News

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.  

Author: Cllr David Francis, chair of NALC's Policy Committee 

It is sometimes said that democracy can only be achieved through the ballot box and that making co-options is a failure of the democratic process. However, this need not be the case, and co-options can be a positive tool. Arguably, every local (parish and town) council benefit from having a mix of councillors drawn from various backgrounds. They are capable, enthusiastic, and engaged in reflecting on their communities.

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) met with Barclays last week to highlight the ongoing poor banking services local (parish and town) councils are experiencing, especially in rural areas.

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.

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.

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.

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) 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.

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.

Author: Lee​ Cleaver, sales development account broker at BHIB Councils Insurance

With King Charles III’s Coronation set to take place on 6 May 2023 and a one-off bank holiday announced for 8 May 2023, we know that local (parish and town) councils will be key to bringing our local communities together to celebrate.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Smaller Councils Committee recommends that councillor training be a part of the Local Council Award Scheme's criteria following the committee meeting on 21 February 2023. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has created a new section on its website to help local (parish and town) councils support their community through the cost-of-living crisis.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) attended an event about levelling up in South and East Lincolnshire at the House of Lords on 21 February 2023.

Author: Cllr Andy Snape, Town Mayor, Flitwick Town Council

Part of NALC's #MakeAChange campaign, NALC’s LGBTQ+ National Network was set up in June 2021, bringing LGBTQ+ councillors together to share ideas and inspire change in our local communities.

1,000 local (parish and town) councils have signed up for the Civility and Respect Pledge.

Dr Paul Behrens joins the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) as a guest speaker for the first National Network: Climate emergency meeting of the year on 14 February 2023.

The Civility and Respect Project has launched a new suite of e-learning courses for local (parish and town) councils.

Author: Kate Groves, Marketing Manager, Eden Project Communities 

Following the recent announcement from Buckingham Palace, we are delighted to share that this year's Big Lunch will take place on 6-8 May, as part of the celebrations for the Coronation.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the House of Lords to make essential changes to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to ensure local (parish and town) councils play their part in levelling up and improving local communities.

Michael Gove MP confirmed on 7 February 2023 that local (parish and town) councils would not be subject to the council tax referendum principles in 2023/24.

The president of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), Baroness Scott of Needham Market, met in parliament with the faith and communities minister, Baroness Scott of Bybrook.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has joined the Better Planning Coalition. 

Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE, parliamentary under secretary of state (Faith and Communities) at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, has written to NALC's chair, Cllr Keith Stevens, about the King's Coronation and the vital role of local (parish and town) councils in the celebrations.