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Services
WALC provides a comprehensive
range of services and benefits for its members. Training seminars carry a
reasonable extra charge. Please contact
us for more information.
Legal advice
Legal advice and assistance
tailored to the needs of parish and town councils. WALC will seek legal advice
on behalf of members from NALC's specialist solicitors.
Employment Advice
The Association recognises that
parish and town councillors are volunteers and require guidance and advice on
employment law and staff relations. As part of the membership fee, the
Association offers each council a maximum of two hours per year of free advice
from an employment consultant, who specialises in such work and has knowledge
of parish and town councils.
Advice and guidance for council
chairmen and clerks
Guidance on correct procedure and
changes in legislation. General support is particularly important to Council
clerks, who are often working on their own.
Protecting the rights and
interests of member councils
Protection and advancement of
members' interests at local and national level. NALC is recognised by Central
Government as the representative body of town and parish councils and was
instrumental in ensuring the enhanced role given to councils in both Urban and
Rural White Papers.
Training
WALC is the lead body in the
County Training Partnership, which was set up to provide training to parish and
town councils. All local authorities in Warwickshire and
Topics covered in the past have
included Induction for New Councillors and Clerks, Safety in Burial Grounds and
Responding to Planning Applications. A course of study is also provided for
clerks studying for the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CILCA).
WALC is continuing to organise
its very popular Annual Training Day, which provides sessions on topical issues
and workshops relevant to the work of parish and town councils.
Financial advice
Guidance on:
- the preparation of budgets;
- financial risk assessment;
- investments;
- difficulties with audit;
- capital funding; and
- grant aid.
Borrowing consent forms (required
by the Dept of Communities and Local Government before a council is given
consent to take out a loan) can be obtained through WALC.
Contact with other local
councils
WALC has a network of Area
Committees, which provide an opportunity for sharing problems and experiences.
Area Committees and larger local councils have an automatic right to nominate
members to the
Subscription to Local Council
Review
Local Council Review, NALC's
journal, contains news, information and articles on local council affairs.
Bi-monthly Newsletter
The Association send out a
newletter every two months, which provides notice of and guidance on legal
developments affecting parish and town councils, as well as current news.