1. A national strategy for improvement – Local Council Award Scheme and beyond
Charlotte Eisenhart, National Association of Local Councils
South West regional conference, Tiverton, October 2015

2. A bit of context Principal councils Funding
How will this affect your place and people?

3. LGA: Future funding outlook for councils from 2010/11 to 2019/20
The way councils are funded is changing
LGA: Future funding outlook for councils from 2010/11 to 2019/20

6. Future funding outlook of AnyDistrict Council

7. How might this affect District Councils?
In reality hard to say as so diverse but this phrase stood out for me

8. Future funding outlook of AnyCounty Council

9. The affect on counties will be much more stark
Have a look at your principal councils forward plans. What will the impact be for your people and places?

10. What does this mean for us?

11. Change
There will be big changes. Beyond that Im not going to guess – a huge amount is still unknown. And eg with business rates the government probably have more surprises up their sleeves

12. There are huge opportunities

13. General Power of Competence
Eligibility – democratic mandate to provide services increasingly important as more devolved. And a qualification delivered by the sector (and recently updated and improved)
Plus! No inspection regime - Own standards. That’s a really big deal again when you think about what services may be delivered in future

14. Power with strings attached? NO!
Show print out of all principal council duties next to the list of Local Council duties

15. Strength in numbers – peers/colleagues
Speak with one voice – very powerful

16. Square watermelons (Japan)
Adapt to fit local need
Eg new councils and changing councils

17. Help is at hand Advice and guidance from NALC, CALCs and SLCC
Local Council Award Scheme
CiLCA and other qualifications
Training – continuous professional development
Resources and publications
Events like this!

18. Historic Opportunity? Devo Local
Fresh start, new Government
Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill
38 Devolution deals being discussed
Government wants these to include devolution to town and parish councils
Devolution expected to save £12bn
Local devolution delivers a £1:£3 return (£3-5 billion?)
Government encouraging parishes to get involved and NALC will develop support with CALCs and LGA

19. Delivery!
We already are! 40,000 councillors, 8 million “volunteer hours,” £2bn community investment
90% of Neighbourhood plans are parish lead
Community Rights agenda – a third of listed community assets have been identified by local councils
Active in Our Place pilots
Taking over devolved services
But we can do better and more consistently, learning from the best
How do we grab this opportunity?

20. 2 Key challenges for the sector

21. Building Capacity We need to change too!
National Improvement Strategy for clerks, councils and councillors, building on National Training Strategy
Local Council Award Scheme
Clustering and more shared services
Precepts and investment

22. Build strong partnerships
With each other
With principal councils (NALC working with LGA)
With other stakeholders including health, police, LEPs, BIDs etc
With the public and the voluntary and community sectors

23. My question of you today – what is your story
Why should your principal councils, partners, communities listen to you, work with you?
Given the challenges ahead – we all need this story
And there are some ways to help you get started

26. Star Councils Debra Roberts, Feock Parish Council, Clerk of the Year
Frome Town Council, Somerset, Council of the Year
NB add logo and pic of Carina winning

27. Cranleigh council using sustainable communities act
Cranleigh council using sustainable communities act. Cornwall councils lobbying their local MPs. Cameron holidays in Cornwall and this issue was raised by a local MP
NALC invited to a meeting with Treasury
Source: The Telegraph

28. Do show of hands or Q&A
If you find it hard that’s ok – maybe start with something interesting or unique about the council or the community. Maybe a proud achievement in the last 12 months. If you are still stuck then maybe think of other local councils that you consider to be good. Why do you think that? Is it something they deliver? An individual you like? Is it that they have done something new that you think is impressive, or is it their track record over a long time.