NALC at the LGA Annual Conference 2026
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 7 and 9 July 2026 at the Bournemouth International Centre. We'll be exhibiting on Stand W4, hosting a fringe event (download the flyer), and supporting an Innovation Zone session. We'll share our report on what it means to be a 21st-century Councillor and spotlight the fantastic work that parish and town councils do nationwide.
Fringe event: What does it mean to be a 21st Century Councillor and Clerk?
We'll be holding a fringe event on 7 July 2026, between 18.15 and 19.05, in Tregonwell Hall Seminar Suites, Bournemouth International Centre, on what it means to be a 21st-century councillor and clerk.
What will tomorrow's parish and town councillors and clerks need to thrive in a changing local government landscape? As local government changes and the roles of councillors and clerks evolve, understanding the pressures they face and the opportunities ahead has never been more important.
Our interactive fringe session will feature the launch of a groundbreaking new report by the National Association of Local Councils, the Association of Democratic Services Officers, the Society of Local Council Clerks and the University of Birmingham, showcasing the latest 21st Century Councillor and Clerk research.
The report offers fresh, evidence-based insight into how these vital roles are changing and what support is needed to help them succeed in an increasingly complex landscape. Expect a lively, thought-provoking discussion and the chance to share your own perspectives.
Our expert panel features the chief executive officer of the Association of Democratic Service Officers, Charlotte Eisenhart, the chair of the Society of Local Council Clerks, Adam Keppel-Green, and the professor of public policy and public management at the University of Birmingham, Catherine Needham. Hosted by the acting editor of the Local Government Chronicle, Martin George.
Innovation Zone: Oswestry Town Council
We'll be supporting Oswestry Town Council at their Innovation Zone session on 7 July 2026, between 14.15 and 15.00, on Stage 2 at the Bournemouth International Centre.
Join this insightful session exploring how our Star Council Awards 2025/26 Council of the Year winner, Oswestry Town Council in Shropshire, helped drive regeneration, economic vitality, and community transformation through projects including the restoration of a Grade I listed building, an empty property grant scheme, and innovative collaboration. The session will examine the opportunities and challenges of working with principal authorities, provide insight into devolution from the parish and town council perspective, and showcase what creating a better community means in practice through partnerships, income generation, and future-focused planning.
