Policy Committee advances climate and planning priorities

Our Policy Committee met on 17 February 2026 to discuss several matters, including climate ethical pensions, planning applications and its work plan.

The committee considered a motion from the Gloucestershire Association of Parish and Town Councils on climate ethical pensions. The committee agreed on the principle that parish and town councils should be encouraged to consider climate ethical pension investments. The discussion underlined the growing interest across the sector in aligning financial decisions with climate responsibilities.

A motion from the East Riding and Northern Lincolnshire Local Councils Association called for greater flexibility for parish and town councils to make material comments on planning applications in their areas. While the committee supported the principle of strengthening the role of parish and town councils in planning, it agreed that pressing for a statutory extension of consultation periods from 21 to 28 days was unlikely to succeed. Instead, the committee promoted the inclusion of clear planning protocols within charters between parish and town councils and their local planning authorities as a more deliverable and impactful approach.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England joined the meeting to talk about a new parish and town council project currently in development. Working with the commission, we will facilitate further discussions with county associations and networks to ensure the sector can engage fully with the initiative.

The committee also approved its draft work plan for 2026/27, prioritising devolution, local government reorganisation and neighbourhood planning. Lancashire Association of Local Councils updated the committee on progress following the climate action motion adopted at our Annual General Meeting last year. Cllr Karri Davey (Lincolnshire representative) was appointed as the committee's representative on the Martyn's Law Steering Group.