House of Lords votes in favour of NALC-backed amendment to devolution bill
We are delighted that peers in the House of Lords have voted in favour of a major amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, aimed at strengthening parish governance across England. Amendment 214 was agreed by 257 votes to 180, marking a significant moment in the bill's passage and a clear endorsement of the role of parish and town councils within England's evolving devolution framework.
The amendment, developed with our strong backing and our Westminster Forum, would require the secretary of state to produce a national strategy for parish governance. It would set out guidance for principal authorities on identifying areas suitable for new parish and town councils and promote best practice in their establishment and ongoing support, helping to ensure a more consistent and effective national approach to neighbourhood governance. The amendment was tabled by our vice-president, Baroness Scott of Bybrook.
Speaking in support, Lord Shipley warned against decision-making drifting further from communities as larger authorities are created, highlighting an "upwards drift" and stressing that parish and town councils' knowledge and democratic role must not be lost. Other peers also made supportive contributions throughout the debate, underlining the importance of parish and town councils in local democracy and calling for stronger engagement within emerging governance structures.
We are disappointed the government opposed the amendment, arguing that existing community governance review processes already provide a route for the creation of new councils and cautioning that a national strategy could undermine local discretion and flexibility. While resisting the amendment, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage repeatedly emphasised the government's support for the sector, stating that ministers "understand and value the very important role that parish [and town] councils across England play in their communities" and recognising their proximity to, and understanding of, local priorities.
However, supporters of the amendment challenged the government's position. Baroness Pinnock highlighted that without active encouragement and clearer guidance, many principal authorities do not pursue new parish arrangements, resulting in uneven outcomes across the country. Peers from across the House stressed that parish and town councils form the most local and accessible tier of democracy, particularly important as unitary authorities cover wider geographic areas and increasingly diverse communities.
We were also pleased that elsewhere in the debate, peers from across the house reinforced the importance of parish and town councils as the foundation of local democracy. Contributions highlighted their role in representing communities, particularly as larger unitary authorities are created, and warned that without stronger recognition, they risk being overlooked despite their vital contribution to local governance. We also welcomed an amendment from Baroness McIntosh of Pickering on remote council meetings to improve flexibility and access. The government agreed in principle but rejected the amendment, promising future legislation, and it was withdrawn.
The bill will now proceed to Third Reading in the House of Lords before returning to the House of Commons for consideration of Lords' amendments.
