Local councils - EXPLAINED

Everything you need to know about local councils

‘Local councils EXPLAINED’ is NALC’s new book about local councils, which will be published on 4th October.  The book provides easy to read narrative about the role of parish councils, their councillors and officers and how they work. There is comprehensive and practical guidance about the legal issues that local councils are exposed to.


NALC’s book equips local councils with answers to frequently asked questions about all aspects of their work. With over 200 pages, including commentary about councillors’ interests, publication schemes, neighbourhood planning, data protection, contract negotiations, working with charities, predetermination, parish meetings, political groupings and publicity about the work of councils.

Unlike its rivals, Local councils EXPLAINED is:

- easy to understand
- uses examples, tables, and diagrams
- contains up to date statutory references
- is competitively priced at £49.99 only for NALC members (15% discount)  and
- includes updated model standing orders (an electronic version of which is free to NALC members following publication).

To pre-order your copy now and for more information see:
http://bit.ly/1bNRwTY

Unlocking the power

At #lgalocalism event run by @LGAcomms and @NALC sees the potential in unlocking the power of general competence

http://t.co/UJk0wau8c #localism #localgovt

Communities must come first

NALC’s (National Association of Local Councils) Putting Communities First Conference in Sheffield showed how by using existing and forthcoming new strengthened powers, communities and local (parish and town) councils can get in the driving seat to make their places better. Throughout England, parish, town, community, neighbourhood and village councils (local councils) work towards improving community life and providing more focussed services at a local level. They are the most local tier of local government, closer to the community than any other tier of local government. Local councils provide a voice for communities, helping people to feel more involved in the decisions that affect them.  This conference examined the practical implications of localism. It looked into the practical details of key areas that councils have to face on a day-to-day basis now and in the future. Rory Stewart MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Local Democracy, said: "I believe in the power of communities and feel that they make for a better national government, because they are best placed to hold them to account and scrutiny."  “83% of us think that politics is broken and that 85% think that the society has too many ills. Indeed these problems are best fixed by local (parish and town) councils because of their local knowledge of the community.” Mr Stewart MP went on to advocate directly elected mayors for local councils in this country. The main reason for this is the ability of directly elected mayors to get high risk projects completed without being held up by bureaucracy. Cllr Ken Browse, chair of NALC, introduced the conference by saying: “Local (parish and town) councils will face enormous opportunities and challenges over the coming year as the Localism Act and the Open Public Services White Paper contines to take effect. John Findlay, chief executive of the National Association of Local Councils, said: “These are very exciting times ahead for local councils but Government needs to realise that there needs to be a level playing field in terms of grant funding to local government. At the moment central government gives grant funding to principal local government but nothing to local councils. This needs to change.”

 

Cutting red tape

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) welcomes the Government announcement to look at removing the burden for local (parish and town) councillors from having to pay the fees for data registration and to possibly be exempt from data registration altogether.

http://www.nalc.gov.uk/Home/NALCsupportstheremovalofredtapeforlocalcouncils.aspx

Community Assets

Looking to buy a local #communityasset? We have £4.75m of capital #grants available till30 August. Apply now http://bit.ly/11d0A0Z #localism