The Cheshire Association of Local Councils exists to:

1. Protect and promote the interests, rights, functions and privileges of Member Councils;

2. Assist Councils in the performance of their duties and to promote and develop the social, cultural and recreational life of towns and villages;

3. Promote widespread and well-informed interest in local government.

To achieve the first objective, ChALC will:

Subscribe to NALC to achieve for its Members representation at national level; to receive all necessary information; to benefit from the specialist legal services provided by NALC, and to improve its links and co-operation with other County Associations.

Monitor the subscriptions and services provided by NALC to ensure good value for money for its members.

Respond to consultation documents within the stated time limits as appropriate.

Keep in close contact with other County Associations in the NW Region through the NW Federation of Town and Parish Councils in order to facilitate the exchange of information and views and to participate in the NW Regional Chamber.

Ensure that as wide publicity as possible is given to the activities, values and views of ChALC in newspapers, on radio and on TV. The Association’s Chief Officer and Executive Members will make themselves available as required. In such matters the Association will attempt to accurately reflect Members views.

To achieve the second objective stated, ChALC will:

Issue bi-monthly newsletters—free of charge—to all its members to publicise new legislation, changes in regulations and any item of interest or concern to Member Councils.

Answer letters received from Member Councils within five working days of receipt.

Receive telephone enquiries and requests for assistance promptly and courteously. Messages left electronically will be acknowledged within 24 hours.

Wherever necessary seek legal advice on behalf of Member Councils. In these cases ChALC will enter into a Service Level Agreement with NALC to ensure that a response is provided promptly.

Make representations to other bodies on behalf of Member Councils.

Make its Chief Officer or an Executive Member available to attend meetings of Member Councils when requested.

Have available for sale to Member Councils the forms and notices necessary for the proper conduct of their business.

Manage the appropriate system of borrowing approval on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and in co-operation with NALC.

Support Area Meetings on behalf of Member Councils to provide a forum for the dissemination of information and to facilitate discussion and co-operation.

Work together with any other body or agency interested in enhancing the social, cultural and recreational life in the communities Member Councils represent.

Through the County Training Partnership ensure that training for Parish and Town Councils is locally delivered and remains affordable and accessible.

Ensure that those Member Councils wishing to secure Quality Parish Council Status have adequate support and information to achieve that aim.

To achieve its third objective, ChALC will:

Provide training for Clerks and Councillors on matters of interest to Member Councils and publicise training events, conferences and seminars provided by other bodies likely to be of interest to Member Councils.

Organise and promote conferences and seminars for all those with an interest on subjects of importance to Parish and Town Councils.

Work with the other tiers of Local Government in Cheshire through the development of a Local Council’s Charter to ensure that Town and Parish Councils in Cheshire can be active partners in service delivery where appropriate and where desired by the relevant Parish or Town Council.

In addition to it’s three stated objectives, ChALC will:

Encourage Member Councils to promote local interest in their work and keep their electorate informed.

Never refuse to give information to anyone who asks on the statutory framework in which Town and Parish Councils must operate. It will not, however, offer advice to any but Member Councils.

Stock and promote a good selection of publications relevant to the work of town and Parish Councils.

Make its Staff and Members available to provide information wherever and through whatever medium is available.

Make regular contact with non-member Councils to explain the benefits of membership and to promote the work of the Cheshire Association of Town and Parish Councils.

Welcome observations and comments, at any time, from Member Councils on the delivery of the services it provides.

March 2004

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