PARISH COUNCILS

Parish and town councils are a vital part of community empowerment often working hand in hand with their local community groups and organisations to ensure regeneration opportunities are not lost. Community Action Northumberland has long been connected with advising and supporting these councils through the provision of a secretariat and support service for the Northumberland Association of Local Councils (NALC). NALC is the local government association for parish and town councils: 144 of which are in Northumberland and 6 are in Newcastle.

      NALC is managed by a county committee composed of councillors and clerks, under the chairmanship of Norman Dunn, and CA’s David Francis as the secretary. Through this arrangement we have provided professional advice, information and training to parish councils, on topics such as financial management, procedures, insurance, giving support to community projects, ICT, newsletters, premises management, village greens, town and country planning etc. Parish councils are not just a watchdog and voice on behalf of their community: they also act to get things done The organisation is funded through member subscriptions. By paying the subscription member councils become entitled to the services provided by NALC and by the National Association of Local Councils which works on behalf of local councils at a national level. NALC also works closely with other organisations at regional, county and district level and with professional bodies such as the Society of Local Council Clerks. For more information about the Northumberland Association of Local Councils contact: David Francis NALC Secretary Tower Buildings 9 Oldgate Morpeth Northumberland NE61 1PY Tel 01670 517178 Email nalc@ca-north.org.uk