• 01371 879722
  • info@ealc.gov.uk
  • Mon - Thur 9am-5pm, Fri 8.30am-4pm
  • First Floor Offices, Room 2 & 3, RCCE House, Threshelfords Business Park, Inworth Road, Feering, Colchester, Essex, CO5 9SE.
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Essex Association of Local Councils

Supporting local town and parish councils within Essex

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National Association of Local Councils

Established in 1947, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is a membership organisation and the only national body representing the interests of local (parish and town) councils. NALC works in partnership with county associations to support, promote and improve local councils. NALC is run on a democratic structure. Local councils are members of NALC and their county association. Each county association appoints one elected councillor from their local (parish and town) councils to sit on National Assembly. National Assembly is responsible for the appointment of NALC committees, as well as the management and conduct of NALC.

NALC provide a national voice for local (parish and town) councils across England. They campaign on their behalf, raise awareness of their work and provide councils with a range of services to support their needs.

This includes:

  • Campaigning –  lobby for the issues that are important to local councils and communicate those views to government and a range of influential organisations, in the private, charity and public sector.

  • Legal, accounts and audit advice – Written, telephone and digital advice from NALC’s well-experienced solicitors.

  • Publications – A quarterly magazine, LCR, fortnightly DIS, guides on being a good councillor, employer, finance and transparency, neighbourhood planning and a range of toolkits.

  • Conferences, events and training – NALC’s national events and training sessions are opportunities to bring our diverse membership together to learn about new or topical initiatives and share ideas.

  • Publicity – Raise the profile of local councils and the sector beyond a regional level

  • Media – Guidance on how to deal with a media crises, how to deal with reporters and media outlets and writing a media policy.

  • Standards, awards and recognition – Opportunities all year round for local councils to take up the chance to celebrate and be recognised for achievements through the Local Council Award Scheme and Star Council Awards.

Resources

NALC has launched a new member website that boasts a modern design focused on user accessibility and mobile optimisation. This updated site includes access for Clerks and Councillors, in membership with us, a comprehensive resource library including advice notes (formally known as ‘legal topic notes’), council document templates and publications.

  • Please click here for advice on how to set up your new account.

The Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS) is tailored to celebrate the achievements of the finest parish and town councils while offering a structured framework to empower all councils to enhance and realise their full potential. This scheme allows councils to demonstrate adherence to sector standards, be evaluated by their peers, and establish conditions conducive to ongoing improvement.

The Star Council Awards are the pinnacle of nationwide recognition for parish and town councils. These prestigious awards celebrate the innovation, dedication, and outstanding achievements of parish and town councils, councillors, young councillors, county associations, and clerks. Parish and town councils are the heartbeat of communities, driving initiatives that enrich the lives of residents and enhance the vitality of local areas. These awards highlight the exceptional efforts of these councils, showcasing the remarkable projects and services that make a difference every day.

The awards span various categories, ensuring every aspect of parish and town council work is celebrated.

NALC believes it is essential to prioritise civility and respect to initiate a culture change within the parish and town council sector. In light of this, NALC is introducing the Civility and Respect Pledge, emphasising that bullying, harassment, and intimidation have no place in this sector. The pledge is designed to be easily adopted by councils, allowing them to showcase their commitment to tackling inappropriate behaviour and fostering positive changes that encourage civil and respectful conduct.

NALC is committed to ending violence against women and girls, and in November 2023, they became the first local government national body to be White Ribbon-accredited. We, the EALC have joined them along with hundreds of organisations across England and Wales, committed to stopping violence before it starts under the global symbol for ending violence against women and girls, the White Ribbon. Since achieving our accreditation, we have implemented our three-year action plan, overseen by our White Ribbon Steering Group, which includes representation from councillors, clerks and county officers.