OXFORDSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS AGM 4 JULY 2016 Jonathan Owen, CEO National Association of Local Councils

"Opportunity knocks - is this the best of times for parishes?"

Historic Opportunity 15 years ago government talking about abolition Now at forefront of Neighbourhood Planning Discretionary services Devolution – including devo deals (40% mention parishes) Cross Party Support, LGA, county councils network, district councils network Parishes alive and flourishing and changing fast

Parishes are changing, fast! 10,000 parishes covering 40% England – 150 community campaigns for new councils : Crewe, Kidderminster, London, Ashford, Swindon, Sutton Coldfield. 80,000 councillors, £400m precept (doubled in 10 years) £2bn community investment Driving neighbourhood planning – 90% of 1600 plans are parish led

Delivering new services – supporting principal councils Economic Development: Sevenoaks(theatre, cinema/orbital bus service); Frome (local regeneration); Cockermouth (supporting High Street after flooding). Health and wellbeing: Feock (transport for older people); Forest Row (community Café); Newland (OS refs for remote housing); Campbell Park (building social capital) Housing and neighbourhood planning: St Ives (second homes); Newport Pagnall (additional 30% housing); Uppingham (housing allocation to post 2026).

Working with principal councils on decentralisation and devolution Falmouth & Cornwall – Library, youth service, toilets, parks and beaches Buckinghamshire – highway functions, education and health Kent – creating communities where people can design their own services Gloucestershire – parishes role in active, healthy communities

How do we seize this opportunity? Make sure we are all well run and efficient – audit, transparency, local council award scheme Encourage more people to engage and get involved Celebrate our successes, tell the public and MPs what wonderful work you do Work with your principal councils on devolution and new services Precepts and other investment Work together across the sector

NALC’s Lobbying – shaped by National Council and agreed by Policy Committee

Stronger Local Democracy Meaningful devolution – devo local Make it easier to set up local councils – parish the whole of England by 2025 Encourage people to get involved at all levels : local democracy programme Strengthened standards regime Effective improvement strategy for the sector

More powers Improve neighbourhood planning through current Bill Support measures to protect affordable housing in rural areas Parish Councils Bill to modernise legal framework Ensure Buses Bill enables parish councils to support community transport An effective General Power of Competence.

Fairer Funding Council tax support funding No extension of referenda principles 5% share of business rate Share of community infrastructure levy; New Homes Bonus and underground exploration funding

Lobbying on your behalf Meetings with Ministers and Civil Servants Encouraging civil servants to get out and about Friendly MPs and Peers including Lord Lytton and Lord Taylor Party conferences All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on local democracy Other pressure groups and partnerships e.g. rural coalition NALC’s Lobby Day 12 April 2017 Media work and celebrating success : reputation management Roundtables Communities Partnership Board, Councilors' Commission LGA

Case studies – effective lobbying Coalition government introduces new transparency regime for Audit and abolishes Audit Commission NALC successfully presses for legislation to enable a sector led body to be set up to procure audit – smaller authorities’ audit appointments LTD Creation of 200 new councils including Queens Park and Sutton Coldfield, campaign in Guardian Public conveniences and non domestic rates Planning – community right of appeal

We need your help! Identify the issues you want us to lobby on : motions through CALC and to NALC Provide us with evidence of problems Respond to consultations – copy us in Lobby your MPs, get involved in lobby day

Some challenges for you! Embrace transparency and new audit arrangements (14 councils have received £12,000) Invest in training – use available resources: websites/ Local Council Review, Local Council Explained, IDB publications including Good Councilor's Guide Consider the Local Council Award Scheme (3 registered in Oxfordshire out of 350 nationally) Identify three councils of the week and two contenders for a NALC award Increase membership and create new councils (231/249?) Get involved and support your CALC and NALC And challenge us to do a better job on your behalf!

How does this feel to you? What’s happening in Oxfordshire? How are the changes going? How do residents perceive you? Are you keeping your residents better informed? Are you embracing devolution? What would you like NALC to lobby on?