Parish councils

• Parish councils to ‘re-think’ role after Brexit

  Community council leaders have announced they will be starting a ‘big, radical conversation’ on the role of parish councils in the post-Brexit local government landscape.

  

• Parish and town councils welcome ‘fair funding’ letter

  The Government has written to billing authorities urging then to reconsider passing local council tax support on to parish and town councils.

  

• Local councils prepare to lobby MPs for extra powers

  Town and parish councils are calling for new powers to be handed to them following Brexit in what they see as the next stage in local government devolution.

  

• Councillors to be equipped with 'community organising' skills

  A new partnership will soon equip councillors with ‘community organising’ skills to help them engage more effectively with their local communities.

  

• Power in the country lanes

  Mark Whitehead finds out why smaller councils are taking on bigger roles in terms of responsibilities and delivering services.

  

• Parish councils face £3.5m yearly bill over new data protection rules

  It will cost parish councils over £3.5m a year to implement new data rules, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has warned.

  

• Councillors agree to creation of new Durham City authority

  A new parish council is to be created for Durham City after councillors voted in favour of the proposal.

  

• Local people should have control over new housing, argues think tank

  Up to five million new homes could be built if people in individual streets were given control over planning permission, according to the Adam Smith Institute.

  

• Why parish councils are getting involved in planning

  Neil Merrick explores how parish and town councils are throwing off their 'Nimby' image through the use of neighbourhood planning.

  

• The changing face of parish councils

  Neil Merrick explores the expansion of parish council duties – and the subsequent rise in precepts.