NALC puts parish and town councils centre stage at the LGA Annual Conference
This week, we attended the Local Government Association (LGA) Annual Conference in Liverpool to raise the profile of parish and town councils and the wider sector.
Throughout the conference, we spoke to attendees eager to learn more about how parish and town councils support communities and respond to devolution and local government reorganisation. Our joint exhibition stand with the Society of Local Council Clerks provided an excellent platform to highlight best practices, exchange ideas and connect with dedicated councillors from across the country.
As part of the conference programme, we hosted our fringe event, Power Shift: Stronger Parish and Town Councils in the Age of Devolution and Reorganisation, drew a room of over 150 attendees and brought together a panel of leading voices, including Alex Norris MP, LGA chair Cllr Louise Gittins, Suffolk Association of Local Councils chief executive Sally Longmate, and deputy editor of The Municipal Journal Paul Marinko.
The discussion addressed the fast-moving and often unclear nature of local government reorganisation and devolution. The panel stressed that while parish and town councils face challenges in navigating this complexity, they remain vital to local democracy, offering trusted leadership rooted in the communities they serve.
Alex Norris MP emphasised this unique local role, saying: "I think there's something wonderfully British about the fact that there are 100,000 people who choose when they could do everything else in their busy lives, to go out in the evening and take what is often a very difficult thing to do - take leadership in your community."
The panel made clear that as power and resources shift from Westminster to local areas, strong relationships between parish and town councils and principal authorities are more crucial than ever. Parish and town councils must be given better support, clearer communication, and a real voice in shaping the future of local governance.
In the Innovation Zone, we supported Falmouth Town Council in delivering a compelling session that left standing room only. They explored the role of parish and town councils in the wake of unitary authority creation, highlighting how councils are adapting to structural reforms, taking on new responsibilities, and responding to evolving community needs. Attendees came away with practical strategies and fresh insights to support councils undergoing or anticipating similar changes.
Falmouth Town Council has emerged as an innovative leader in localism, empowered by devolution and guided by a strong commitment to serving its community. A key factor in their success has been early and sustained communication with residents, local project leaders, and unitary authority partners. The session highlighted the resilience, innovation and growing influence of parish and town councils within the wider local government system.
Over three days, we connected with a wide range of local leaders, policy experts and councillors. The conversations were insightful and energising, reinforcing our belief in the essential role that parish and town councils play at the heart of local democracy.
Thank you to the LGA for hosting us, to our brilliant speakers and to everyone who stopped by our stand. The future of local government is changing, and parish and town councils are ready to lead.
