After the resounding success of the 2023 study tour hosted by Newport Pagnell Town Council, I’m pleased to announce we’ll head to Yate Town Council in Avon for our annual study tour between 21 and 22 May 2024 as part of our work to support larger local (parish and town) councils and share good practice. This unique experience promises a closer look at what makes Yate one of England’s most dynamic towns. Situated in the south-west of England, Yate is located 11 miles north-east of Bristol in the county of South Gloucestershire. Yate boasts a strategic location surrounded by countryside, providing easy access to Bristol and Bath by bicycle, car, or public transport. The town’s rich history dates back over 1,000 years and is mentioned in the Saxon Chronicles and the Domesday Book! The tour promises an array of highlights, including a guided bus tour of Yate Town Council’s youth engagement services, exploring the renowned Armadillo Youth Cafe to understand how the council effectively manages this local youth hub, immersing yourself in the allure of Kingsgate Park, featuring a lake, play area, coronation bench, and outdoor gym, learning about the council’s sustainable management of this vital green space, plus much more. Places are limited to just 11, so please register promptly to secure your spot and avoid disappointment!

NALC calls for tighter land management company regulation 

In our response to the Competition and Markets Authority’s housebuilding market study, we’ve urged the government to tighten up the regulation of land management companies and to make provisions for the regulation of fees charged by management companies to both freeholders and leaseholders of residential properties. This follows years of management companies increasing fees to residents of parished areas to maintain facilities such as children’s playgrounds without carrying out maintenance work in many cases. We also advocated that local councils’ right-to-manage public open spaces and amenities be in legislation, both at the point of delivery and in perpetuity. NALC has received support within the sector from national stakeholders in trying to get local councils first in line, if they choose, to take on new play areas in developments.

NALC Management Board 

NALC’s Management Board met on 21 November 2023, its last meeting of the year and before our committee elections results are announced. NALC’s chair, Cllr Keith Stevens, took the opportunity to thank his councillor colleagues for their contributions over the previous two years. The board agreed on some proposals to improve the way our National Assembly and committees work and provide support to members. The board agreed on an events strategy for the next two years, focussing on a continuation of online events but exploring a national face-to-face conference in 2025, and the introduction of explainer events for NALC’s resources such as advice and guidance. The board also noted progress with developing a national employment contract to be launched before the year’s end and the new website, which we will be launching in 2024.

National Network: Super councils 

NALC’s national network for super councils met remotely on 15 November 2023 to discuss several items, including our Peer Challenge programme, the work of the newly formed Office for Local Government (OFLOG), and an upcoming survey for the network. The network heard from Luke Trevaskis, the clerk at Morecambe Town Council, about the council’s experience participating in the Peer Challenge earlier this year. The challenge helped the council make the case for ensuring it had the capacity and capability to deliver its priorities, improve brand identity, and enhance communication with residents and other stakeholders. The network also heard from Ruby Dixon from the OFLOG about their plans to develop the Local Authority Data Explorer tool for principal authorities. Additionally, the network discussed an upcoming survey for super councils to shape the network’s future and work programme and also received an overview of NALC’s analysis of council tax levels of local precepting authorities.

Improvement and Development Board 

The Improvement and Development Board met on 16 November 2023, led by its new independent chair, James Alexander. Matters discussed included the future direction and structure of the board, along with the development of a new improvement strategy. Members also received an update on the Civility and Respect Project.

On the blog: White Ribbon Day

I’m pleased to say we’ll be publishing two blogs this week to celebrate White Ribbon Day, which takes place on 25 November 2023. The first blog, written by our communications officer, Daisy Petrow, discusses the crucial takeaways from the White Ribbon conference. NALC attended the White Ribbon Conference in Birmingham on 26 September 2023, where we learnt from the UK’s leading charity engaging men and boys to end violence against women and girls. The blog shares speakers’ essential stories and three key takeaways from the conference. The second blog from UN Women lists 10 ways to end violence against women. Violence against women and girls affects more than one in three women. This is why tackling violence is necessary on White Ribbon Day, the 16 days of activism, and all year round. This blog provides practical tips, advice, and guidance for readers to follow and inspire change.

