Policy Committee considers future engagement on strategic authorities

Our Policy Committee met on 5 May 2026 to discuss a range of policy issues affecting parish and town councils.

The committee considered a motion from the Staffordshire Parish Councils Association on strategic authorities but agreed not to adopt it. Instead, the committee agreed to explore further engagement on the relationship between parish and town councils and strategic authorities, highlighting good examples in Sussex.

The strategic youth voice lead the National Youth Agency, Esther Horner-Aird, spoke about the organisation's position on proposals in the government's Representation of the People Bill to lower the voting age to 16 and 17-year-olds at future elections.

The committee also heard updates on several key pieces of legislation, including the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, the Representation of the People Bill, the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, measures outlined in the King's Speech 2026 and local government reorganisation.