I had a great responses on The Councillors' Corner facebook group and LinkedIn about my blog this week Hyper-Local Heroes: How Parish and Town Councils Are the Perfect Partners for Unitary Authorities

The depth of knowledge and experience shared in the comments demonstrates just how passionate and engaged our local government community is. You've highlighted crucial areas where we need to focus our efforts, and together, we can create a roadmap for success.

Let's turn your insights into action. Here's how we can make local councils the effective partners we know they can be.

1. Revolutionising Council Finance

Traditional precept-only funding isn't fit for purpose in the modern world, especially when councils are taking on more responsibilities. The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and County Associations are perfectly positioned to lead this transformation by:

• Developing proposals for new revenue streams beyond residential precepts (NALC Event Sept 2025)
• Creating frameworks for councils to benefit from business and tourism income
• Working with the Local Government Association (LGA) to establish clear funding transfer protocols
• Supporting consortium models where smaller councils can pool resources
• Designing transparent cost-sharing agreement templates

2. Building Professional Capacity

The Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) is already doing fantastic work in this area. Working together with NALC and County Associations, we can:

• Establish regional training hubs for councillors and staff
• Create mentor partnerships between experienced and developing councils
• Develop clear career pathways for council staff
• Set up skill-sharing networks between councils
• Invest in professional development programs
• Create fair compensation frameworks for staff

3. Strengthening Planning Expertise

The Planning Advisory Service (PAS) could play a crucial role here, working with local councils to:

• Create shared planning expert pools between councils
• Develop standardised planning response frameworks
• Establish planning law training programs for councillors
• Build relationships with professional planning consultants
• Create planning knowledge-sharing networks
• Develop targeted training on neighborhood planning

4. Enhancing Democratic Engagement

NALC and the LGA can lead the way in ensuring local voices are heard effectively within larger unitary authorities by:

• Establishing statutory consultation rights for local councils
• Creating clear escalation pathways for local concerns
• Developing community engagement toolkits
• Building effective working relationships between tiers of government
• Creating local community forums that feed directly into council decision-making
• Establishing regular dialogue mechanisms with unitary authorities

5. Building Robust Accountability

The Smaller Authorities' Audit Appointments (SAAA) and potentially the Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) have crucial roles to play in developing appropriate oversight that doesn't stifle local initiative:

• Developing proportionate audit frameworks
• Supporting peer review systems between councils
• Establishing clear governance guidelines
• Building transparency into decision-making processes
• Creating easy-to-use reporting templates
• Developing risk management frameworks

6. Supporting Council Development

The reality is that councils are at very different stages in their development journey. Some are already delivering innovative services, while others face fundamental challenges with governance and administration. To move forward effectively, we need:

• Baseline Standards:
  • Clear minimum operational requirements
  • Mandatory training for all councillors, following the successful Ofsted model for school governors
  • Core competency frameworks for officers and councillors
  • Basic governance expectations
  • Essential financial controls
• Development Pathways:
  • Structured induction programs for new councillors
  • Regular refresher training on key responsibilities
  • Staged approach to taking on new responsibilities
  • Mentoring from high-functioning councils
  • Targeted support for struggling councils
  • Professional development roadmaps

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7. Rethinking Council Structures

The transition to unitary authorities provides an opportunity to consider innovative structural models that preserve local identity while improving efficiency and governance. One promising approach involves:

• Hub and Spoke Model:
  • Central administrative hubs serving multiple parishes
  • Professional staffing at hub level
  • Local committees maintaining community identity
  • Shared resources and expertise
  • Combined annual budgets supporting professional operations
• Quality Assurance:
  • County-level parish audit committees
  • Inter-tier communication channels
  • Governance oversight
  • Asset protection frameworks
  • Standardised reporting systems

8. Building Sustainable Partnerships

Success depends on bringing everyone along on this journey. Key elements include:

• Capacity Building:
  • Identifying high-functioning councils as mentors
  • Creating support networks for developing councils
  • Sharing best practices and resources
  • Building collaborative partnerships
  • Supporting professional development
• Progressive Implementation:
  • Starting with willing and capable councils
  • Developing proof of concept models
  • Careful evaluation of outcomes
  • Gradual expansion based on lessons learned
  • Flexible approaches matching local circumstances

Making It Happen

The elimination of district councils represents one of the biggest changes to local government in decades. Fortunately, we already have strong foundations to build upon, thanks to the tireless work of our sector bodies. Here's how their valuable work becomes even more crucial in this new landscape:

National Bodies Are Leading the Way

NALC, SLCC, and the LGA have long championed local council development through:

• Successful advocacy for legislative improvements
• Comprehensive training and development programs
• Valuable best practice guidance
• Essential technical support
• Effective knowledge sharing networks

As the local government landscape evolves, their expertise and support will be more valuable than ever in helping councils adapt to new opportunities and responsibilities.

Unitary Authorities Can Build on Existing Partnerships

Many UAs already work effectively with local councils. The LGA and PAS continue to support this through:

• Proven partnership frameworks that can be adapted for the new landscape
• Technical support that helps councils deliver better services
• Resource and expertise sharing that builds local capacity
• Consultation mechanisms that ensure local voices are heard
• Fair funding arrangements that support local service delivery

These existing relationships provide excellent models for areas transitioning to unitary status.

Local Councils Are Rising to the Challenge

With ongoing support from County Associations and SLCC, councils are already:

• Investing in professional development
• Building effective networks
• Sharing innovation and best practice
• Engaging proactively with change
• Delivering professional services

This foundation of excellence positions councils well for expanded roles in the new local government landscape.

The Path Forward

The insights shared in your comments highlight both the challenges and opportunities ahead. Success won't come from one-size-fits-all solutions but from careful consideration of local circumstances and capabilities. Some councils are ready to embrace new responsibilities immediately, while others need time and support to build capacity.

The key is to start where we are, not where we wish we were. By acknowledging the different starting points of councils, we can build appropriate support systems and development pathways that bring everyone along on this journey of transformation.

Remember: sustainable change happens through evolution, not revolution. We need to balance ambition with practicality, ensuring no council is left behind as we build for the future.

Your turn: What support would help your council navigate these changes? What models have you seen work in practice? Let's keep sharing experiences and building solutions together.