Warwickshire and West Midlands Association of Local Councils

Quality Status

Introduction

Quality Parish Status (QPS) is a charter mark proving to the electoratre and other agencies that a parish council is well run and working effectively on behalf of its community. Any parish council, regardless of its size, is welcome to apply for quality status.

Councils attaining QPS may, if they wish, take on extra functions for the benefit of their communities, by negotiating with County and District Councils for the devolution of functions and services down to grassroots level.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs commissioned the University of Wales to review the Scheme in 2006 and their research helped the national stakeholders of the Scheme to agree amendments that would help councils achieve even higher levels of professionalism and help to cement their position as community leaders. The research concluded that local councils make a huge difference to the lives of many people, but there is considerable room for improvement in the way they operate. Achieving the status demonstrates that a council is willing to meet the challenges to improve their procedures and to prove their effectiveness within the local community.

The Association can supply Councils with the relevant application form, details on the procedure for applying and information about how a council’s application will be assessed. We can also supply a useful free of charge booklet “A Guide to Becoming A Quality Council”.

Click on QPS Tests for a description of the tests to be passed or Benefits of QPS for further information about the benefits of Quality Status.

QPS Tests

Benefits of QPS

For further information contact Alison Hodge:

Email: walc@walc.org.uk

Telephone: 02476 217349

Fax: 02476 419959

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Page Last Updated: 08/08/2008