NALC publishes its quarterly activity report
We have published our quarterly activity report covering January to March 2026.
The quarterly activity report details progress on delivering our strategic plan, including information on critical internal issues, parliamentary and government affairs, events, finances, media coverage, publications, and legal advice. It features updates from across all our teams, organised by theme.
This quarter's report summarises the organisation’s strategic direction and significant milestones during the reporting period. Key highlights include:
- Hosting several governance meetings, including the Management Board, Smaller Councils Committee, Policy Committee, Scrutiny Committee, National Assembly and Larger Councils Committee.
- Collecting feedback from attendees on whether events met their expectations, were engaging, and whether they would recommend NALC events to others. Results included: Mastering Asset Management (90%), Beyond the Precept: Funding solutions for smaller parish and town councils (92%), Future Leaders: Attracting young talent to parish and town councils (100%), The Housing Puzzle: putting parish and town councils at the heart of the solution (96%).
- Responding to 19 government consultations on local government reorganisation across the country.
- Holding our parliamentary reception at the House of Lords on 24 February 2026, which included our Star Council Awards. Winners included Sarah Haydon from Biddulph Town Council as Clerk of the Year; Corsham Town Council as Climate Response of the Year; Cllr Connor Mulhall of Wetherby Town Council as Young Councillor of the Year; Gloucestershire Association of Local Councils as County Association of the Year; Cllr Jonathan Dryland from North Cerney Parish Council as Councillor of the Year; and Oswestry Town Council as Council of the Year.
- Our chair, Cllr Iain Hamilton's meeting with Miatta Fahnbulleh MP to set out a clear case for a stronger role for parish and town councils in the future of local government and devolution.
- Holding our Westminster Forum, where peers backed key amendments to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill ahead of its report stage, including community governance reviews in new unitary authority areas and extending the General Power of Competence to all parish and town councils.
- Publishing a collection of devolution case studies highlighting parish and town councils that have already engaged with devolution in practice.
- Unveiling three new councillor stories as part of the Make a Change: Become a Councillor campaign.
- Working with Connect Public Affairs to launch a new Engaging Parliament Toolkit, designed to help parish and town councils and county associations strengthen their engagement with MPs and other parliamentarians.
- Publishing the latest 2026/27 edition of the Practitioners' Guide, which provides important updates for authorities preparing annual governance and accountability returns for financial years starting on or after 1 April 2026.
- Celebrating parish and town councils accredited under the Local Council Award Scheme, with four councils achieving the Gold Award, four achieving the Silver Award, and six receiving the Bronze Award.
The subsequent report covering April to June 2026 will be published in July 2026.
