NALC showcases the vital role of parish and town councils at Labour Party Conference
We have attended the Labour Party Conference this week, highlighting the vital role parish and town councils play in communities across England and strengthening relationships with MPs, policymakers and local government partners.
At the heart of our presence was an interactive exhibition stand showcasing key facts about the sector, including the number of parish and town councils, council precepts and examples of the positive work being delivered by councils.
Our stand attracted significant interest throughout the conference, with MPs, party members and delegates stopping to find out more about the contribution parish and town councils make to community leadership, local services and grassroots democracy.
Our chair, Cllr Iain Hamilton, also took part in a councillor drop-in session hosted by Labour in Local and Regional Government, providing an opportunity to engage directly with councillors and representatives from across the local government sector
Throughout the conference, we met with attendees and representatives from partner organisations, helping to build stronger relationships and ensure the voice of parish and town councils is heard in discussions about the future of local government and communities.
It was also encouraging to see the devolution agenda remain firmly part of the prime minsters, Andrew Burnham MP, plans with a continued focus on giving communities and local government greater influence over the decisions that affect them. This creates important opportunities for parish and town councils, which are uniquely placed to bring local knowledge, community priorities and grassroots leadership into the wider devolution agenda.
The conference provided an important opportunity to raise the profile of the sector and showcase the breadth of work taking place at the grassroots.
With parish and town councils working every day to improve their communities, provide local services and give residents a voice in local decision-making, our presence reinforced their important contribution as a vital tier of local government.
