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This presentation provides an overview of the Hampshire Association of Local Councils (HALC), which supports 255 councils in Hampshire with various services such as legal advice, training, and project funding. It explains the structure and role of parish and town councils, their duties, powers, and sources of funding. Potential councillors will learn about eligibility requirements, responsibilities, time commitments, and the importance of representation and engagement in their local communities. Essential resources and contact information for HALC are also included.
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Steve Lugg H.A.L.C.
What’s the Hampshire ALC? • Hampshire Association of Local Councils • Serves the 255 (262 from 1st Apr 2010) councils & meetings across Hampshire • Information, query support, legal opinion, project funding signposting, training and development, representation, networking • 3 FTE staff, CE only full-time staff member
What is a parish council? • Nearly 9,000 across the country • Can be styled parish, village, community or town council • First tier of local government • Part of a national pyramid network • Diversity is the key, no two councils are identical! • Expenditure not capped!
How do you become a town council? • By resolution • Chairman becomes Mayor • Civic and ceremonial • All town councils are parish councils • Tend to be more politicised • Tend to be more formal in meetings
What do local councils do? • Representing the local community • Delivering services and facilities to meet local need • Striving to maintain and improving quality of life • Two-way conduit of information
So they could be doing...... • Allotments • Footpaths • Burial grounds • Bus shelters • Commons • Leisure facilities • Crime reduction • Community transport • Tourism • Litter bins • Youth Projects • Open Spaces • Toilets • Planning • Lighting • Traffic Calming • Seating and much more!
Powers and Duties • Duties • Powers • S. 137 Local Government Act 1972 • Power of Well-being
Making Decisions • Council can only make decisions as a corporate body, in a properly set meeting • Bounded by Local Government Act 1972 and successive Acts • Clerk is impartial officer, Chief Exec • Code of Conduct • Agendas and Minutes
Where does the money come from? • Precept • Expenditure not capped • Respond to community, not other councils • Robust budget-setting process • Grant funding • Borrowing
Eligibility to become a councillor • British citizen, or commonwealth subject or citizen of EU • 18 years or older on the day you are nominated • Resident or work in the area • Cannot stand if subject of bankruptcy or interim order, or criminal conviction or if you work for the council you want to be a Cllr for
What does a Cllr do? • Decision making • Risk management and monitoring • Local involvement • Representation and engagement • Lead Projects and Services
How much time? • NALC believes an average is around three hours a week? Diversity again. The more committees..... • Concentrate on making a difference • A better place to live and work • Remember you are representing your electorate not yourself
Keys to success • Listen to your Clerk • Adopt a learning attitude • Training and development vital to grow • Understand your priorities • Work within the Code of Conduct • Get involved with the networks • Don’t feel intimidated, enjoy it!
Web resources • www.hampshire-alc.gov.uk • www.nalc.gov.uk • www.dopolitics.org.uk • www.aboutmyvote.co.uk
Contact details Hampshire ALC 02380 263 438 hampshirealc@hants.gov.uk 121a Winchester Road, Chandler’s Ford SO53 2DR