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Partnerships LGC’s special report on town and parish councils July 2017 WhereInno nextvation for localism?Research SUPPORTED BY Foreword t Localism: the next stage NALC chair Sue Baxter says local councils can help to solve some of the problems affecting communities and residents elcome to the shows local councils are second LGC getting more and more parish and town involved in services that in council previous years would have Wsupplement, in partnership not been seen as part of their with the National Association role. It also confirms what we of Local Councils (NALC). The knew: local councils have purpose of this supplement is been asked to do lot more to highlight the great work of over the past year by residents local councils; how they are a and principal councils faced vital part of local government by the challenges of austerity. and communities, and how Within this supplement they can help principal devo project ensuring it is needed support and help of you will see the ever-changing councils and national effective and engages all local government through fair picture of local councils’ government address many of communities. NALC calls on funding, more powers, activity in big-ticket matters the profound challenges facing the government and those in stronger local democracy, such as health and wellbeing, us today. power in other parts of the building capacity and local economic development, It would appear that public sector to think even increasing engagement. housing and neighbourhood national politics is in a fluid more positively about local planning and devolution. and uncertain state. Local councils because: Local councils are the But if the government government has its problems • As the first tier of local backbone of our democracy wants devolution to be deep and crisis too but generally government, these councils and at the heart of many and sustainable, everyone remains a strong and can help provide local communities in England. should benefit from a degree constant force delivering for solutions to mitigate any They provide our of public involvement and local people and making a negative fallout from Brexit neighbourhoods, villages, bring power down to local difference in communities. and help build social towns and cities with a people on their doorsteps. This year we have seen the cohesion. They can repair democratic voice and a Finally, I would like to election of new metro- people’s disconnection from structure for taking action; real thank colleagues across local mayors in England, which is a politics and remoteness from people power at grassroots government for their help in brilliant development decision-making and can level. We need more local our successful opposition to creating a real focus for contribute to local public democracy with more the extension of referenda devolution from Westminster service delivery during a time empowered people and places. principles last year. We must and potentially Brussels. of continued austerity. Giving power to local win this ongoing battle in NALC wants to see this • As democratic, accountable people, when it is done right, order to ensure local councils devolution cascade to the and transparent grassroots brings democracy closer to can provide the support their lowest level. bodies, local councils can home; it is empowering and residents want in these However, the wider bridge these gaps by can make for better decision- uncertain times. devolution agenda remains engaging with the making, less disillusionment If you want to discuss this disjointed and confusing as community to build with politics and more local more please contact NALC via the picture varies so widely community cohesion and accountability and our website: www.nalc.gov.uk. from place to place. Many make decisions about and transparency. Alternatively come and see communities and invest in the economic, The features within this us at the LGA Annual neighbourhoods up and down environmental and social supplement make an Conference, where will be the country feel disconnected prosperity of their area. undeniable case for greater running a fringe at 5.45 pm from the project and sceptical • There is an opportunity for local council involvement in on Wednesday 5 July, What of its benefits. local councils to fulfill their community representation Next for Localism, in Hall 7; NALC would like to see the localist potential but to do and service delivery. Our and hosting an exhibition new government relaunch the so they need the much exclusive survey with LGC stand at D3. LGCplus.com xx MonthJuly 2012 2017 Local Local Government Government Chronicle Chronicle xx 3 Survey t Double devolution on the rise LGC research reveals local councils are increasngly taking on the delivery of services. RACHEL DALTON reports arish and town What is your council’s total annual budget for 2017-18? but it could be a possibility. councils are taking With crowdfunding, you’ve on services to fill £1,000-£9999 got to give something back to gaps as principal £10,000-£19,999 the funders, so they own a Pauthorities cut provision, LGC £10,000-£40,999 share [of what you deliver or research reveals. £50,000-£99,999 build]. It’s very early days for Our survey of parishes, that; I know it has happened £100,000-£149,999 supported by the National in some community groups Association of Local Councils, £150,000-£199,999 around the country.” drew 634 responses, of which £200,000-£249,999 She adds NALC will 63% were from parish clerks £250,000-£299,999 continue to campaign for and deputies and 37% from parish and town councils to £300,000-£349,999 elected members. keep a share of business rates The survey revealed that as £350,000-£399,999 raised from firms within their principal authorities’ budgets £400,000-£449,999 patches. shrink and services are cut or £450,000-£499,999 withdrawn, parish and town £500,000-£549,999 Service delivery councils are seeking to pick Parish and town councils up the pieces. £550,000-£599,999 revealed in LGC’s research £600,000-£799,999 with the NALC members in Budgets and tax raising £800,000-£899,999 2016 their ambition to take Sue Baxter (Ind), chair of the £1m-£1.9m on more services; at that NALC and a councillor on point, 70% identified at least Wythall Parish Council and £2m-£2.9m one service they would like Bromsgrove DC, says parish £3m-£4.9m to add to their current councils set their precepts 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% provision. according to the budgets they Asked about their current need to deliver their priority provision, 94% of this year’s services, which they identify revealed budgets were councils who deliver a lot of respondents said they were in consultation with their roughly in line with precept extra services. delivering public realm residents. Many councils are levels; 77% of respondents “But as a general rule, it’s services, 47% delivered some looking to reduce said their budget was less roughly in line with population form of housing and dependency on the precept than £100,000, for instance, and what you deliver.” planning, 43% undertook by generating income from although again there was a Where parish and town property management and facilities such as wide range of budget figures councils want to deliver a 28% community safety. crematorium, markets and with a very small proportion service for which funding is However, a significant wedding venues. having control of more than not forthcoming from either minority were involved in LGC’s research revealed that £1m. the principal authority that delivering economic growth almost four in 10 local “Where the precept is high, has stopped delivering the and regeneration (14%) and councils have a precept of less it indicates two things: high service or from an increase to 10% delivered health, than £20,000 per year, but as population and higher the precept, local councils wellbeing and social care. with population, there was a activity,” says Cllr Baxter. must consider other forms of These latter two groups of wide variety of levels of The size of the precept and funding, Cllr Baxter says. services “are huge growth precept among parish and the size of the population or “One thing that is perhaps areas”, Cllr Baxter says, and town councils; 2.5% of number of services delivered something to think of for the the figures bear this out. Just respondents said their total does not always match up future is crowdfunding,” she under half of the respondents precept was greater than £1m. neatly. Cllr Baxter explains: says. said they had taken on at least Accordingly, respondents “There are some very small “We haven’t done it as yet, one new service in the past 4xx Local Local Government Government Chronicle Chronicle July xx Month 2017 2012 LGCplus.com Double devolution on the rise Which additional services has your council taken on in the past year? In economic development, VARYING SIZE Cllr Baxter gave as an Public realm maintenance example the parish of More than a third of people Other Falmouth in Cornwall that responding to the survey Housing & planning has set up its own business worked for a council serving a Property management improvement district, and St population of fewer than 1,000, Transport Neots in Cambridgeshire, while a similar proportion Youth services which has run business worked for a council with a Community safety showcases for five years. population of between 1,000 Tourism, arts & culture Transport too is a growth and 5,000. However, as the Economic growth & regeneration area for town and parish graph below shows, the Health wellbeing & social care councils. Cllr Baxter says: population served by the Education “There are two main areas.