NALC calls for county associations to be at the heart of local government reorganisation
We are urging the government to place county associations at the centre of local government reorganisation, ensuring their expertise directly shapes the future of new unitary authorities.
In response to several government consultations on local government reorganisation, we have made a clear case that county associations must be recognised as key partners and included as full members of Joint Implementation Teams responsible for designing and delivering new governance structures.
Drawing on extensive engagement over the past year, county associations have built a detailed picture of the priorities, challenges and ambitions of parish and town councils. This insight is indispensable to creating reforms that genuinely reflect the needs of local communities.
We are also calling for parish and town councils to be embedded in the process from the outset, which includes ensuring new councils are considered early in the design of unitary authorities, not as an afterthought, but as a fundamental part of the local government landscape.
We have further set out a clear position on governance arrangements, opposing the creation of new Charter Trustees and advocating for the abolition of existing ones. Instead, we are calling for stronger, more constructive relationships between parish and town councils and their future unitary authorities. Where charters already exist, Joint Implementation Teams should focus on building and enhancing these partnerships.
At the heart of our message is the role that parish and town councils already play as local leaders. From tackling climate change and supporting high streets to addressing the cost of living and improving community safety, they are delivering practical solutions on the ground for residents of all ages.
We also stressed that adequate resources must back meaningful devolution. Mechanisms such as the Community Infrastructure Levy will be essential to ensure communities, particularly in rural areas, can thrive under new arrangements.
As local government reorganisation gathers pace, our message is clear: reforms will only succeed if they are shaped with, not for, the parish and town councils that know their communities best.
