Benefits Of Membership

Benefits of membership

Advice: For small councils, membership of BALC can be an invaluable source of help and advice on legal, financial and procedural matters. BALC will respond to individual enquiries from the clerk or chairman. If complex legal matters are involved, the query will be forwarded to the team of solicitors at NALC. For larger councils there is direct access to NALC who have a service and network tailored to the needs of councils with an electorate of more than 6,000.

Links to regional and national government: Town and parish councils constitute the first tier of elected local government. The Berkshire Association of Local Councils is part of a recognised network of county associations which come together in the South East Region County Associations Forum (SERCAF). BALC maintains links with regional government in the South East through SERCAF and Government Office for the South East (GOSE). It will continue to strengthen relationships with the new structures which will replace the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA ).

Access to training: BALC offers training through the BCTP, a partnership between BALC, the Society for Local Council Clerks (SLCC) and CCB. This training is specifically designed to meet the needs of town and parish councils and includes training for new councillors, chairmanship skills, finance, planning and a variety of other topics. Unitary authorities also offer some training, usually on the Code of Conduct relating to the ethical requirements of the Standards Board.

Updates: Membership of BALC will provide access to email updates on central government initiatives, legislative changes, changes in pay scales and good practice and through BALC you can also access the LCR and DIS.