Warwickshire
and West Midlands Association of Local Councils
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 Solihull are partners, as are the
Warwickshire Rural Community Council, the Society of Local Council Clerks and
the local training associates. The aim of the partnership is to provide
bespoke training for councillors and clerks and to promote a culture of
training within parish and town councils.
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 ODPM 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 County Committee.
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.
Page Last Updated:
11/08/2006
© WALC.