News

Media Watch is a weekly round-up of the latest major stories about the local (parish and town) council sector.

More than 730 Commonwealth Flags will be raised in locations throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK Overseas Territories, and Commonwealth countries and on 9 March 2015 – Commonwealth Day 2015.

This week we would like to celebrate the work of Bembridge Parish Council, a small council serving a large village on the Isle of Wight.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) announced on 27 February 2015 that it will once again be running an awards programme this year, as part of its work to recognise the achievements of the local (parish and town) council sector.

Media Watch is a weekly round-up of the latest major stories about the local (parish and town) council sector.

This week we would like to celebrate the work of Welsh Newton and Llanrothal Group Parish Council in Herefordshire.

Welsh Newton and Llanrothal Group Parish Council is quality council serving this local community in the county of Herefordshire. When we say 'quality' council we do not just mean in the usual way but that they have achieved this status in the sector's landmark benchmark scheme of Local Council Award Scheme.

Communities Minister, Stephen Williams MP announced on 18 February 2015 a new £6m funding boost to the Community Rights programme.

The boost to the Community Rights programme will give even more people greater control and influence over what happens locally.

Media Watch is a weekly round-up of the latest major stories about the local (parish and town) council sector.

15 February 2015 saw the premiere of the television adaption of JK Rowling's Casual Vacancy, which shows divisions in a community played out around a fictional parish council.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) thinks one of the points of the plot about different parts of a local community trying improve people's lives via a parish council is a right one.

This week we would like to celebrate the work of Thatcham Town Council in West Berkshire.

Rural communities could miss out on public and private sector digital services because parts of this country are not ready with high quality or any decent broadband, a cross-party Parliamentary group on Broadband has warned.

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Local Democracy heard on 11 February 2015, how the variable states of broadband across the country is causing problems for rural business, councils, communities and people.

Media Watch is a weekly round-up of the latest major stories about the local (parish and town) council sector.

This week’s Council of the Week has been selected for its strong leadership, dynamism and imaginative approach to community-based initiatives. 

The National Association of Local Council (NALC) is to hold its first ever 'lobby day' aimed at promoting local (parish and town) councils to Members of Parliament.

New research conducted by National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Smaller Councils' Committee shows that it is not just counties and districts that are sharing services and saving money. Many of England's smallest parish councils – often with less than 6,000 electors - are doing so too and improving services as a result. This trend is becoming increasingly important as those councils acquire new services and responsibilities from upper tier councils.

Media Watch is a weekly round-up of the latest major stories about the local (parish and town) council sector.

This week’s Council of the Week has been selected on the basis of its innovative and impressive approach to partnership working, brought to our attention through last year’s WW1 centenary. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has welcomed steps by the Government to update rules governing referendums on local issues but has warned against an increase in costs which could burden taxpayers and hike up council tax bills.

Media Watch is a weekly round-up of the latest major stories about the local (parish and town) council sector.

Over 500 local (parish and town) councils have already registered with the Local Council Award Scheme since its launch on 6 January 2015. We have been pleasantly surprised by the interest in the scheme so far and look forward to having even more registrations from councils across the country. This is strong testimony to Local Councils commitment to improving, pushing themselves to meet the challenges faced by the their communities and the whole local government family.

The Government has confirmed that it will continue to fund England's network of rural community councils.

National Association of Local Councils' (NALC) Larger Councils' Committee (LCC), has called this week for several changes to government legislation to give local (parish and town) councils a fairer deal.

The first of these changes is a call to remove the viability clause on affordable housing, from Section 106 of the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act.

We would like to give Maplestead Parish Council the top spot this week, in recognition of its hard work and achievements, with limited budgets and resources. 

Media Watch is a weekly round-up of the latest major stories about the local (parish and town) council sector.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) wishes to congratulate the most recent graduates of the Community Governance programme. Community Governance is one of the highest qualifications designed for people working in Local Councils, and is part of the National Training Strategy.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has announced that seven new town, parish and community councils have been set up, as part of its New Councils Programme that has been running since 2013.

