Smaller-sized parish and town councils take the lead in shaping sector priorities

Our Smaller Councils Committee came together in London on 14 April 2026 to discuss the impacts on smaller parish and town councils across England. With strong interest from across the sector, the committee agreed that making it easier for councils to share their stories is a priority. We will develop a simple, practical template to help councils submit their own case studies.

Planning reform was high on the agenda, with the committee hearing from the Society of Local Council Clerks' national planning advisor, Andrew Towlerton. He highlighted the importance of the updated National Planning Policy Framework, helping the committee better understand what the changes could mean for communities and how parish and town councils can engage effectively in the planning process.

The committee shared valuable on-the-ground perspectives on local government reorganisation, with updates from Norfolk, Northumberland, Lancashire, Oxfordshire and Suffolk highlighting both challenges and opportunities for smaller parish and town councils navigating change.

The committee also looked ahead to national policy developments, such as the King's Speech and Martyn's Law, and heard updates from our national network for micro councils.

The meeting underlined the vital role smaller parish and town councils play in their communities and our continued commitment to ensuring their voice is heard, supported and championed at the national level.