Martyn’s Law event 

We held a joint event on 16 November 2023 with the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) to discuss the current legislative status of Martyn’s Law. The panel featured our policy manager, Chris Borg, Shrewsbury Town Council’s chief executive, Helen Ball, and Lauren Renshaw and Christian Stensrud from the Home Office. The event highlighted where the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Draft Bill (formerly Martyn’s Law) is in its legislative journey, outlined the potential actions that local councils might need to adopt if the law is passed and shared practical insights into how councils can contribute to keeping people safe and preventing terrorism in their local communities. Chris highlighted NALC’s concern about the additional pressure the new legislation will place on local council budget and resources, stating, “NALC are particularly concerned that the draft bill’s impact assessment overlooks local councils and only includes principal councils”. The Home Office representatives discussed policy principles, scope, tier requirements, the extensive process of transforming policy into law, upcoming stages, and available support. They reassured councillors not to be alarmed, emphasising that the policy implementation process is gradual, and support is currently accessible and will remain so. Helen noted Martyn’s Law is one of the most significant developments for local councils since the General Data Protection Regulation and will impact everyone and stressed the need for consistent training and support on counter-terrorism.

Out and about 

On 15 November 2023 I attended the Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils Annual General (AGM) Meeting and Conference. There was a great turnout with an impressive line-up of sponsors and partners. It was good to hear about their excellent work on carbon net zero, liaison with the police and promoting civility and respect. I briefed colleagues on NALC’s work, especially around our parliamentary advocacy during the passage of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill Act. Questions focussed on improving standards and encouraging more people to get involved in local councils. I was able to similarly brief the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils AGM on 18 November 2023 from the comfort of my home office, and the discussion centred again on how to get more people to stand for election and how to extend the sector into un-parished areas. The AGM also heard about the importance of the armed forces covenant, to which many councils and county associations are signatories. Between 50 and 100,000 veterans in Dorset would benefit from the covenant. And on the same day, Keith and our head of member services, Charlotte Eisenhart, attended the Kent Association of Local Councils’ Annual Conference and AGM. The day’s theme was health and well-being, and again it was good to see the event had a thriving marketplace with organisations and agencies from across the county.

NALC article in The MJ magazine on planning reform 

Following our submission to the government on their local plans consultation, it was good to be invited by The MJ magazine, the UK’s leading weekly magazine for council chief executives, to write an article to share our views with their extensive readership across local government. Through a light-hearted analogy of the 1980s television series The A-Team, our head of policy and communications, Justin Griggs, covers the more serious subject of the leadership role of local councils in the planning system, the elements of the kind of planning system we want to see, our views on reform to plan making, and a concluding clarion call on resourcing, support, protection and partnership working. You can read the article on the MJ website (login required).

Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments

The Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments (SAAA) board⁠ met last week on 17 November 2023 and received the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March from auditors Knill James LLP, giving the company a clean bill of health. The accounts will be published later in the year.

LGiU Cllr Awards

NALC’s colleagues at the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU), a local government think tank and non-partisan membership organisation, held their Cllr Awards on 16 November 2023 at London’s Guildhall. Sponsored by NALC’s partner CCLA, the awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of councillors from principal authorities. Justin Griggs, our head of policy and communications, was among the wide range of councils, councillors, parliamentarians and other organisations at the event to join the celebrations and extend our congratulations to all the finalists and winners. Of course, the event was simply a warmup to the most important awards in the local government calendar, as next week we’ll be presenting the winners of NALC’s Star Council Awards 2023 at our parliamentary reception! I’m looking forward to returning the invitation to LGiU colleagues and welcoming them, along with representatives of county associations, parliamentarians, stakeholders, and partner organisations, to what will be a fantastic occasion to celebrate our wonderful part of local government.

And finally… 

On behalf of NALC’s national network for young councillors, we launched a survey on 17 November 2023 to help shape the network’s future. The survey is designed to provide insight into the experiences of young people within the local council sector and how they would like to shape the delivery of the network. I’d urge you to complete the survey by 20 December 2023 to submit your views, and please share the survey with any young councillors you know!

NALC News

NALC calls for tighter land management company regulation  – News

Young councillors network appoints new co-chairs and publishes a survey – News (nalc.gov.uk)

NALC and LGA joint event explores the role of councillors – News

How local councils can help deliver a decarbonised transport system  – News (nalc.gov.uk)

Food insecurity: what can councils do? – News (nalc.gov.uk)