NALC AGM puts parish and town councils at the heart of place-making and devolution
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 12 November 2026 put place-making firmly in the spotlight, highlighting the vital role parish and town councils play in shaping their communities and why they must be at the heart of England's devolution settlement.
The keynote presentation was by Ian Harvey, the head of the Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University, who helped shape the government's High Street Strategy. While welcoming its recognition of the importance of active local leadership, he argued that it does not go far enough because it fails to address capacity at the level where parish and town councils operate.
He highlighted the potential of the sector, telling attendees, "I think you are a huge partner to deliver this place-making agenda". He also offered to work with NALC to ensure their research can help strengthen our lobbying and campaigning.
The AGM also heard inspiring examples of place-making in action from two award winners.
Cllr Rosie Radford from Oswestry Town Council, our Star Council Awards 2025/26 Council of the Year, shared how its High Street Heritage Action Zone has helped deliver 11 new homes, reinstate 16 shopfronts and bring five empty retail spaces back into use. The council is also taking on street cleaning responsibilities from Shropshire Council. It has secured planning permission and a further National Lottery grant to save a Grade I listed building in the town centre. Reflecting on the importance of local identity, she reminded attendees that "people fall in love with places, not governance structures".
West Monkton Parish Council, named Small Council of the Year in the Somerset Association of Local Councils Star Council Awards, was represented by their chair Cllr Stuart Haskins and clerk Amy Shepherd. They explained how the council negotiated changes to its Section 106 agreement to secure the transfer of land and funding, enabling it to deliver new cricket, rugby and pump track facilities at Hyde Park Sports Ground. Its wider work includes a Lottery-funded project at the country park and an expanded Community Fridge and Garden, developed with local primary school children, which saved more than 15,000kg of food in a year. The council also leads a youth project involving nine councils, runs a warm and cool hub and hosts regular community cafés supporting play, bereavement and wider community needs.
Building on these examples, the AGM debated and approved a National Assembly motion calling on the government to recognise parish and town councils as the community building blocks of England's devolution settlement and ensure they are embedded in place-making decision-making. A further motion from the Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils, calling for parish and town council representation on strategic authorities, was also supported.
Alongside the place-making debate, the AGM confirmed a number of important appointments and organisational matters. These included the appointment of Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle as our new president, the receipt of the annual report and accounts, and agreement on affiliation fees for 2027/28, set at 8.8 pence per elector, capped at £2,274 for the largest parish and town councils. The AGM approved the appointment of Price Bailey LLP as our new external auditor.
The AGM also paid tribute to chief executive Jonathan Owen, who will retire in March 2027, thanking him for his outstanding 12 years of service and the significant contribution he has made to the sector.
