parish clerk at Nash Mills Parish Council

Why apply?

We all have reasons for applying for the NALC Local Council Award Scheme.

It might be that you want to evidence to your communities the standards that you adhere to as a council, it might be to maintain your own CPD, and it might just be that you are so proud of what you and your team have achieved that you want to receive sector approved accreditation to reflect it.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has published an updated edition of The Good Councillor's guide to employment. The publication provides advice and information on crucial employment areas for councillors to improve their employees' work and benefit their communities.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has launched a new online event on demystifying the role of local councillors, taking place on 26 July 2023. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) LGBT+ councillors national network appointed new co-champions at an online meeting on 24 April 2023. 

The Avon Association of Local Councils is looking for a chief officer to join their team.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has released extra tickets to its sold-out online event on fighting climate change with local (parish and town) council action, which takes place on 24 May 2023.

The Smaller Authorities' Audit Appointments (SAAA), on 19 April 2023, announced its new board and published a report on the results of the auditor's work 2021/22.

Author: Iain Lynch, town clerk at Farnham Town Council  

This week the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) launched its Star Council Awards 2023, the only awards in England that recognise local (parish and town) councils' contributions to their communities. The long-running awards celebrate local councils, councillors, young councillors, clerks, and county associations' positive impact on their communities. We look back at the 2021 Council of the Year winner, Farnham Town Council.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has opened nominations for its Star Council Awards 2023 to celebrate the achievements of the local (parish and town) council sector.

This week, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) urged the government to refrain from opening the floodgates with permitted development rights in response to the government's consultation. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has announced the latest Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS) results.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is working with Cloudy Foundation Enterprise Academy to produce a new app to help NALC manage the Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS) administration.  

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) convened the National Employment Strategy Steering Group meeting on 17 April 2023.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) attended the Co-operative Party Rural Commission Report launch on 17 April 2023, which calls for strengthening local (parish and town) councils to address the challenges rural communities face.

Authors: Kim Lowes, parish councillor and community pantry lead and Sophie Taylor, clerk and responsible finance officer at Coxhoe Parish Council

The parish of Coxhoe and Quarrington Hill is not alone in feeling tested by rising costs.  As a parish council, we do our utmost to respond to the needs of residents, including taking a proactive approach to difficult financial times.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) call for evidence on the Infrastructure Levy after the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLHUC) issued a consultation.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) receives answers to written questions submitted to the House of Lords.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) seeks writers for Good Councillor's guide series.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has announced a new partnership with GoCollaborate.  

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) seeks panel members for its Local Council Awards Scheme.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) provided workstream updates to its National Assembly on 4 April 2023. 

Pucklechurch Parish Council is surveying councillors with non-visible disabilities as part of a dissertation for the De Montfort University Community Engagement and Governance course.

Author: Daniel Purchese, co-director at Breakthrough Communications 

As local (parish and town) councils are the closest level of government to their communities, it is essential for them to communicate effectively and strategically. In 2023, with the increasing reliance on technology and social media and the fact that councils are providing more services than ever, effective communication is essential in supporting effective governance.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Make A Change champion Cllr Anita Collier has been featured on Mumsnet. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) agreed at the Policy Committee meeting on 28 March 2023 to lobby the government on thresholds for local (parish and town) councils.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) teamed up with Communities Prepared and Cullompton Town Council to deliver its latest online event on emergency planning on 29 March 2023.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) met with Barclays last week to highlight the ongoing poor banking services local (parish and town) councils are experiencing, especially in rural areas.

Author: Nicola Swanborough, head of external affairs at the Epilepsy Society  

If someone at your council meeting – maybe a fellow councillor or a public member – had a seizure, would you know what to do?

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) attended The Big Help Out launch on 20 March 2023. 

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published information on council tax levels set by councils in England for the financial year 2023/24.

Morecambe Town Council is the latest council to participate in the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) peer review in partnership with the Local Government Association (LGA).

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has published the Joint Panel on Accountability and Governance (JPAG) 2023 edition of the Practitioners' Guide.

Author: Lucy Knight, customer care and communications specialist at Utility Aid   

On 9 January 2023, the government announced introducing a new Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS), which will run from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. This will replace the previous Energy Bills Relief Scheme that provided a discount to all eligible organisations (which ends on 31 March 2023).

National Association of Local Councils (NALC) president Baroness Ros Scott of Needham Market and vice-president, The Earl of Lytton, championed local (parish and town) councils in the House of Lords Committee Stage of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

Author: Amy Knox, project officer (gender), Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK)

On Wednesday evening, I was one of 150 women who joined the Parliament Project for the “Women in local (parish and town) council – What is it and can I do it?” workshop.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Larger Councils Committee agreed that councillor training should be mandatory following the committee meeting on 28 February 2023.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is proud to announce that it has achieved Cyber Essentials certification, demonstrating its commitment to protecting its members' data and business operations against cyber threats.

Henley-On-Thames Parish Council is looking for an account & finance manager to join their team.

The BBC has informed the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) that it will allow public events to show the King’s Coronation without needing a TV license. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has added a new online event on fighting climate change with local council action, which takes place on 24 May 2023.

Author: Duncan Hayes, marketing and communications manager at the Right to Build Task Force 

The government funds the Right to Build Task Force to support local authorities working to deliver custom and self-build homes. Find out more about the benefits of this route to delivery on the NALC-hosted event: Tackling the housing crisis the local way with custom and self-build homes on 15 March 2023.

Today, 8 March 2023, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) celebrates International Women's Day, a global day celebrating women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. 

Lee Rowley MP, parliamentary under secretary of state in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognised the importance of local (parish and town) councils at the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Standards Matter conference on 3 March 2023.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has written an essay for Localis as part of their essay collection on where local government finance will be in 2030.

This week, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) urged the government to keep planning local in response to a significant national consultation. 

The Civility and Respect Project has published its March edition of the Civility and Respect newsletter.