Parish councils
Parish and town councils are democratically elected to provide strong,
confident leadership at the heart of their communities. They
differ hugely in size, resources, aspirations and activities and have
a wide range of powers
locally
[42KB].
There are some 8,700 parish and town councils and approximately 70,000
councillors in England.
The Government believes that parish and town councils, as the tier of government that is closest to local communities, have a central role to play in leading their communities and improving local quality of life. At the heart of local governance, they provide local leadership while working in partnership with others to improve the quality and range of services available to their community.
Publications of interest:
Defra publication ‘Ways to tackle climate change' is aimed at the parish and town council sector. The guide showcases the impressive work which many parish and town councils are doing and promotes useful ideas of how to combat climate change.
The good councillors guide: an introduction to the role of Councillors.
Useful links for Parish and Town Councils
- The National Association of Local Councils website: www.nalc.gov.uk or contact 020 7637 1865
- The Society of Local Council Clerks website: www.slcc.co.uk or contact 01823 253646
- Improvement and Development Agency (I&DEA)
The Standards Board for England
The Standards Board for England has responsibility for promoting high ethical standards and investigating allegations regarding members’ behaviour. The Standards Board also publishes the Town and Parish Standard and a variety of guidance, including on dual-hatted members and the Code of Conduct. To find out more, click on http://www.standardsboard.gov.uk/Contact us to find out more: Rural Policy Division
Telephone: 08459 33 55 77
Email: rural.communities@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Page last modified:
7 March, 2008
Page published: 21 July, 2005