Parish and town councils have secured a series of important wins following the passing of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, thanks to sustained national lobbying led by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC).
As outlined in a recent letter from NALC Chief Executive Jonathan Owen, the Act now includes new legal requirements for local authorities to engage with parish and town councils in neighbourhood governance arrangements, alongside provisions for their formal representation on new structures. The government has also committed to working directly with NALC to shape how this engagement will operate in practice.
Additional gains for the sector include strengthened recognition of rural and coastal communities within devolution frameworks, reforms to the local audit regime for smaller authorities, a new Community Right to Buy for community assets, and changes to councillor privacy protections.
These outcomes reflect a high level of coordinated advocacy and growing recognition of the contribution parish and town councils make to local democracy and community leadership. NALC will now focus on the next phase of work, including influencing guidance and regulations and supporting the creation of new councils during local government reorganisation.
Parish and town councils are encouraged to read the full letter for further detail on what has been achieved and what happens next.
READ: 2026 Member Update (Letter from DAPTC Chief Executive to All Members in Dorset)
Background reading - work undertaken by DAPTC in 2025 to understand member views:
A Fresh Start report (DAPTC members only)
2025 Parish Council Survey (DAPTC members only)
