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National Association of Local Councils

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National Association of Local Councils
AbbreviationNALC
Founded1947
Area served
England
Chief executive
Jonathan Owen
Chair
Cllr Keith Stevens
Websitehttps://www.nalc.gov.uk

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is a membership organisation representing the interests of local (parish and town) councils in England.[1] NALC works in partnership with county associations and the Society of Local Council Clerks to support, promote and improve local councils. One Voice Wales is the equivalent body covering community and town councils in Wales.[2]

Established in 1947, by Charles Arnold-Baker, after leaving the Admiralty Division, he accepted a post as secretary of the National Association of Parish Councils. He transformed this body into the union of all rural local councils in England and Wales, the National Association of Local Councils.

NALC is run on a democratic structure.[3] Local councils are members of NALC and their county association. Each county association appoints one elected councillor from their local councils to sit on National Assembly. National Assembly is responsible for the appointment of NALC committees, as well as the management and conduct of NALC.

A local council is a universal term for community, neighbourhood, parish and town councils.[4] They are the first tier of local government and are statutory bodies.

NALC provide a national voice for local councils across England.[5] They campaign on their behalf, raise awareness of their work and provide them with a range of services to support their needs. In July 2024, NALC called for greater powers for town and parish councils, greater funding opportunities and the promotion of civility and respect [6]

They provide several services:

  • Campaigning –  lobby for the issues that are important to local councils and communicate those views to the government and a range of influential organisations in the private, charity and public sectors.
  • Legal, accounts and audit advice – Written, telephone and digital advice from NALC solicitors.
  • Publications – Guides on being a good councillor, employer, finance and transparency, neighbourhood planning and a range of toolkits.
  • Conferences, events and training.
  • Publicity – Raise the profile of local councils and the sector beyond a regional level
  • Media – Guidance on how to deal with a media crisis, how to deal with reporters and media outlets and writing a media policy.
  • Standards, awards and recognition[7]

NALC also provides the Secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Local Democracy, currently co-chaired by Cherilyn Mackrory MP for Truro and Falmouth, and Richard Holden MP for North West Durham.

The head office is based at 109 Great Russell Street[8] in Bloomsbury, central London.

Star Council Awards

[edit]

In 2015, NALC launched an annual awards programme to recognise the work of the sector. The award categories have varied slightly over the years, each is an "of the year" award i.e. 'Councillor of the Year'

2015[9]
Council Councillor Young Councillor County Association Project Chair Clerk Local Council Project Council Worker Digital Communications
Frome Town Council Derek Ailes. Chrishall Parish Council Alex Collier, Cottenham Parish Council Hertfordshire Jane Saltmarsh, Woodham Ferrers and Bicknacre Parish Council Debra Roberts, Feock Parish Council Oswestry Town Council Allan Moffat, Bracknell Town Council Stone Parish Council


2016/17
Year Council Councillor Young Councillor County Association Project Clerk Local Council Project
2016[10] Oswestry Town Council Helen Ogden, Westerham Town Council Sarah Cursons Leighton-Linslade Town Council Dorset Susan Wilthew, Chippenham Town Council Condover Parish Council
2017[11] Halewood Town Council Mike Brownlow, Bruton Town Council Kellie Hinton, Henley on Thames Town Council Kent Mark Williams, Falmouth Town Council Barrow Gurney Parish Council
2018-2023
Year Council Councillor Young Councillor County Association Project Clerk
2018[12] Northwich Town Council Nick Penny, Coleford Town Council Mellissa Boyden Asfordby Parish Council West Sussex Jayne Cooper Gnosall Parish Council
2019[13] Woughton Community Council Sarah Williams Bridport Town Council Daniel Thomas Much Wenlock Town Council Northamptonshire Donna Ford Midsomer Norton Town Council
2021[14][15] Farnham Town Council Matthew Walsh Princes Risborough Town Council Michaella Biscomb Kippax Parish Council Yorkshire Adam Keppel-Green Knutsford Town Council
2022[16] Alcester Town Council Jeremy Richardson, Cold Norton Parish Council Stafan Heighway Great Dawley Town Council Northamptonshire Terry Philpott, Ware Town Council
2023[17] Braunstone Town Council Lorna Berrett, North Hinksey Parish Council Cameron Palin, East Cowes Town Council Essex Andrea Mann, Odiham Parish Council

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Unitary authorities: The role of parish and town councils". www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Home - One Voice Wales". www.onevoicewales.org.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  3. ^ "How we work". www.nalc.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Who we are". www.nalc.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  5. ^ "What we do". www.nalc.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Think local Labour". www.localgov.co.uk. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Local Council Award Scheme". www.nalc.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Contact Us". www.nalc.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Star Councils 2015 Winners Brochure". Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  10. ^ https://www.nalc.gov.uk/library/our-work/star-councils/2214-star-councils-2016-winners-guide-website/file [bare URL]
  11. ^ "NALC announces Star Councils 2017 winners".
  12. ^ https://www.nalc.gov.uk/library/our-work/star-councils/2820-star-council-awards-2018-winners-brochure/file [bare URL]
  13. ^ "NALC crowns Star Council Awards winners".
  14. ^ "NALC announces the Star Council Awards 2021 winners".
  15. ^ "'I get a kick seeing things happen' - clerk wins national award for making a difference". 20 October 2021.
  16. ^ "NALC announces the Star Council Awards 2022 winners".
  17. ^ "Oxfordshire parish councillor Lorna Berrett wins top award". 5 December 2023.


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