NALC event explores strategies to enhance representation in parish and town councils
We held our latest event on 26 March 2025, which examined how parish and town councils can attract a more diverse range of candidates as councillors.
The panel featured Shuwanna Aaron, chief executive of Queens Park Community Council, Simon Kaye, director of policy at Reform Think Tank, and Tamsin Hewitt, leadership adviser at the Local Government Association (LGA).
Shuwanna Aarron explained how Queens Park Community Council leveraged established networks to promote upcoming elections. The council offered support and enhanced understanding of its roles and activities by mapping out key community stakeholders and hosting informal meetings. This approach fostered stronger relationships within the community and ensured that residents were well-informed about the council and how they could get involved by the time the elections arrived.
Simon Kaye stressed the importance of providing parish and town councils with greater resources to dispel the perception that they lack the tools, capacity, and funding to drive meaningful change in areas that matter to residents. He also hoped the government would learn from successful examples within the parish and town council sector. Furthermore, Simon advocated for smaller councils to collaborate more effectively, coordinating their efforts to maximise impact, and suggested that establishing new councils in urban areas should be made simpler and easier.
Tamsin Hewitt highlighted the LGA's Be A Councillor campaign, which focuses on raising public awareness, collaborating with principal authorities to organise local events, and partnering with civic organisations that engage with communities. She also emphasised resources the LGA had produced, including an employer-employee guide that outlines the benefits of being a councillor and employees' rights regarding time off for council meetings and a guide to help break down barriers to office for disabled people. Tamsin went on to explain how to amplify the campaign, how LGA has conducted paid and organic social media promotions, hosted events in collaboration with partner organisations, and, for the first time this year, has paid for radio advertisements.
