Members' Area

Welcome to the Members' Area

Here you will find your Councillor Handbook which contains key information about your first steps as a councillor, what it means to be a councillor and important details about our council. 

The page contains policies that you must read and sign an online declaration for (see forms below).

If you have any issues accessing the information on this page, please contact the Communications and Marketing Manager via email. 

Induction Schedule

An induction programme has been put together to support new and returning councillors to form a cohesive body within the first few months following election, providing invaluable insight and training in the work of the Council, enabling us to fulfil our aims.


The main sessions have now been delivered and the presentations can be found in this section. The next step will see the Council develop its priorities and Business Plan for the next four years.

 

Being a councillor is both a privilege and a challenge. Whether you are a new or returning councillor, as a newly formed collective body, there will be a period of familiarisation that is required. We created a handbook aimed at providing all councillors with access to information and resources that enable you to fulfil your representative role as efficiently and as effectively as possible to the benefit of the local community you serve.

If you have any queries, please let us know or check the list we have provided for other organisations that may be able to assist.

You can read the Councillor Handbook online or download it for future reference. Please note that a physical copy of the handbook will be given to you when you meet the Town Clerk.

Committee Structure

Representatives on Outside Bodies 

Public Question Time 

Visit the Committees page for meeting dates and details for each committee.

Policy Declaration Form

Please ensure you read the Data Protection, Equal Opportunities and Dignity at Work, Health and Safety and IT and Telecommunications policies (found in the section above) before completing and signing the online declaration.

Claim Forms

Travel and Subsistence - to download and print.

Notification Forms

Members’ Notification of Receipt of Gift or Hospitality - to download and print.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is the national membership organisation representing the interests of parish and town councils. NALC works in partnership with county associations to support, promote and improve local councils and provides training and publications with guidance for local councillors on a range of topics. 

The current publications can be found here and include The Good Councillor Guide, guidance for councillors on being an employer, finance and transparency and neighbourhood planning.

The Good Councillors Guide 2024

Being a Good Employer, A Guide for Councillors 

The Good Councillors Guide on Finance and Transparency 2018

The Good Councillors Guide to Community Business 

The Good Councillors Guide to Cybersecurity 2021

The Good Councillors Guide to Employment 2023

The Good Councillors Guide to Neighbourhood Planning 2017

 

Recent update emailed from NALC - 10 July 2025

"Star Council Awards

We are thrilled to announce that nominations are now open for the Star Council Awards 2025/26, the only national awards dedicated to celebrating the vital work of parish and town councils in England. Ready to celebrate your achievements or nominate someone amazing? Learn more about how to submit your entry. 

Submit a nomination 

Committees and meetings

  • The National Assembly received our annual report and accounts this week.  (see below). The assembly heard from our partners, CCLA, about their work promoting sustainability and sound investment. An official from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government provided updates on devolution and local government reorganisation. The assembly agreed to support the Association of Electoral Administrators’ call for the abolition of parish polls and also agreed with the recommendations from the Management Board, including a process to review our strategic plan and some limited governance changes.
  • In this week's meeting with county associations, we started by reflecting on last week's Local Government Association Annual Conference, which included the chief executive of Suffolk Association of Local Councils, Sally Longmate, speaking about her observations as a panel member at our fringe event. There was also an update on our forthcoming National Assembly and committee elections, where we also had an extensive discussion on raising awareness and having resources to better inform on what the roles are and what's required. As always, we concluded with an open forum, answering any further questions that may have come up.
  • I was able to flag up the role parish and town councils play in community safety at a recent Rural Taskforce Mission Workshop meeting on safer streets with the Department for Food and Rural Affairs and the Home Office. I referred to our campaign to promote community safety and the case studies and resources we have on our website.

Support

  • This week, we've renewed our call for the government to hold developers accountable and require them to build homes on land where planning permission has already been granted. We want to see a developer-focused housing delivery test to ensure the timely build-out of approved sites, stronger powers for local planning authorities and councils to deliver affordable housing, more homes suitable for disabled residents and those with mobility impairments and a greater mix of housing tenures to meet diverse community needs. You can read our full response on our website.
  • The Civility and Respect Task Force met on 3 July 2025 to push forward one of the missions of getting more parish and town councils to sign the Civility and Respect Pledge. So far, nearly 1,800 have signed up, a strong start, but I'd urge you to sign the pledge. One key focus is increasing participation from small and micro-councils, which make up 65% of the sector. To help address this, improvement and development manager Hazel Broatch will attend our national network for micro councils to promote the pledge and explore barriers to adoption. To strengthen accountability, the task force also recommended a new Councillor's Statement of Assurance, which will be voluntary and is already proving successful in Cornwall. Research shows that combining group and individual commitments leads to more substantial, lasting cultural change. Finally, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust's offer of free training on standing up to sexual harassment at work has been accepted, with details to be shared soon.

Resources

  • In this week’s blog, our partner, Clear Councils Insurance, reflects on the inspiring moments from our Star Council Awards and why recognising the incredible work of parish and town councils is so important. As proud sponsors, Clear Councils Insurance celebrates the dedication, innovation, and community impact demonstrated by parish and town councils and their teams, often with limited resources but with a limitless commitment. With nominations now open for the 2025/26 awards, this is the perfect time to spotlight those making a difference in your area.
  • The Martyn’s Law Steering Group has published a new, easy-to-digest advice note to help parish and town councils get ahead of upcoming terrorism protection duties under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn’s Law. The second advice note in the series is unlike the group’s first, more detailed document. This latest resource is a quick-fire guide designed specifically for busy councillors and clerks. It outlines why Martyn’s Law matters to all councils, highlights key dates, explains who will be affected, gives practical steps councils can take today to prepare, and links to free training and resources.

We have now published our Annual Report for 2024/25. The report highlights a year of substantial progress, national influence, and growing support for parish and town councils. Some of the key achievements include 88% membership, the launch of a new NALC website and digital resources like Local Councils Explained and The Good Councillor’s Guide, £7.5m in government funding for community assets and planning, continued recognition in national devolution plans, and financial resilience, with a small surplus and below-inflation fee increases."