Benefits

Membership benefits

Perhaps the biggest benefit that a member council receives is what they put into the Association! Whilst this may appear a strange statement, as ChALC exists only to support and represent the members, without the involvement of the members, there can be no benefits to members, hence the more a council takes seriously its involvement, the more it will get out of it.

Conversely, if a council joins as a member and does nothing to get involved in the organisation, policy making, area committees, attending and/or supporting events that ChALC holds or participates in, there is every likelihood that they will question the benefit to them as a council.

Remember that any organisation is greater than the sum of its parts and ChALC have many members working tirelessly to represent your interests and do so knowing that some councils in Cheshire will benefit from their work without contributing to the Association. In more detail, the benefits follow...

WHAT IS ChALC?

The Cheshire Association of Local Councils was formed in 1962 with its objective to support and promote Town and Parish Councils in Cheshire.

Since 1962 the Association has come a long way. Previously serviced by the Cheshire Community Council, the Association became an independent, self supporting organisation in 1996 and has proved itself an effective voice on behalf of the Parish Council movement throughout Cheshire by representing Town and Parish Councils at various Partnerships and on a number of outside bodies.

The Association has representatives on the following bodies:

The Cheshire Rural Forum

Rural Recovery Board

Cheshire Landscape Trust

Playing Fields Association

Cheshire County Council - Speed Advisory Panel

Cheshire Community Strategy

District LSP’s

Cheshire branch of the Clerks Society

Cheshire Market Towns Network

District Standards Committees

Cheshire Training Partnership

Rural Transport Partnership

NW Regional Assembly

Cheshire LGA

Health Scrutiny Committees

In addition, the Association represents the interests of Town and Parish Councils at a number of consultative meetings.

WHAT IS NALC?

Through membership of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) the interests of Member Councils are addressed with central government and are able to influence the decision making processes affecting Town and Parish Councils.

Recent issues on which NALC have worked with Government Departments to ensure that the interests of Parish and Town Councils are represented include the:

Code of Conduct;

Lighter Touch Audit Regime;

Quality Parish Council Strategy; and

National Training Strategy (arose out of the Rural White Paper in 2000)

Sir Michael Lyons Inquiry into Local Government (2005-2007)

Strong & Prosperous Communities - The Local Government White Paper (October 2006)

Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill (2006/7 progress in Parliament)

Membership of NALC also enables Member Councils to have access to quality legal advice (via the County Association) through the NALC Legal Team on a wide variety of issues.

NALC also provides regular policy and procedural updates for dissemination to Member Councils through the County Associations. NALC also produces the National Publication—the Local Council Review (LCR).

NALC events are becoming more important, not only within the First Tier of Local Government, but attract many visitors from other tiers (District, County and Unitary/Metropolitan/London Boroughs), UK Government departments, European Union/Commission and indeed international audiences. The most recent event held in February was the Shaping Communities conference (where a Cheshire clerk spoke) that was sold out weeks before it took place, with many clerks and members disappointed in being unable to attend.

For further information on NALC, click here.

For further information on the next NALC event, click here.

DIRECT MEMBER SERVICES

In addition to its representation role, the Cheshire Association also provides a wide variety of services and support for Member Councils. These include:

Ø Access to support for employers –

o Clerks conditions of employment;

o Contract of employment for the Clerk;

o Access to the services of the NALC Legal Team on employment issues;

o Access to the Employers Organisation for Staffing Matters.

Ø Advice and Guidance on the Quality Parish Strategy

o Discounted training for Clerks;

o Discounted training for Parish Councillors;

o Up to date information on the Strategy;

o Support for those Councils wanting to apply for QP Status.

Ø Advice and Support in all aspects of Parish Council business:

o Standing Orders;

o Financial Standing Orders;

o Loan Sanction Applications;

o Audit and Account Regulations

Ø Access to locally delivered information seminars on topics of interest to Members.

o Recent events include the Lighter Touch Audit; The Code of Conduct and the Regional Government Debate.

Ø Bi-monthly local newsletter

o Up to date information on issues of concern or interest to Parish Councils;

o Advertising of products and services likely to be of value to Members.

Ø Monthly email update

o Up to date information on issues of concern or interest to Parish Councils;

Ø Code of Conduct

o On going support for town and parish councils on issues arising from the Code;

o Development of information sheets to help new Councillors or Clerks dealing with the requirements of the Code.

Ø Effective comment on consultation matters of concern to members

o Representing the majority of Parish and Town Councils in Cheshire, the Association is able to respond to consultation papers on behalf of its members on local and national issues. Members are encouraged to take part in this directly by contacting the Association.

Ø Publications

o Development of publications pertinent to the work of Parish Council;

o Stationery (such as Next Meeting Posters) helpful for the conduct of Meetings.

Ø Access to Borough Fora – the Area Meetings of the Association

o Opportunity to discuss with other Councils matters of mutual concern or interest;

o in important District based lobbying group.

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