NALC calls for a stronger role for parish and town councils in local government reorganisation

We have called for parish and town councils and county associations to have a stronger role in local government reorganisation.

In response to the government’s consultation on proposals for local government reorganisation in Surrey, we stressed that parish and town councils and county associations must be involved from the very start of the process to create new unitary authorities, with county associations being full members of the Joint Implementation Team establishing any new unitary authority.

We called for the creation of new parish and town councils in currently unparished areas and the abolition of existing Charter Trustees. We urged early consultation with parish and town councils whenever assets or services are at risk of withdrawal, allowing communities to take them on. We emphasised that any transfer of responsibilities must be backed by adequate funding, such as access to the Community Infrastructure Levy.

We also called for the government to consider proposals from the Surrey Association of Local Councils on structural recommendations between parish and town councils and new unitary authorities, and between parish and town councils and area committees.