1. 1 Kent Association of Local Councils Dame Helen Ghosh, Home Office permanent secretary. “We in [central] government need to focus on doing the things that only government can do,” she told MPs. Then “what we need to facilitate is that – at the most local, most individual level – people both identify and solve problems in the way that they wish to solve them”. Local Councils: Parish and Town Councils established in 1894 Statutory Bodies with Statutory Powers Constant process of receiving more powers: esp. LGA 1972 and the Localism Act 15 th Nov 2011 1 st tier of Local Government operating at grassroots level. Around 9,000 Parish & Town Councils in England 313 Parish & Town Councils and Parish Meetings in Kent LOCAL COUNCILS

2. 2 Kent Association of Local Councils KALC’s ROLE REPRESENTATION & INFLUENCE VIA KALC EXECUTIVE/AGM/ AREA COMMITTEES LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT & CONFERENCE PROGRAMME SUPPORT SERVICES : INFORMATION & PUBLICATIONS & QPS COMMUNICATION & OUTREACH: AREA COMMITTEES & PARISH NEWS//WWW LEGAL & TECHNICAL ADVICE (inc NALC membership) & Direct Access Scheme GOV & OTHER TIERS OF LG & RELATED BODIES BENEFITS OF MEMBER SHIP for 296 Local Councils in Kent (95% of total)

3. 3 Kent Association of Local Councils LOCAL COUNCILS MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

4. LOCALISM ACT 4 Kent Association of Local Councils Royal Assent on 15 November 2011 New Rights and Powers for communities: –General Power of Competence –Community Right to Challenge –Community Right to Bid –Neighbourhood Planning –Community Right to Build –Community Infrastructure Levy

5. DELIVERING LOCALISM IN KENT DCLG “As the tier of local government closest to their communities, parish, town and neighbourhood councils have a key role to play in shaping their communities” – The Guardian November 2011. Bob Neil MP “We recognise the important role that Parish and Town Councils play in local communities”. November 2011. Parish & Town Councils have a key role to play in helping to shape and deliver services to their local communities. Essential all 3 tiers of Local Government work closely together to deliver Localism in Kent. KALC representation on Kent Forum to help deliver the Forum’s commitments. 5 Kent Association of Local Councils