NALC event examines finance, function and local government reform
Our latest event, Finance and Function: Powering up parish and town councils, brought together sector leaders to explore the changing local government landscape and the implications for parish and town councils. With new unitary authorities under financial pressure and national policy increasingly focused on neighbourhood area committees, the event showed how parish and town councils champion local voices, lead change, and secure essential services through community-led delivery.
Speakers included Helen Ball, clerk at Shrewsbury Town Council; Simon Edwards, chief executive at the County Councils Network; and Colin Poole, clerk at Haverhill Town Council. Through a series of presentations, participants gained practical insights into building effective partnerships with principal authorities and developing the confidence and tools needed to drive meaningful change in their communities.
Opening the event, Simon Edwards reaffirmed his strong belief in the vital role of parish and town councils as an integral part of local government. He explored local government reorganisation, arguing that well‑designed unitary authorities can operate strategically while leaving space for empowered parish and town councils to deliver genuinely local services. However, he warned that poorly designed reorganisation risks serious negative knock‑on effects, stressing the importance of respect for the local tier and describing parish and town councils as “an integral and full part of the local government family”.
Colin Poole followed by sharing findings from his academic research into asset and service transfers. He encouraged councils to learn from previous examples and to prepare early by assessing strengths and weaknesses, mapping assets, understanding risks and building capacity. Emphasising the dangers of waiting passively, he noted: “It’s far better to do this work now than wait for a financial crash.”
Closing the presentations, Helen Ball set out a live case study of devolution in practice at Shrewsbury Town Council. The council has taken on extensive street scene services and is now progressing towards libraries, museums and other non‑statutory services. Where funding was insufficient, the town council nearly doubled its precept, supported by clear and open communication with residents. While this relieved significant financial pressure on Shropshire Council, it also raised broader questions about fairness and consistency in areas without strong, capable town councils. As Helen observed, “Devolution is not a transfer – it’s a transformation.”
The event concluded with an interactive Q+A covering judicial reviews, local government reorganisation, support and training for taking on services, and the use of reserves. The message from the speakers was clear: parish and town councils must actively prepare, build capacity, and help shape future development, as waiting passively carries serious financial and service risks.
