Chapter 1 - Introduction
1.1 The Rural White Paper, ‘Our Countryside: The Future. A Fair Deal For Rural England’, published in November 2000, set out a number of measures to give local people the opportunity to become more involved in the development of their communities. 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 improving local quality of life.
1.2 Parish and town councils are the democratic bodies with the closest direct links to their communities and as such are ideally placed to contribute to the long-term vision and the priorities contained in the community strategies which principal local authorities are responsible for preparing. [Footnote] The Government expects principal local authorities and parish and town councils to work together to provide an effective local government for local people.
1.3 The White Paper proposed a number of initiatives designed to enhance the role of parish and town councils; to develop a framework for partnership working; and to equip parish and town councils to take on a stronger role for the benefit of the local community.[Footnote] A central proposal was the introduction of the new concept of a Quality Parish Council.
1.4 Quality status will equip parish councils to take on a stronger role in their communities and should be achievable by any parish council, regardless of its size, location or current activities. It is part of the Government’s drive to modernise local government and ensure that all local authorities are more in touch with the people whom they serve.
1.5 Through this scheme the Government wants to encourage all parish councils to reach the standards of the best and, in doing so, to demonstrate their status as the local representatives of their communities. This should help them to work more closely with partners in the delivery of local services.
1.6 Achieving quality parish status demonstrates that a council has met certain minimum standards expected from an effective, representative and active parish council. The scheme is voluntary and is open to all parish councils in England and it is hoped that a large proportion of parish councils will apply for accreditation. [Footnote]
1.7 This Guide takes you through the Quality Parish Council Scheme, which has been developed following the initial concept as set out in the White Paper. Chapter 4 gives specific guidance on the Tests that need to be met.
- Any reference to principal local authorities in this guidance means, in single tier areas, the unitary council, or in two tier areas, the district/borough and county councils for the area of the parish. [Return to text]
- Hereafter, any reference in this guidance to parish councils also includes town councils. [Return to text]
- The Quality Parish Council Scheme does not extend to parish meetings or community councils in Wales. [Return to text]
Page last modified:
19 May, 2005
Page published: 7 November 2001