Tests

The Tests

Test 1 - Electoral Mandate

Parish councils must show that:

At accreditation, at least two-thirds of members of the council must have been elected

This does not mean that there must be a ballot/election.

"Stood for election" for the purposes of the Quality Scheme means councillors must have been nominated and stood as candidates.

Where the number of candidates is the same as (or less than) the number of seats, then no ballot is held and candidates are automatically declared ‘elected’ by the Returning Officer.

In such cases at least two-thirds of councillors must have been nominated and prepared to stand at the last round of elections in order to pass this Test.

Test 2 - Qualifications of the Clerk

The Clerk has responsibility for ensuring that the Council acts within the law – whatever the size of the parish. It is therefore vital that the Clerk possesses the necessary knowledge, skills and competence to carry out his/her duties correctly.

For accreditation as a Quality Parish Council, the clerk to the council must hold one of the following qualifications:

	Certificate in Local Council Administration (CILCA); or
	Certificate of Higher Education in Local Policy or Local Council Administration awarded by the University of Gloucestershire.[1]

The parish council should ensure that appropriate training and support is available to the clerk in order to help meet this Test.

Test 3 - Council Meetings

The parish council meeting is where the council makes decisions, which will often have an effect on the local community. Regular, well-run council meetings are crucial if a parish council is to operate effectively and fulfil its role in representing that community.

The requirements of the Test are as follows:

	The council must meet on at least 6 occasions every year[2]
	Time must be allowed at each meeting for public participation
	Notices of the meeting must be publicly displayed at least 3 days before each meeting
	Draft minutes of the meeting are published within two months of the meeting taking place

Most of the above requirements are no more than is already required in legislation and as such, any parish council, of any size should be meeting the requirements.

Test 4 - Communication and Community Engagement

To be eligible for Quality status a parish council must demonstrate that it is effectively communicating and actively engaging with the community it represents.

There are mandatory and discretionary elements to this Test.

The mandatory requirements are as follows:

have a website which provides;

- a list of council members and officers, together with details of how they can be contacted and;

- provides access to your annual report

Have an email address that is publicly available

Produce and publish a regular newsletter at least four times per year or contribute a specific section on your local council to a community newsletter at least four times a year

Include in its own newsletter or in the community newsletter the names of councillors and the clerk and how they can be contacted

Include in one of these publications a synopsis of the Annual Report

Make the publication "readily available" at public sites across the parish or town

In addition, councils must meet at least 9 of the discretionary requirements. The list comprises activities such as sending Annual Reports to each household, Community Led Planning (i.e. Parish Plan, Village/Town Design Statement, etc.), councillors’ surgeries and consultation exercises.

Test 5 - Annual Report

Publication of an Annual Report, including certain information, within a prescribed timescale and made readily available at sites across the parish.

Test 6 - Accountability

	Accounts prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations.
	Unqualified accounts.
	Adequate systems of internal control.

Test 7 - Code of Conduct

Adoption of a local Code of Conduct, including Paragraph 12.2

The requirements of these Tests concentrate on the accountability and openness of the council. All requirements of these Tests are mandatory.

Test 8 - Promoting Local Democracy and Citizenship

The council should be able to demonstrate that It works proactively to support local democracy and citizenship in its local area

Test 9 - Terms and Conditions

It is required that:

	Councils with a paid clerk provide evidence that they have adopted (as a minimum) the NALC/SLCC Terms and Conditions agreement.
	Provide evidence that they have issued all staff with a written contract of employment

Test 10 - Training

The council is required to:

Produce a Statement of Intent on training for both staff and members and at reaccreditation, provide evidence that this has been acted upon

[1] Formerly the Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education.

[2] The Annual Meeting of the Council may be counted as one of the six, but NOT the Annual Parish Meeting (which is not a meeting of the Council).

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