News

New rules have been introduced at the beginning of this year in the effort to improve water quality and reduce pollution.

The planning system is unfair. It is one of the few decision-making processes that gives no right of appeal to affected third parties.

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

Jonathan Owen, chief executive of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) said: "This is a bittersweet budget for councils at all levels with positive steps forward on devolution countered by a further reduction in spending on public services.

National Association of Local Councils (NALC) in partnership with the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) and the Association of Drainage of Authorities (ADA) welcomes that the Government has committed to continue supporting the multi-million pound ‘transparency fund’ to help thousands of small parish councils meet new audit and transparency rules and join the digital age.

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

HRH The Prince of Wales today (22nd February 2016) saw first-hand the results of an innovative online tool that supports communities to influence the quality of new development.

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

NALC is supporting the ‘Clean for the Queen’ campaign, which aims to clear up litter from all our communities in time for Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday.

Parliament celebrated some of the best parish and town councils in the country this week with a cross-party group of MPs and Peers calling for more power to be devolved from Whitehall to England’s town and village halls.

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

NALC has welcomed the publication of Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd (PSAA) Corporate Plan for the period to 2018. The Plan sets out how the company will discharge the functions delegated to it by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which include managing audit contracts originally let by the Audit Commission and supporting a smooth transition to the new audit regime introduced by the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.

Today (29th January), NALC has re-launched its Direct Access Scheme.

 A campaign to ‘parish’ all of England received a huge boost yesterday (27 January). As dozens of communities from across the country gathered in Birmingham at a meeting organised by the National Association of Local Councils.

Councillor Kevin Wilson is the new chairman of the Larger Councils' Committee of NALC.

Members of the House of Lords have been told that the government’s flagship Housing and Planning Bill has not been sufficiently ‘rural proofed’ to assess its impact on rural areas.

At a time when the Government is pushing ahead with new devolution plans to move power from Whitehall to local communities, there are huge opportunities for local people to become local leaders. Whether helping an area to survive the harsh economic climate, protecting services that are under threat, or providing the events, culture and fun that puts the heart into each local community – town and parish (local) councils have never had a better opportunity to make a difference.

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

[To all parish and town councillors in England]

Dear Councillor,

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is one of the 47 organisations taking part in a campaign to celebrate the value of our trees and woods and secure their future by creating a new Charter for trees, woods and people.

NALC would like to encourage all local (parish and town) councils to take part in this year’s celebrations of HM Queen’s 90th Birthday by lighting Beacons in her honour.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Civic Societies will host a meeting in Parliament on 27 January 2016. The event is themed around the future of the historic environment and how communities can play a greater role in effective heritage protection.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) would like to congratulate individuals from the local (parish and town) councils sector on being recognised in the New Year’s Honours list.

A new edition of Notes on Neighbourhood Planning has been published, filling you in on all the latest neighbourhood planning news and recent updates.

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy has published advice on setting up audit panels.

This week, we would like to recognise a fantastic ‘all-rounder’ and a council that like many around the country, works tirelessly to improve the lives of its community often with little recognition or acknowledgement.

The government is not proposing to extend referendum principles to parish and town councils.

Lord Taylor of Goss Moor is to be the new president of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC).

The Smaller Authorities Audit Appointments (SAAA) board  appointed its first ever chair and board members. 

A new dynamic and exciting leadership team will lead the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) in 2016 as it sets the direction in furthering the development of localism and devolution for local (parish and town) councils and communities.

Sprowston is an urban settlement to the north of Norwich, separated from the city by the outer ring road. It has a population of approximately 15,000 and the town council has a total precept of just over £500,000 with a budgeted income of £644,000.

People and trees are stronger together – but our nation’s woods and trees are facing unprecedented pressures. They risk being neglected, undervalued and forgotten. We need to act now before trees disappear from our story.

Fields in Trust, has announced the winners of its 2015 Awards. Hosted by BBC sports and news broadcaster Ore Oduba at Lords Cricket Ground, the Awards celebrate the achievements of Fields in Trust and its partners, who have worked over the last year to ensure that everyone has access to protected outdoor recreational space.

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

National Association of Local Councils' (NALC) Communities Can conference on 2 December 2015 showed how local (parish and town) councils are using regeneration to play a role in the economic development of their town centres in a time of financial challenges and opportunities.

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

This week we are celebrating the recent achievemnt of Bishop Auckland Town Council – the first in County Durham to receive official "Dementia Friendly" status recognition from the Alzheimer's Society.

Parishes across Buckinghamshire are being urged to work together and more closely with the county council to serve residents. 



While this is a challenging spending review for local government, it is encouraging to see measures aimed at supporting devolution, however the devil will be in the detail.

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

This week’s council of the week is Westfield Parish Council in Avon, the first council in the county to be awarded the Local Council Award Scheme Quality Award.

The government confirmed that there must be a role for parishes and communities within combined principal local authorities devolution deals.

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

It has been an exciting twelve months for Necton Parish Council. A village of just over 2,000 residents, situated in West Norfolk, Necton has eight elected councillors and employs a part-time clerk and village handyman.

The government's minister for the 'northern powerhouse’, James Wharton MP, will address a cross-party group of MPs and Peers.

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

National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Annual Conference held from 27 October 2015 to 28 October 2015, saw a direction for putting local (parish and town) councils and communities more in control of how their lives are run and public services delivered to them.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has announced the winners for its Star Councils Awards.