NALC Annual Conference puts parish and town councils at the heart of local government reform

Our Annual Conference brought together parish and town councils from across England on 24 June 2026 to explore how they can play a leading role in the future of local government. As devolution gathers pace and communities face increasing challenges, speakers agreed that parish and town councils have an increasingly important role in ensuring local voices continue to shape local decision-making.

Opening the conference, our chair, Cllr Iain Hamilton, highlighted the changing landscape and the vital role parish and town councils play in supporting and representing their communities.

Setting the tone for the day, our keynote speaker Baroness Taylor of Stevenage outlined what the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 means in practice and reaffirmed the government's commitment to neighbourhood governance. She said. "As councils become larger, we must make sure that local voice is not lost […] it's people who are close to communities that understand them the best."

That message was reinforced throughout the conference as speakers explored both the opportunities and the responsibilities that come with a greater role for parish and town councils.

Case studies from Bridgwater Town Council and Northampton Town Council demonstrated the contrasting experiences of local government reorganisation. While Bridgwater Town Council has successfully expanded its services and assets, Northampton Town Council shared lessons from the challenges of asset transfers and relationships with its principal authority. Both councils agreed that early engagement and clear planning are essential. Northampton Town Council's clerk, Stuart Carter, advised parish and town councils to "Get what you want from the start". At the same time, Cllr Brian Smedley of Bridgwater Town Council added, "Devolution works best when you have proper local knowledge, adequate staff, and you're in control of your own finances."

The conference also highlighted the practical impact that parish and town councils can have within their communities. Exmouth Town Council shared its journey from declaring a climate emergency to delivering meaningful local action. Exmouth Town Council's clerk, Lisa Bowman, encouraged parish and town councils to focus on achievable progress, saying, "We're starting to see that those small actions are creating ripples and we're gaining real traction across the community."

Attention then turned to planning reform, with speakers emphasising the importance of local knowledge in shaping sustainable development. CPRE chief executive Roger Mortlock warned against focusing solely on housing numbers, saying, "The answer is social and affordable homes that people want to live in close to their resources and their families". The Society of Local Council Clerks planning advisor Andrew Towlerton reinforced the value of parish and town councils, noting, "If anything, it's more important that you've got a town or parish council than if you haven't got one."

As parish and town councils take on greater responsibilities, the final session focused on the governance needed to support that growth. The Smaller Authorities' Audit Appointments chief executive, Annie Child, highlighted the limits of external audit, stating, "You should view that as a floor rather than a ceiling". While the Smaller Authorities Proper Practices Panel chair Alan Mellor stressed the importance of robust internal audit, saying, "You should ensure that you've got proper and proportionate internal audit checks". Local Councils' Network director James Hood challenged parish and town councils to embrace the opportunities ahead, commenting, "The challenge for you is to make the case […] to be a big player in driving forward hyper-localism."

Closing the conference, our chair, Cllr Iain Hamilton, reflected on a day that demonstrated both the opportunities and the responsibilities facing parish and town councils. The discussions reinforced a clear message that as local government evolves, parish and town councils have a central role to play in strengthening local democracy, championing their communities and shaping the future of neighbourhood governance.