Chapter 5 - The Accreditation Process
5.1 In each of the county areas across England, there is to be an accreditation panel established by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), in consultation with the Local Government Association (LGA) and Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) and other interested bodies.
5.2 The accreditation panels will consist of between three and five members, approved by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as having relevant experience and knowledge of both principal local authorities and parish councils.
5.3 Applications for Quality status should be sent directly to the relevant accreditation panel for the parish council’s area (addresses are available from the County Associations of Local Councils). The panel will consider the application and supporting documentation. During the panel’s consideration of the application, more information may be sought from the parish council. The panel may also consider that a visit or meeting is necessary before reaching a decision.
5.4 Parish councils will be given notice of when their application will be considered, and following consideration, of the panel’s decision. The panel’s decision is final, but where Quality status is not awarded, the panel will provide the reasons for the decision. In addition, the panel will set out the improvements that it considers necessary in order for Quality status to be conferred and will indicate a date on which it will re-consider the application, on condition that the necessary improvements have been made.
5.5 Where an application for Quality status is successful, the parish council will receive with their notification a certificate signed by the chairman of the accreditation panel. Upon receipt of the decision and certificate, the parish council will be entitled to use the Quality Parish Council logo and will be able to contact its principal local authorities about negotiating new or revised Charter arrangements. The panel will notify principal local authorities of successful applications.
5.6 To ensure that applications are being handled in a uniform manner across the country, an independent study will take place on how the accreditation process – and the scheme in general – has worked. This will be carried out after a suitable period of time.
5.7 A small fee will be charged to cover the costs of the accreditation process. Timing of Applications for Quality status
5.8 Applications for first accreditation may be made from 1 st July 2003.
5.9 If a parish council is successful and is awarded Quality status, the accreditation period lasts for 4 years and up to 3 months from the date of notification.
5.10 Applications for re-accreditation may not be made before the 4 year period expires. Instead, there will be a 3 month ‘grace’ period following the end of each 4 year accreditation period in which a parish wishing to be re-accredited must re-apply. If re-accreditation is not sought during that three month period then the status will be lost at the end of the three month period. If a parish council is not re-accredited with Quality status following an application within the three month period then Quality status will be lost from the date of notification.
5.11 Whether this impacts on arrangements and Charters in place will be for the principal local authorities to determine. It may not be that the loss of Quality status has an impact on the relationship with the principal local authorities but principal authorities may wish to review the position.
Page last modified:
19 May, 2005
Page published: 7 November 2001