Transcript Slide 1
Leicestershire & Rutland
Association of Local Councils
LCC Local Councils Conference
Leicestershire Councils - The Local
Picture
Jake Atkinson
LRALC Chief Officer
Leicestershire & Rutland
Association of Local Councils
Perceptions are not always accurate…..!
Leicestershire & Rutland
Association of Local Councils
Some Leicestershire facts & figures
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165 Parish and Town Councils in Leicestershire.
147 of them are members of LRALC.
17 are Quality Councils (all are members of LRALC!).
114 Cllrs and Clerks trained by LRALC to date (‘12-’13)
45 Qualified Clerks (CiLCA) since scheme began.
27 Clerks currently CiLCA qualified.
40 Clerks trained in use of GPoC since power commenced.
2 Clerks have passed the new GPoC CiLCA module.
1 Council has adopted GPoC (a week ago!).
Leicestershire & Rutland
Association of Local Councils
Membership of LRALC
LRALC Membership Analysis - January 2012
100%
90%
80%
70%
Associate Member Parish Meeting
60%
Member Parish Meeting
50%
Non-member Local Council
40%
Member Local Council
30%
20%
10%
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0%
Leicestershire & Rutland
Association of Local Councils
LRALC 2012 and beyond
Member survey results (April 2012 – 100 responses):
• Training, newsletter, and telephone and email query service most
highly valued aspects of membership.
• Over 94% of respondents say LRALC membership represents good
or excellent value for money.
• Nearly 50% of respondents said their councils didn’t feel prepared
for the powers and duties contained within the Localism Act 2011
(37% didn’t know).
• Demand for training in areas not previously provided.
• LRALC keen to grow its services and membership – Business Plan
for 2013 onwards being developed.
Leicestershire & Rutland
Association of Local Councils
Localism and the Localism Act
– “The time has come to disperse power more
widely in Britain today.” Coalition Agreement
• Localism has broad political consensus
• Localism Act (Nov 2011) gives new rights
and powers for communities and individuals,
and new freedoms and flexibilities for local
government.
• LRALC and NALC are supporting local
councils who wish to embrace Localism.
Leicestershire & Rutland
Association of Local Councils
Greg Clark, minister for decentralisation:
"parish councils up and down the country
would like to have greater influence and
[the new legislation] will allow them to do
this".
• While there is no formal target he hopes a
number of new councils will be formed and
is looking forward to "a great revival" of
parish politics.
• LRALC is supportive of new local councils
being formed in Leicestershire.
Leicestershire & Rutland
Association of Local Councils
Big Society
• “We need to create Communities with oomph –
neighbourhoods who are in charge of their own
destiny, who feel if they club together and get
involved they can shape the world around them.”
Prime Minister David Cameron, 19 July 2010
Leicestershire & Rutland
Association of Local Councils
Big Society and Local Councils
• “Vicar of Dibley” image of Parish Councils
• Issues of knowledge and capacity
• Lack of consistency in quality and
compliance
• But, Parish and town councils are localism
and Big Society incarnate.
• Success stories of active, inclusive, and
empowered Parish Councils
Leicestershire & Rutland
Association of Local Councils
Leicestershire CC & LRALC
Some shared priorities:
• Training of clerks and councillors.
• Quality Council Scheme.
• Communication between LCC and local
councils (both ways).
• Resolution of contact issues between local
councils and LCC.
• Representation of local council views at a
strategic level.
• Liaison between local councils and
Districts/Boroughs.
Leicestershire & Rutland
Association of Local Councils
Firm foundations for improvement
Relationship with the County Council
as a whole
40
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10
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Excellent
Good
Average
Poor
Don't Know