Local Council Award Scheme
The Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS) has been designed to celebrate the successes of the very best local councils and to provide a framework to support all local councils to improve and develop to meet their full potential. The scheme offers councils the opportunity to show that they meet the standards set by the sector, assessed by their peers, and to put in place the conditions for continued improvement.
The scheme has been designed to provide the tools and encouragement to those councils at the beginning of their improvement journeys, as well as promoting and recognising councils that are at the cutting edge of the sector. It is only through the sector working together, to share best practice, drive up standards and supporting those who are committed to improving their offer to their communities that individual councils and the sector as a whole will reach its full potential.
The Local Council Award Scheme undergoes a review every year. Local councils must meet the criteria of the guidance that is in place at the date they submit their completed application form to their local accreditation panel.
Why should you apply?
How do you apply?
- The first step is to register online with NALC. You will then be charged a £50 registration fee by NALC.
- When you have the criteria prepared and in place, confirm this in a public meeting
- You should then notify the WALC County Officer (who will act as the local accreditation panel coordinator) and provide the application form including links to online documents and other documents that provide the required supporting evidence. At this stage, you will also pay an accreditation fee to WALC. This fee depends on the award level you are applying for and the size of your council (see below).
- Your local panel coordinator will contact you with the result of your application.
Which award level should we apply for?
You do not need to have all the criteria in place when you register, you are simply registering your interest in taking part in the scheme
You can apply for any award level - you don't need to start at Foundation

Foundation Award
The Foundation award is for councils who want to show they meet a set of minimum standards to deliver effectively for their communities. To meet this award the council demonstrates that it has the required documentation and information in place for operating lawfully and according to standard practice. The council also has policies for training for its councillors and officers and so has the foundations for improvement and development in place.
The Foundation award allows you to benchmark your performance as well as challenging you to consider your councils continuing development and improvement.

Quality Award
The Quality Award demonstrates that a council achieves good practice in governance, community engagement and council improvement.Quality councils go above and beyond their legal obligations, leading their communities and continuously seeking opportunities to improve and develop even further.
To achieve the Quality Award a council demonstrates that it meets all requirements of the Foundation Award and has additional evidence of good governance, effective community engagement and council improvement. Due to the level of this achievement, a council with a Quality Award can also be eligible to use the general power of competence.

Quality Gold Award
The Quality Gold Award demonstrates that a council is at the forefront of best practice and achieves excellence in governance, community leadership and council development. Quality Gold councils provide leadership for their communities, bring people together, have excellent business planning processes, ensuring value for money as well as constantly seeking new innovations and opportunities to improve. They highlight the very best we, as a sector, can achieve for our communities.
What will it cost the Council?
There are two fees paid
A £50.00 registration fee, paid to the National Association of Local Councils, for all Councils
An accreditation fee paid to WALC for administering the accreditation process as detailed in the table below