NALC at the LGA Annual Conference 2025
Every year, we attend the Local Government Association Annual Conference to discuss the local government sector with principal authorities, engage with other organisations, and increase the visibility of parish and town councils. This year, we will attend between 1 and 3 July 2025 at the Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool. We'll be exhibiting on Stand C45, hosting a fringe event, and supporting an Innovation Zone session. We'll share our Did You Know Flyer with attendees, spotlighting the fantastic work that parish and town councils do nationwide.
Fringe event: Power shift — Stronger parish and town councils in the age of devolution and reorganisation
We'll be holding a fringe event on 2 July 2025, between 17:15 and 18:15, in Hall 1C at the Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, on the topic of stronger parish and town councils in the age of devolution and reorganisation.
Join us at this must-attend fringe event to explore the vital role of parish and town councils in devolution and the future of local government. With the English Devolution White Paper and local government reorganisation presenting new opportunities and challenges, this session will examine how communities can be at the heart of decision-making, place shaping, and service delivery.
Community-level councils are uniquely placed to deliver services, drive engagement, and champion grassroots participation. As devolution evolves, their potential to support growth, enhance accountability, and offer tailored solutions for communities must not be overlooked. Yet a reset of local relationships is vital for effective partnerships.
This timely panel discussion will feature key voices from central and local government, as well as the community sector, offering insights into partnerships and practical steps to empower communities. Attendees will hear from sector leaders and case studies on innovative approaches to devolution and relationship-building.
But just how can efficiencies in service devolution and asset management be realised? How are principal authorities engaging with parish and town councils, and what can be done to improve this engagement? How do you remove the barriers to effective communication and partnership? Join us for drinks and canapés to discuss these questions and more in a dynamic session with our expert panel.
Speakers include Alex Norris MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Cllr Louise Gittins, the chair of the Local Government Association and Sally Longmate, the chief executive officer at Suffolk Association of Local Councils. The event is hosted by Paul Marinko, deputy editor at The Municipal Journal.
Innovation Zone: Falmouth Town Council
We'll be supporting Falmouth Town Council at their Innovation Zone session on 2 July 2025, between 16:30 and 17:00, on IZ Stage 3 at the Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, exploring the changing role of parish and town councils through unitary creation.
Join this insightful session exploring how our Star Council Awards Council of the Year, Climate Response of the Year and Clerk of the Year finalists Falmouth Town Council has successfully navigated organisational change following the shift to a unitary authority. Discover the strategies they employed, the lessons learned, and how partnership delivery mechanisms have strengthened local service provision. This session offers valuable takeaways for councils undergoing or anticipating local government reform.
Speakers include Richard Gates, town manager and deputy property officer at Falmouth Town Council and Mark Williams, clerk of Falmouth Town Council.
