Creating Councils

Local councils (parish, town, neighbourhood, village, community or city) are the first tier of local government in England. There are around 9,000 local councils in England made up of nearly 80,000 local councillors. They deliver a range of services at a community level and their role is to represent the local community, provide services to meet local needs and improve quality of life and community wellbeing.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has long supported the need for a fundamental shift of power to local people and supports the establishment of local councils in all areas – urban and rural – so that people can benefit from first tier representation and opportunities for service delivery.

There are 200 more local councils in England now than just over ten years ago, with communities now taking more control over their decisions and services through the establishment of new local councils.

The main factors to consider before creating a new local council in your area are:

• Why you think the council is needed
• What benefits it will bring to your area
• Likelihood of gaining sufficient valid signatures on your petition
• Receptiveness of your authority to alternative methods of community governance
• The outcome of previous attempts (if any) to create a new local council in your area

Much of the detailed information regarding how to create a new local council in your area can be found in a publication from NALC: Power To The People. This publication contains case studies, detailed step-by-step advice on the moves to make in your campaign and explains the pitfalls to avoid – based on the experiences of local councils around England.

Essentially a new local council can only be created after a Community Governance Review has been triggered in your local authority area. Your Unitary Authority can choose to undertake a Review or a community can trigger one by securing enough signatures on a petition and making proposals to the principal local authority.

The Berkshire Association of Local Councils is available to help if your residents or community association is interested in trying to become a parish council. Drop an email to Christine.Lalley@ccberks.org.uk or call 0118 961 2200