[cma-l] Blears - next steps in delivering Parish power

[CMA-L]

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears today outlined plans to encourage
new town and parish councils to be set up so that more decision-making
powers are devolved to local people, and said she particularly wanted
to see more set up in urban areas.

Recently passed legislation means that parish councils can now be
established in London for the first time in 45 years.

Over £750,000 will be allocated to the National Association of Local
Councils to help communities create new town and parish councils,
particularly in urban areas including London, and to encourage both
new and existing councils to work to meet the highest possible
standards in service delivery and community engagement.

Working with organisations including the Local Government Association,
the Society of Local Council Clerks and the Participatory Budgeting
Unit, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will develop
new good practice guidance on devolving decision-making, a revitalised
National Training Strategy for town and parish councillors, and help
for councillors to encourage greater community involvement.

New and existing councils that successfully meet approved standards
will be recognised through NALC's Quality Parish and Town Council
Scheme - it is hoped that the number of Quality Councils could rise
from around 650 today, to as many as 2,500 by April 2011.

There are currently 8,900 parish councils and 70,000 elected parish
councillors in England, covering 90 per cent of the country. Although
small in size, they perform key functions in their local communities,
such as managing parks and allotments, maintaining community halls and
investing in community transport projects.

Nineteen new parish and town councils were set up last year. However
changes announced in February make it easier for principal authorities
to respond to community demands for new parish councils, without
seeking Government approval.

Parish councils have been a popular and effective way to represent the
views of local people, particularly in rural areas. Now, Ms Blears is
looking to parish, town and neighbourhood councils to repeat their
success in England's cities, representing people in densely-populated,
urban areas - and, in recognition of the impact they can make, changes
have been made so that, for the first time since 1963, parish councils
can now be created in London.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said:

"I am delighted to be able to support the creation of more town and
parish councils. As the smallest unit of electoral democracy, they
play a vital and effective role in putting power in the hands of local
people, to make the key decisions that affect their local communities.

"But while parish councils have been particularly popular and
effective in representing local people's views in rural areas, I would
now like to see this success repeated in our towns and cities.

"I would also encourage all new and existing parish and town councils
to strive to meet the highest possible standards in delivering local
services and empowering communities, and aim to become Quality
councils.

"Often, services are best delivered at the most local level, with
local people, who are best placed to know what is right for their
local area, having a real say.

"Parish councils have a proven track record of giving local people a
voice on the issues that matter most to them - the funding I am
announcing today will support communities to create more parish, town
and neighbourhoods councils, and help existing authorities to raise
their game and stand ready to take on the additional responsibilities
to make a real difference to people's lives."

Notes to editors

1. Communities in Control: real power, real people was published on 9
July, 2008, and can be found at

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/communitiesincontrol

2. Details of new powers to create parish councils were published on
15 February 2008 and can be found at

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/697732

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