NALC and Boundary Commission strengthen partnership to push for stronger local voice in boundary reviews

We recently met with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE), where we reaffirmed our joint commitment to working together to ensure parish and town councils and their communities have a strong voice in future electoral and boundary arrangements.

The commitment followed a recent meeting between our chair, Cllr Iain Hamilton, and LGBCE chair, Bev Smith, where we discussed the importance of effective engagement with the parish and town council sector and opportunities for closer collaboration between the two organisations.

With the local government landscape continuing to change, the meeting highlighted the importance of ensuring electoral and boundary arrangements reflect local communities, identities and circumstances.

Bev Smith, a former parish councillor, highlighted the valuable insight parish and town councils can provide to the LGBCE during its reviews. Their local knowledge and close connections with residents can help build a clearer understanding of how communities work in practice and ensure local circumstances are properly considered.

Cllr Hamilton stressed the importance of meaningful and early engagement between parish and town councils, county associations, principal authorities and the LGBCE throughout the review process. This will help ensure the sector is well informed, able to contribute effectively and that local knowledge is reflected in decisions affecting communities.

We discussed the changing landscape of local government and the implications this could have for future electoral and boundary arrangements.

We both agreed to build on their existing relationship by strengthening communication, sharing information and identifying further opportunities to work together in the months ahead.

Closer collaboration will help parish and town councils engage effectively with future reviews and ensure the voices, identities and interests of local communities remain at the heart of decisions about how they are represented.