The programme is funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and follows changes in legislation in recent years that make it easier to set up Local Councils.

More than 5000 people have signed a petition against proposals to withdraw government funding from England's 38 rural community councils.

This week we would like to shine a light on one of the very first councils to be accredited under the new Local Council Award Scheme. 

Danbury Parish Council participated in our pilot last year and was awarded Quality Gold Status on 6 January 2015 when the scheme launched. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) welcomes the Electoral Commission’s recommendations to modernise the rules around standing for election and to make them clearer and fairer. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is supporting a national campaign to get as many people in the UK to register to vote ahead of May's general and local elections.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has led a delegation to meet with Local Government Minister Kris Hopkins MP this week to press for fair funding for parish and town councils in next month’s local government finance settlement.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) welcomes the Government’s moves to make a law that allows local (parish and town) councils to be able to send agendas electronically rather than in the post; ending a budgetary burden on councils and enabling them to benefit from 21^st Century technology.

This week, we’d like to celebrate the work of a Parish Council in the small village of Sibbertoft, which sits on the Northamptonshire and Leicestershire borders, to the north east of Daventry. 

Media Watch is a weekly round-up of the latest major stories about the local (parish and town) council sector.

Communities up and down the country are being urged by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) to get their voices heard and run local services through neighbourhood democracy.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has today launched its Local Council Award Scheme, supported by the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) and the Local Government Association (LGA) and developed following consultation with county associations and NALC's member councils.

This week’s Council of the Week, the last of 2014, was nominated by the Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC) and has been chosen in recognition of its many and recent achievements.

Stone Parish Council has an excellent track record of success, which has been sustained on the foundation of sound management and a genuine vision for its community in an area that certainly does not lack demanding challenges due to economic pressures.

A little feedback has gone a long way for Sarah Pengelly, Town Clerk at Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council, the lucky winner of this year’s conferences and events survey prize draw. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has asked the Government to think again about its opposition to giving local (parish and town) councils a percentage slice of the business rates under the Sustainable Communities Act (SCA).

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is calling for the Government to help local (parish and town) councils through local government finance after a finance settlement statement was made from the Department of Communities and Local Government on Thursday 18 December 2014.

The Government has published the final version of this Code which replaces the need for external audit for parish councils with turnover less than £25,000. The code will require the on-line publication of information which the Government says will provide taxpayers with a clear picture of the council's' activities, spending and governance and will improve the ability of communities to hold local public bodies to account.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) welcomes and supports many findings of the parliamentary select committee for Communities and Local Government on planning.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is calling on all County Associations of Local Councils with parish and town councils to follow the example of the Hampshire Association of Local Councils (HALC) by forging closer links with local Rotary Clubs.

Media Watch is a weekly round-up of the latest major stories about the local (parish and town) council sector.

Responding to the command paper 'Implications of Devolution for England' presented to Parliament by the First Secretary of State and Leader of the House of Commons, National Association of Local Councils (NALC) chairman, Cllr Ken Browse said: "Today's command paper on the implications of devolution for England is a welcome step forward in giving more power to local people and putting communities in control of their areas.

The Rural Services Network has published its manifesto ahead of the 2015 General Election, calling for a fairer deal for rural England.

The department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) has informed the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) that the appropriate sum for the purpose of section 137(4)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 (the 1972 Act) for parish and town councils in England for 2015-16 is £7.36 per elector.

Dunkerton Parish Council (DPC) has been selected as 'Council of the Week' in recognition of the drastic improvements that have been made, following the Parish Planning process for improvement. Over recent years DPC has made a successful transition from being paper driven to paperless.  It has become almost unrecognisable through new ways of working and notably more efficient and inclusive.  

Tackling the rural housing crisis The Rural Housing Alliance and Rural Services Network have launched a new guide promoting affordable rural homes.

Parish and town councils are improving accountability for public money according to a new report by the Audit Commission.